This week's update will be two things. One, we will need to cancel the next two Tuesday tournaments. The tournaments canceled are 6-30 at Lions and 7-7 at Morris Williams. Unless something happens we will skip next week's update and be back with an update July 7th and posted by July 8th.
Two, the response from The City of Austin and my response to it included below in the entirety. This explains why both tournaments were canceled. I did not include all the email addresses involved but it was every level of management in the city government except the mayor. This answer was in response to a letter I had written to the city manager and I did not include it as this was already a long update.
I am somewhat hopeful that we will get to play after their test tournament. Shawn and I are working on alternatives should we not gain an approval. Please let us know whether you would prefer every other week or monthly should we be forced to play only non-city courses the balance of the year or at least for a while.
On June 19th, Kimberly McNeeley, wrote:
On June 19th, Kimberly McNeeley, wrote:
Mr. McWhorter,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing in response to the email below. As I believe you may be aware, the Parks and Recreation Department was able to meet with Austin Public Health and the public health authority regarding the general subject of golf tournaments and specifically the historical Muny Golf Course Firecracker Tournament.
With careful consideration and a number of modifications, the City of Austin Golf Division will be able to host the Firecracker Tournament. Please know because Austin/Travis County is currently at a Stage 4 Risk Level, this year's Firecracker Tournament will look considerably different than years past- but the great news it will happen. Lesson's learned the Firecracker will be taken into consideration as the city evaluates the possibility of future golf tournaments during the pandemic.
The Parks and Recreation Department will continue to work collaboratively with the Austin Public Health Department and the public health authority to evaluate other tournament possibilities- considering the local characteristics of the virus and the Austin/Travis County Risk Guidelines. It is important to note, based upon the Risk Based Guidelines, the City Parks and Recreation Department is not in a position to offer golf tournaments for the senior age group while at a Stage 4 Risk. Stage 4 indicates high risk individuals (which includes people age 65 and over) avoid social gatherings great then 2. I've attached the Risk Guidelines for your convenience.
The Golf Team is diligently working to prepare for the Firecracker. Questions regarding the tournament modifications and general tournament rules can be directed to Kevin Gomillion and the golf team. Thank you for your continued advocacy for golf. I am available by email or at the number should you need to contact me.
Best Regards-
Kimberly McNeeley, CPRP
Director, Ausitn Parks and Recreation
512-974-6722
My response to Ms. McNeeley follows:
Hello Ms. McNeeley,
Thanks so much for your nice reply. It was extremely important to us. In the future I will focus more narrowly on those most involved in golf, but did want to inform all copied of our thoughts. We are very happy that the Muny Golf Course Firecracker Tournament will be allowed to continue the tradition. It is an important part of Austin. The guidelines it will be played under are identical to how we conducted our tournament last week at a non-city course here in Austin. Our results were very pleasing as we all followed the guidelines and were invited to have our tournaments as often as we liked in the future.
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing in response to the email below. As I believe you may be aware, the Parks and Recreation Department was able to meet with Austin Public Health and the public health authority regarding the general subject of golf tournaments and specifically the historical Muny Golf Course Firecracker Tournament.
With careful consideration and a number of modifications, the City of Austin Golf Division will be able to host the Firecracker Tournament. Please know because Austin/Travis County is currently at a Stage 4 Risk Level, this year's Firecracker Tournament will look considerably different than years past- but the great news it will happen. Lesson's learned the Firecracker will be taken into consideration as the city evaluates the possibility of future golf tournaments during the pandemic.
The Parks and Recreation Department will continue to work collaboratively with the Austin Public Health Department and the public health authority to evaluate other tournament possibilities- considering the local characteristics of the virus and the Austin/Travis County Risk Guidelines. It is important to note, based upon the Risk Based Guidelines, the City Parks and Recreation Department is not in a position to offer golf tournaments for the senior age group while at a Stage 4 Risk. Stage 4 indicates high risk individuals (which includes people age 65 and over) avoid social gatherings great then 2. I've attached the Risk Guidelines for your convenience.
The Golf Team is diligently working to prepare for the Firecracker. Questions regarding the tournament modifications and general tournament rules can be directed to Kevin Gomillion and the golf team. Thank you for your continued advocacy for golf. I am available by email or at the number should you need to contact me.
Best Regards-
Kimberly McNeeley, CPRP
Director, Ausitn Parks and Recreation
512-974-6722
My response to Ms. McNeeley follows:
Hello Ms. McNeeley,
Thanks so much for your nice reply. It was extremely important to us. In the future I will focus more narrowly on those most involved in golf, but did want to inform all copied of our thoughts. We are very happy that the Muny Golf Course Firecracker Tournament will be allowed to continue the tradition. It is an important part of Austin. The guidelines it will be played under are identical to how we conducted our tournament last week at a non-city course here in Austin. Our results were very pleasing as we all followed the guidelines and were invited to have our tournaments as often as we liked in the future.
We plan to do some more and at other non-city courses as well. The problem is most of us have prepaid cards at the City of Austin courses and the extra cost for those card holders is a financial penalty. We have a long tradition with the City of Austin courses as well and based our purchase of the extended cards on playing our weekly tournaments.
We will be following the Firecracker with the hope that it is very successful and that our much smaller tournaments can resume on a weekly basis after it is completed. I sometimes wish we did not call ours tournaments as they are not what most picture. They are like 30 foursomes playing golf. There are no big gathering, there are no award ceremonies. The point you made that the current Stage 4 risk would make it impossible due to the limit of 2 socially at our age. Our membership is from 62 to the 90's, with the average age about 72. It is my current estimate that our group plays golf in Austin more than 2 times per week and in almost each case it is a foursome. Many of these are on city courses. When we hosted our weekly tournament we were your best customer. We did not reach these wise old ages by not being reasonably smart and somewhat able to take care of ourselves. On average our members are above average healthy, educated and live four or more years longer than non-golfers.
We will be following the Firecracker with the hope that it is very successful and that our much smaller tournaments can resume on a weekly basis after it is completed. I sometimes wish we did not call ours tournaments as they are not what most picture. They are like 30 foursomes playing golf. There are no big gathering, there are no award ceremonies. The point you made that the current Stage 4 risk would make it impossible due to the limit of 2 socially at our age. Our membership is from 62 to the 90's, with the average age about 72. It is my current estimate that our group plays golf in Austin more than 2 times per week and in almost each case it is a foursome. Many of these are on city courses. When we hosted our weekly tournament we were your best customer. We did not reach these wise old ages by not being reasonably smart and somewhat able to take care of ourselves. On average our members are above average healthy, educated and live four or more years longer than non-golfers.
We appreciate these rules for the "vulnerable," but the recent spike in Covid19 in Austin has been caused by a much younger crowd based on the reports we are reading and hearing. I am not aware of any senior golfer who has spread the virus in Austin and am certainly not aware of one in our group. One of the safest places for us is outdoors playing golf.
When the Firecracker is successful and we open up golf to some tournaments our style will be the model. It already is. We do not want to be treated differently since we have the advantage of wisdom and maturity. We would be happy to teach the younger how to be responsible.
Sincerely yours,
Travis McWhorter
President ASGA
When the Firecracker is successful and we open up golf to some tournaments our style will be the model. It already is. We do not want to be treated differently since we have the advantage of wisdom and maturity. We would be happy to teach the younger how to be responsible.
Sincerely yours,
Travis McWhorter
President ASGA
