COVID-19 RESPONSE - Ayrshire Golf Association cancel county competitions for 2020 season and Member club subscriptions to be refunded in full

The Ayrshire Golf Association executive have taken the regrettable, but necessary decision to cancel all Ayrshire Golf Association competitions for the 2020 season, as a direct result of the present COVID-19 pandemic situation and associated restrictions in place at present, and projected going forward.

The decision has also been taken to support member clubs through these difficult times by refunding all per capita subscriptions paid for the 2019 - 2020 period, and utilise a proportion of reserve funds to cover outlay to date and future outlay until the AGM in October.

The Ayrshire Golf Association executive last met in February and was due to have their next meeting on 12th May.

At the last meeting, the decision was taken to suspend all AGA competitions until a review on 12th May. The present restrictions make it unlikely that any formal executive meetings will take place in the forseeable future.

The executive members have considered a number of matters relating to county golf as a rrsult of the present national and indeed international, situation and consensus has been reached on the following issues which will directly affect, or be of interested to members of Ayrshire Golf Association affiliated clubs.

COMPETITIONS - ONE DAY EVENTS

The Junior Team Championship, Strokeplay Championship and Matchplay Championship had already been postponed from the fixture list in April and May.

It has been agreed to postpone the remaining scheduled fixtures for 2020. These fixtures are

5th July – CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS (Loudoun)
14th July – AYRSHIRE SENIORS (Troon Fullarton)
6th August – AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP (Irvine)
10 - 13 August – AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP (Prestwick)

Although these events have been postponed, it has also been agreed that, should circumstances later in the year permit, that consideration will be given to reinstating one or more of the events at short notice if it proves practical to do so. This will be closely monitored and all clubs will be advised if the position changes in any way.

EXTENDED COMPETITIONS

The six extended competitions that the AGA run have already been suspended until at least 12th May, and with no likelyhood of an early return to 'normal' circumstances to allow these events to continue this year, it has been decided that the extended competitions will be cancelled for 2020.

The events concerned are:-

The Champion of Champions Trophy
The Ayrshire Fourball Championship
The Gary Bryden Memorial Salver
The President's Putter
The Ayrshire Scratch Leagues
The Ayrshire Handicap League Championship

This also means the Finals Day in September will be cancelled.

TEAM MATCHES - WEST OF SCOTLAND

Discussions are ongoing with the other five West of Scotland Area Associations regarding the position of the Mens, Youths and Boys League fixtures as well as the Mens and Boys West of Scotland Open events.

Any decision reached will be circulated in due course.

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ENTRY FEES

The vast majority of The Association's 63 member clubs have paid their 2019-2020 subscriptions to date and The AGA Executive have decided that the most practical way in which The Association could support the member clubs at this time is to refund any subscription paid for the 2019 - 2020 period IN FULL.

It was also agreed to refund extended competition entry fees IN FULL for the cancelled events in 2020.

Any costs for the 2019 - 2020 period will be covered from existing funds held by The Association, including reserve funds set aside for just such unforseen or emergency situations as The Association and their member clubs find themselves in at the present time.

Secretaries of The Association's member clubs will be contacted over the next few weeks regarding refund payments.

The Association hope that that this information is helpful at present in relation to county golf matters, and hope that the early notification, albeit with the regrettable decision which had to be taken regarding event cancellation, will assist everyone involved in golf in Ayrshire, at a county or club level, in clarifying the position for the remainder of the year.

The decisions taken will hopefully allow The Association to give as much practical support as possible to our member clubs through these testing circumstances we all find ourselves in.