Kia Ora Members
Firstly, thank you all for your patience while your Management Committee, after following guidelines imposed by the government, has worked through a complex and challenging decision process regarding vaccinations within our golfing environment.
As we move into the Traffic Light System away from Alert Levels and into Gatherings and away from Bubbles the Committee has concluded that allowing only fully vaccinated people access to our club is in the best interests of our members and staff, both in terms of reducing the risk of Covid 19 spread and ensuring that the Club can operate sustainably and with fewer restrictions than would be the case if we don’t adopt such a rule.
The policy will restrict our site to fully vaccinated golfers only (not including children under the age of 12), with effect from 12.00am Friday 3 December 2021.
Inevitably, our decision although not ideal or not to everyone’s approval, we have outlined the process that we worked through under the Traffic Light System to help members understand.
1. Our number one priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, members, golf participants and the wider community. We must take appropriate steps to make sure we minimise the risk of infection from the Covid 19 virus.
2. Golf is a permitted activity under the red, orange and green settings for both vaccinated and unvaccinated players subject to capacity and other restrictions.
3. After we requested feedback, this feedback told us that a no vax no play policy was preferred.
4. The Management Committee read and considered the feedback. We considered those in favour of vaccination and acknowledged the unvaccinated players being able to play but not use the clubhouse facilities.
5. A workplace risk assessment covering the various aspects of club operations was aligned to the Covid 19 Protection Framework and the guidelines from Golf NZ.
6. We kept other relevant and emerging government legislation under review, along with the interpretations and guidelines released by Golf Managers Association and Golf NZ, MBIE, Employment NZ and Business NZ.
7. We canvassed other golf clubs and their decisions as well as engaging in webinar forums with Golf Managers Association and Golf NZ linking up with golf clubs around NZ.
8. We held briefings, updates and asked for feedback from our staff.
9. We had a robust discussion about allowing unvaccinated golfers to play only, without risk to other golfers and how club operations can accommodate the necessary protocols.
10. Again, our number one priority and statutory obligation to eliminate risks to health and safety, is paramount and the decision in the end after a lot of deliberation was unanimous.
We value every one of our members, you are the essence of Te Awamutu Golf Club. Therefore, our assessment is that “no vax no play” policy will be accepted by most, and the Management Committee understand there are members who choose not to be vaccinated. While we encourage our members to get vaccinated, we accept that it is your choice to make. Unfortunately, that will mean that once the policy is in place, non-vaccinated members and guests will no longer be allowed on the site until circumstances change.
The Management Committee are committed to keeping the policy under constant review and alter or revoke as appropriate.
Financial members who choose “no vax” will have three options.
· Suspend membership until this temporary policy ends and reinstate your membership, or
· Remain in a non-playing membership and receive a pro rata subscription refund until this temporary policy ends when you may reinstate your membership, or
· Resign membership and receive a pro rata subscription refund.
We value your membership, and despite this temporary situation we find ourselves in, hopefully you choose between the first two options.
Policy Implementation
Signage will displayed around the clubhouse and in the carparks. Our staff will be required to sight or scan using the Verifier App your My Vaccine Pass or Covid Vaccination Certificate (CVC) as soon as is practical. Masks will continue to be compulsory in and around the clubhouse, except when seated for food and beverages.
In conclusion, I reiterate that our key objective in developing a “no vax no play” policy is to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, our members, and our golfing community and to allow the club to operate as normally as possible.
I ask our members and guests to assist our staff in a positive manner as they implement this policy, which of course we hope will prove to be very short term. Our team have done an admirable job to date in keeping the course looking great and managing our club through these difficult times.
As I look out onto our spectacular course, I want to play golf at Te Awamutu Golf Club, so hang in there, its just a bump in the road, there is a Green Light at the end of the tunnel.
Gordon Kirkham
President