SPECTATOR GUIDELINES FOR THE PIAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

PIAA will be permitting spectators in accordance with the Governor’s current Directing Mitigation Measures regarding spectator limits.

The following guidelines are in effect for each day of competition at Heritage Hills Golf Resort.  Spectator assistance in adhering to current Department of Health mandates is required and spectator adherence to recommendations is appreciated.

By entering the facility grounds, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19.  

Spectator Guidelines:

Masks will be required for all individuals (spectators, coaches and participants) consistent with the current Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Health Order of July 1, 2020.  Please see below “At the Sports Event” for additional information on masking.  Spectators are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times on property.

PIAA will be utilizing tee times for all rounds of play for both individual and team competition in order to maximize mitigation efforts in keeping athletes, coaches and spectators distant from one another throughout each day of competition on and around the course.

Please plan your arrival as a spectator for no earlier than 30 minutes prior to your golfer’s scheduled tee time.  In addition, only golfers and their coaches will be permitted on the practice range and putting green.  Please refrain from accessing these areas as a spectator.

The restaurant at Heritage Hills will not be open for inside seating until 11:00am on each day of competition.  An outdoor snack shop is available prior to competition.

When observing play, maintain social distance from your fellow spectators at all times.  This is especially important around natural congregating areas such as tee boxes and greens throughout the course.

PIAA will provide for awards immediately following competition in the outdoor catering tent.  Social distancing is still required in this area.  If you do not have a golfer involved in the awards, it is suggested to not attend the presentation and leave the property as soon as possible to limit gatherings.

The Terrace at Heritage Hills, adjacent to the 9th Green and typically used for scoring and awards, will not be available to the general public.  Scoring for competing golfers and their marker will be done in the Terrace, but the building will not be open for general use as in previous years.

All scores will be available online through the PIAA Website on the golf championships page, and also through the Philly PGA Junior Tour app available on apple and android devices.  Scoring will be live throughout the day.

Thank you for your cooperation.  We look forward to a great event. 

General Reminders:

Before the sports event:

  • Stay home if you have COVID-19, if you have symptoms of COVID-19, if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
  • Bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy—for example, masks (bring extra), hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, snacks, and drinking water.
  • If you live with or regularly interact with someone who is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 , consider not attending sporting events where social distancing cannot be maintained and where masks are not worn.

At the sports event:

  • Individuals are required to wear face coverings in accordance with the Secretary of Health’s Order on July 1, 2020.  Therefore, all persons must wear masks when unable to maintain social distancing from others in an outside setting.  All spectators are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times on property.
  • Everyone must wear a face covering, such as a mask, unless they fall under an exception listed in Section 3 of the Order.  Coaches, athletes and spectators must wear face coverings, unless they are outdoors and can consistently maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet.
  • Athletes are not required to wear face coverings while actively engaged in workouts and competition that prevent the wearing of face coverings, but must wear face coverings when on the sidelines, in the dugout, etc. and anytime 6 feet of social distancing is not possible.

Social distance and limit physical contact:

  • Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet or more from people who don’t live in your household. Be particularly mindful in areas where it may be harder to keep this distance, such as ticketing and entrance areas, parking lots, restrooms, and routes of entry and exit.
  • Select seating or determine where to stand based on your ability to keep 6 feet of space from people who don’t live in your household.
  • Don’t shake hands, give high-fives, do elbow bumps, or touch others because close contact increases risk of COVID-19.

Sources:
CDC “Attending Sporting Events”
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/attending-sports.html
Amendment to the Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Mitigation Efforts
https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20201006-SOH-amendment-to-targeted-mitigation-order.pdf
Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Requiring Universal Face Coverings.
https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200701-SOH-Universal-Face-Coverings-Order.pdf
P
IAA Return to Competition: Individual Sport Considerations
http://www.piaa.org/assets/web/documents/Return_to_Competition.pdf