Good evening, GS Golf Players & Parents,
This Wednesday, July 1st, from 5 – 8 pm at Hawk Valley Golf Course is our golf team’s first voluntary, open-play practice of the summer. This also marks the first day that voluntary, off-season activities for Garden Spot Sports are permitted. As you know, there are a number of school district mandated health & safety protocols that are in place to provide as safe an environment as possible for our student-athletes. If you did not already, please read this letter that was previously sent out by Garden Spot Athletic Director, Marc Shaffer.
Soon after all attending players arrive at each Wednesday’s open-play practice, we will be taking the first 5-10 minutes to review all of the required health and safety protocols for all GS Student-athletes, and those protocols specific to our golf team. Parents are welcome to attend one of these meetings. Also, if parents would like to speak with me directly, they are welcome to stay at the start of the practice or at the end of practice when picking up their player.
Here are the most important items for players and parents in preparation for our July open-play days:
- Here is the ELANCO Athletics Health & Safety Plan and Waiver that MUST be signed by every student-athlete & their parent/guardian. When attending your first open-play practice, a signed copy of the waiver MUST be given to the coach or they will not be permitted to participate. I will have copies with me at the golf course for students and parents to sign, if necessary. If players are coming to their first open-play on their own, be sure to have the waiver printed out and signed by your parent, or you WILL NOT be able to practice with the team.
- Prior to the start of every off-season workout, all student-athletes MUST complete the online Covid-19 Pre-Screening Questionnaire no sooner than 30 minutes prior to each workout. I will have a QR code with a direct link to the online form with me at every practice. Players can complete the online questionnaire using their personal cell phone as they arrive at practice. If a player is feeling ill or answers yes to any question(s), the player MUST stay home (or will be sent home) and inform the coach immediately.
- Players should bring a water bottle with plenty of water with them. Student-athletes MUST bring their own water bottle and water bottles may not be shared with other players. I’ll have a few extra disposable bottled waters for anyone who runs out. We will be walking the course, so players will get hot and need to hydrate.
- Players must have their own golf bag and golf clubs for practice. Players can’t share equipment. Used practice golf balls will be available.
- While we are practicing at the golf course, it’s optional for players to wear a face mask. When inside of buildings at many local golf courses, masks are often required. Coaches will wear a face mask when in close proximity with players.
- During practices at the golf course, Coach Stajnrajh and I will do our best to social distance student-athletes from one another. We will also follow golf course safety protocols, such as putting with the flagstick in, playing in smaller groups (if possible), not touching other players’ equipment, no handshakes or high fives, etc. Hand sanitizer will be available for players and coaches.
If you haven’t already, please be sure to sign up for the GS Golf Remind notification system (see these directions) to get updates from me. Remind notifications will be my primary means for sending out periodic reminders and schedule changes. If the weather would force me to cancel a summer open-play practice, I would send out a notification via Remind.
I’m looking forward to us preparing for the 2020 Golf Season. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or text me through the Remind app.
Thanks, everyone.
Coach Leister