COVID-19 OPERATIONAL CHANGES

[UPDATED FEBRUARY 1, 2021]

The following safety measures and procedures have been put into place to ensure everyone is safe and healthy this season while playing the VGT.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY ANY EVENTS WITH US, THAT YOU DO SO ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK AND WILL NOT HOLD VGT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES.  BY REGISTERING AND PLAYING ANY VGT EVENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE AGREED TO ALL VGT’S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS FULLY OUTLINED ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER ABOUT/POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND IN THE PROVIDED INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.

ELIGIBILITY / NON-ELIGIBILITY

The following precautionary measures have been taken during Covid-19 Crisis, making players ineligible to play VGT events if they fall into one or more of the following categories:

1. You are sick or have any of the following Covid-19 or flu-like symptoms.
   • Fever equal to or higher than 100.4* F (feeling chills, sweating)
   • Are under evaluation for COVID-19 (for example, waiting for the results of a viral test to confirm infection)
   • Any of the following “new” or “unexpected” symptoms:
     • New cough
     • Difficulty breathing
     • Sore throat
     • Muscle aches or body aches
     • Vomiting or diarrhea
     • New loss of taste or smell.
2. You have been tested positive for Covid-19 and not yet been fully cleared
3. You have been in contact with someone affected with Covid-19 within the last 14 days
4. You have been travelling from outside CANADA and returned to BC within the last 14 days

• •  

NOTE: Players are required to self screen for the above Covid-19 symptoms.  If you are showing signs of any of the above COVID-19 symptoms, you are asked to withdraw by email to info@vancouvergolftour.com.  Please adhere to withdraw guidelines as penalties may result if you withdraw beyond the timeframes specified.

For 2021, VGT will be conducting on-site screening including temperature checks.  If a player is deemed to have any of the above Covid-19 symptoms when tested at the course, they will be asked to withdraw from the tournament at full loss of entry.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT THE COURSE

Players will be emailed the Conditions of Competition and/or pin sheets the day prior to that particular event.  Please review them in advance, print a copy for yourself and bring with you to the event.  If any questions come up, you may ask at registration on the day.

• Please disinfect your golf clubs with soap and water. 
• Please prepare yourself for the day:
  • Pack your own food & drink in case the clubhouse does not offer window service at the turn. 
  • Until further notice, VGT will not be providing water stations at our events at this time.
• No Caddies or fans will be allowed at VGT events unless otherwise notified by our team, or when advised on the specific event details section of Golf Genius.
• No carpooling to the tournament with players outside of your “bubble”.

REGISTRATION AT THE COURSE

• Please adhere to the specific requirements set-out on our ‘event details’ section of each event as to the allowable time to arrive before your tee-time.
• Players should check in at registration upon arrival to claim their member gifts (if applicable). Please ensure you wear a mask at all times at registration and final scoring.
• Social distancing measures will be in place all day and MUST be practiced.  Please look for cones or markers on the ground at registration that will be set up to facilitate safe distancing of 6 feet or more.
• Please consult with the host golf course to determine if range access will be available or not and plan your warm-up accordingly.

MOBILE APP SCORING & PAPER CARD SCORING

• We will be utilizing the GOLF GENIUS MOBILE APP for live player scoring. 
• Players will be emailed an access code to log-in to golf genius and use their phone to conduct mobile scoring for a player in their group.  
• Players will be asked to score for your playing partner on the app

• Players will also be provided with a paper card for the player you are scoring for and will be asked to keep score for this player.

If you do not have the golf genius app installed on your phone, please download it now:

• GOOGLE PLAY: CLICK HERE.  Enter the Golf Genius ID (GGID) you are provided.
• APPLE ITUNES: CLICK HERE.  Enter the Golf Genius ID (GGID) you are provided.

You can also log-in to the day’s scorecard using the following URL:

https://www.golfleaguegenius.com/websites/189382/login and enter the GGID you are provided.

ON THE COURSE

PLAYERS MUST READ and follow these precautions:

• No Caddies or fans are allowed at VGT events unless advised by VGT Team.
• No handshaking or elbow bumping is permitted. 
• “Namaste” to say thanks at end of round… OR just say thanks!
• Maintain at least six feet of separation from everyone at all times.
• Bring hand sanitizer and use as often as you can, especially before and after using any washrooms.
• With no rakes in bunkers, players are entitled to relief in ‘disturbed areas’ in bunkers (ie: when foot prints not raked).  Players may take their nearest relief inside the bunker, no nearer the hole and drop from knee height. Please repair your footprints by using your feet.
• The flag will remain in at all times - DO NOT REMOVE THE FLAG. 
• Cups will be modified so that players can hole-out and pick the ball out without touching the flag. 
• If you use a cart, generally only 1 player per cart is allowed and this must be arranged through the pro shop.   If you belong to the same “bubble”, a cart may be shared.  Players will be responsible for sanitizing of the power cart if they choose to ride.
• There are no ball washers available on the course

AFTER YOUR ROUND

A final scoring area will be established using social distancing measures for players to check their scores and for your playing partner to attest them.  You will be asked to read your scores to your playing partners and to our VGT Scoring Team for verification. 

Please sign your own score card on the LEFT SIDE to attest for your playing partner’s score (entered on the APP and on your scorecard.  The scorecard will be the official copy). 

Players are then asked to lay their scorecard on the scoring table for their playing partner to witness and attest their own score.  Once you agree to the scores written down for you by your playing partner, please sign your own scorecard on the RIGHT SIDE to verify your own score that has been read by your scorer.  No-one will need to exchange cards. 

Please drop your scorecard into the box provided when all scores are verified.  Scoring will be final once you have left the scoring station.

POST EVENT, PURSE AND PRIZING

Amateur prizing will be announced at the end of each flight in the usual way.  Prizing will be in the form of VGT Sponsor Credits.  No physical prizes will be presented at events for the foreseeable future and we recommend only winners of each flight stay for pictures. Prize results will be posted to the event portal under “Prize Results”.  Players will receive an email with the prize summary and how to redeem your prize credits from our team.  If you have won a prize and did not receive an email, please check your junk folder or email Heidi@vancouvergolftour.com. 

Players will be asked to refrain from loitering in the parking lot after play, particularly no alcohol consumption post event will be allowed.  Failure to comply will result in termination of VGT Membership.

Professional winnings will be paid either by e-transfer, or by cheque if you are playing at an event within the next week.  If you are not playing an event for a while, and/or you require payment by e-transfer please email info@vancouvergolftour.com.  

Golf is a great game and offers physical and mental reprieves, especially during this challenging time.  But we must play responsibly and adhere to the above procedures

PLEASE DO NOT PLAY IN VGT EVENTS IF YOU CANNOT ADHERE TO THE ABOVE PROCEDURES.  PLAYERS WHO DO NOT ADHERE TO THE ABOVE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY ANY FUTURE VGT EVENTS.

If you have any questions, please contact us as follows:

• Tee times, handicaps, rules and golf procedural questions, please contact us at operations@vancouvergolftour.com
• Registration and payment questions, please contact us at info@vancouvergolftour.com

VGT Tournament Registration and Membership Procedures

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

You acknowledge that your participation, as a player or as a parent or guardian of a Junior golfer, in any Vancouver Golf Tour (“VGT”) event shall be played entirely at player's own risk. You, hereby release and discharge VGT and its Shareholders, Officers, Directors, Employees, Volunteers and Representatives from all manner of actions, causes of action, suits, liabilities, damages, costs, claims and demands whatsoever which may arise out of the involvement and participation in VGT Tournaments including bodily injury, death, property damage and/or other whether caused by negligence of other members of VGT or of any of the VGT Shareholders, Officers, Directors, Employees, Volunteers and Representatives.

WHO CAN PLAY?

VGT has been designed for both male and female Professionals and Amateurs with Golf Canada handicap factor of 18.0 or less for males and 22.0 or less for females.  You can play as a VGT member which entitles you to priority registration (until 2 weeks from the event) and preferred pricing (along with member gifts) or as a non-member.  However, in order to play any events, you must register on the software platform, Golf League Genius (“GLG”) and become a GLG member.  Therefore, you will need to complete this step by Registering to the Master Roster of GLG (details below).

Your tournament play is completely managed by you as you will determine whether to join VGT membership, whether to play a tournament or not and whether to withdraw from a tournament or not.  There will be no involvement by VGT in this process.

VGT Handicaps for Amateur Flights

 It is mandatory for ALL Amateur flight players to have a current Golf Canada handicap ID number. It can be obtained through any Golf Canada member club or through the BCGA Players Association.  A current USGA GHIN number is also accepted.

ALL Amateur flight players with a “(h)” by your name indicates the lack of a downloadable valid handicap factor. Failure to provide a valid handicap factor will result in players being placed in the Championship division with a +1.0 factor.

VGT Professional Requirements

PGA Carded Status:  To be eligible for Carded Professional rates, players must be either:

1. A current PGA of Canada Member in good standing
2. A current Member of any of the eligible tours found at www.owgr.com.

New Professional Unattached Professional Members

New unattached Professionals to VGT must submit a playing resume accompanied by a letter of recommendation from a PGA Professional certifying their ability to play up to the standards of professional golf.  Both resume and reference letter shall be submitted to VGT via email to info@vancouvergolftour.com.

GLG MEMBERSHIP AND ACCOUNT SETUP

You have to register on the GLG platform to be able to purchase a membership or to play any tournaments on VGT.  If you did not complete your registration on the VGT Portal when the email was sent out in January 2021, you will need to go the website, vancouvergolftour.com, and click on the Memberships tab to get to the VGT Portal.   Under the Registration tab, click on Master Roster Registration and set up your account by providing your email and set up a password.  Once in the Portal complete all of the required fields marked with a red asterisk.   You will need to re-enter your password at the bottom as that is a required process.  You could also change your password here if you prefer, but that is not required to be done.  Once completed hit the Update button and you are now a GLG Member.

PAYMENTS

The only method that payments will be accepted for memberships and tournaments are by debit or credit cards. 

VGT MEMBERSHIPS

VGT offers seasonal memberships for the year as follows: The Summer Tour (runs March to September), the Winter Tour (runs October until March) and the Annual Tour for both seasons (coming in 2022).  The memberships expire at the end of each season.

There are several different package levels for Amateurs for the Summer Tour. You have to be a member of the relevant season to get priority until 2 weeks from the event and preferred pricing for the events offered in that season.  Both members and non-members of VGT can play events, but VGT members obtain priority entry into all events, as well as preferred pricing.  To play tournaments, all golfers must be GLG members.

How to join VGT memberships (“VGT Member”)

Once you are a GLG member (details above), you will have access to the VGT Portal and therefore go to the tab called “Membership Programs”.  The membership options are listed there and outline the price, along with various member gifts and other member advantages.  All VGT memberships entitle you to preferred pricing and priority entries into the tournaments (up to 2 weeks out from the event).  Select the membership program that is most valuable to you and complete the payment by debit or credit card.  You will receive your member gifts at your first VGT tournament played.

You can also join VGT memberships when prompted as you pay for tournaments as a non VGT member.

VGT memberships are not refundable after 14 days of receipt of payment and are also not refundable after member gifts are distributed and/or any tournaments have been played.  To request a refund simply send an email to info@vancouvergolftour.com to the VGT Team who will then process a refund (less handling charges) if the qualifying conditions have been met.   

TOURNAMENT REGISTRATIONS

As noted above, both members and non-members of VGT can play events, but VGT members obtain priority entry into all events (up to 2 weeks out from the event), as well as preferred pricing.  Tournaments will be loaded onto the GLG Platform and will become visible once the details have been confirmed with the golf courses and signups are opened up.  They should be open for signups approximately two months before the events.

You agree that all photos taken of you by VGT or any of its representatives may be used in any brochures, posters, literature, announcements, advertisements, or press releases. You also agree to consent to release any information concerning performance and status of membership to the news media, other golf associations and organizations interested in the game of golf.

VGT Members

As a VGT member, you will have already setup your email and password to become a member of GLG.  Once payment is received, your VGT membership program in GLG will automatically be enabled, which will allow you access to obtain preferred pricing for the tournaments that you want to play.

You can register for events through the VGT Portal as events are opened for registration and as you meet eligibility requirements to play the event.  Simply log into GLG, make the required payment and you will automatically be entered into the event.  You can also register for the events by accepting the invitations that will be regularly sent for the events.  Then follow the prompts to pay for the tournament.

Only registrations that are PAID are confirmed registrations.  So, you must complete your payment to get into events.  You will then obtain an email that you are confirmed in the event and no further receipts will be issued. 

You also have the option to play the skins game which is available at every event and only available for purchase at the time you pay your entry fee for the tournament.  The details of this game are provided below under “Skins and Hole in One Games”.

Non-VGT Members

Golfers who are non-VGT members can also play tournaments with no priority and regular pricing.  To play as a non-VGT member, you still must register as a GLG member to get access to the payment options (details above). 

Once you are in the VGT Portal, select the tournament you want to play and complete the registration details.  If you are eligible to play and there is still room in the tournament, you will be automatically registered once payment is received.  If you are not eligible to play (i.e., members may still have priority or the tournament is full), you should complete the registration and you will then be placed on the Pending List.  If a spot opens up, you will be moved into the event and your credit or debit card will then automatically be charged.  Your card will not be charged unless you obtain a spot in the tournament.

Skins and Hole-in-One Games (Optional)

Skins are a totally optional game and are Gross skins for Professionals and Championship Amateurs and are Net skins for Flights A and B.  When a player wins a hole outright over the field of the players who have entered into skins, they win a skin, which value is then determined by the number of players who went into the skins game in the gross or net divisions. 

Skins payments are only accepted at the time you pay your tournament entry fee.  Of the total amount of $20 (per tournament day), $5 goes into the progressive Hole-In One (“HIO”) pot and $15 will go towards the skins game.  If it is a multi-day tournament, the amounts may vary and players will be advised on the tournament details.  Players must have paid skins for this event in order to be eligible to win any of the HIO’s with an Ace.  In other words, if you get a HIO and did NOT pay entry into the skins game, you are NOT eligible for the HIO winnings.

Payments of winnings will be made by cheques or partial refunds of credit/debit card payments.

Withdrawing from a Tournament

If you want to cancel a registration, please do so by selecting the confirmed tournament and then select “Edit Registration” and follow the prompts to cancel your registration.  The VGT team will automatically be notified by email of this cancellation and process a refund if applicable.  You will receive an email reminder of the timing required to cancel your registration to receive full or partial refunds.   Refunds will be net of handling charges.  The policies are noted below.

Withdraw Policies

VGT One Day Events where VGT Accepts Tournament Payment

• All Players must provide at least 8 days notice at 6 PM from the day of the event to qualify for a full refund of their entry.  You need to withdraw on the GLG Platform by selecting “Cancel Registration”.
• Players who provide less than 8 days notice for their withdrawal but more than 5 days notice (from first tee time start) will qualify for a refund less $50 + GST admin fee.   Players who do not provide 5 days notice of their withdrawal, will forfeit their full entry fee.

VGT Multi Day Events where VGT Accepts Tournament Payment

• All Players must provide at least 8 days notice at 6 PM from the day of the event to qualify for a full refund of their entry.  You need to withdraw on the GLG Platform by selecting “Cancel Registration”.
• Players who provide less than 8 days notice for their withdrawal but more than 5 days notice (from first tee time start) will qualify for a refund less $100 + GST admin fee.   Players who do not provide 5 days notice of their withdrawal, will forfeit their full entry fee.

NEED HELP?

Memberships or Registrations: info@vancouvergolftour.com

Tournaments, Terms of Competition, OOM, handicaps or tee times: operations@vancouvergolftour.com

Prizes and orders: heidi@vancouvergolftour.com