As America gets “Back2Golf” with all 50 states opening their golf courses under various protocols, a new 30-second PSA, “Golf and Social Distancing,” will guide golfers on responsible ways to play the game. Back2Golf is an industry-wide collaborative effort to provide guidelines for responsible golf during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The spot, starring NBA superstar Stephen Curry, 1997 U.S. Amateur champion and nine-time PGA Tour winner Matt Kuchar and three-time LPGA Tour winner Nelly Korda, began airing on various TV networks on Sunday and will continue to circulate across the golf industry's media platforms and social media outlets. Led by the country’s leading golf organizations and created by Ideas United of Atlanta, the informative public service announcements will stress the importance of social distancing, while also stressing the vital Back2Golf guidelines for health and wellness that are consistent with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
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The PSAs are produced as part of a collaboration through WE ARE GOLF, which includes the USGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and Club Management Association of America (CMAA).
Among the important messages delivered are the health and recreational benefits of golf that can be enjoyed while applying social distancing. Golfers are instructed to stay home if they’re sick, always stay six feet apart and avoid large gatherings anywhere on the course. They are encouraged to “try thumbs ups and fist pumps, not handshakes and fist bumps” and also “when in doubt, just don't touch, and wash your hands!” Golfers are instructed to mark their balls clearly and to wear a cloth facial covering when taking a lesson. Curry closes the spot by telling everyone to “respect your fellow golfers, and let’s be grateful for every swing.”
The campaign, which also includes a longer-form, 60-second spot that will debut later this spring, will include LPGA and PGA Tour players, as well as notable celebrities who are passionate about the game, to provide some social distancing tips. Golf courses are also putting up posters that illustrate step-by-step how you can “Do Your Part to Get Back2Golf Social Distancing Guidelines.” This information will also be posted on social media outlets.
“The industry is coming together during this time in many ways, including the development and airing of these PSAs, as a way to underpin our efforts to promote a responsible return to golf,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO, World Golf Foundation, who oversees WE ARE GOLF. “We appreciate the leadership of golf’s leading organizations and the celebrities who leaned in to help us present this important message to the golf community.”
The Back2Golf plan is a specific, three-phased approach to golf that aligns with the federal government’s broader plan to reopen the economy. Each phase includes operational protocols for social distancing, the sanitation of physical facilities and the health of staff members.
More information about the Back2Golf initiative can be found at wearegolf.org/Back2Golf.
