Monthly Archives: March 2020

Dear El Tigre Golf Course League Members,

A special fund has been established to provide much needed monetary support to El Tigre Golf Course staff members (golf course caddies, beverage golf cart ladies and front office pro shop staff). Several members have come forward recently to ask how they can help out and Jim Von Gremp sent out an email yesterday to raise awareness among the members on how we might be able to help out the golf staff, in this time of need. I met with Steve Johnson, (El Tigre Golf Course General Manager), earlier today to discuss how we can best structure, implement and communicate the newly established relief fund to all golf course league members.  We are targeting to have the relief fund in place for the next 10 days, with a deadline of 12:00 PM on Monday, April 6th. At that time all collected funds will be made available to the impacted staff members. Please note that the golf course reopened earlier today (after being closed for the previous four days), and we are pleased to report that several members have already made either cash or credit card contributions.

Any and all contributions, of any amount, are greatly appreciated. If you are still in the Nuevo Vallarta area, you can stop by and drop off a cash contribution at the golf shop, to Steve’s attention. Credit card contributions can be made by contacting Steve Johnson, (his email is sjohnson@paradisevillagegroup.com) and letting him know what amount, and what currency (US dollars, Canadian dollars, Mexican pesos, etc.) you would like to contribute. Most members will have a credit card on file with the golf course that you most likely will be able to use. Steve will also establish an accounting process to record and track all contributions collected and periodic fund raising updates will be sent out to all members (via updated posts on this members website) during the relief fund collection period.

It was certainly great to have the golf course open again today and it was very reassuring to see all of the new safety measures in place for the benefit of both golfers and golf course staff members. The new measures are directed at implementing best practices social distancing guidelines coupled with an acute focus on following optimal health/sanitary hygienne protocols. The coronavirus pandemic is a very fluid situation here, in the US, in Canada and around the world. No one knows how long the golf course will remain open, how quickly the coronavirus will impact the local Nayarit area or how devastating the final financial and health impact will be. All contibutions are greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you for your consideration. I wish you and your family the best of health.

Markus Gmelin

All remaining league events for the season have been canceled. In accordance with El Tigre’s social distancing measures, you will need to make tee times and provide the golf shop with the names of all players in advance. The website calendar cannot be used to sign up to play until further notice.

Dear Fellow Golfers,

We have just received the following exciting announcement from Steve Johnson, El Tigre Golf Course General Manager, concerning the reopening of the golf course, effective 7:15 AM, Friday, March 27th, 2020.

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Dear Members,

During these trying times, every decision made by ownership and management have been made with 2 things in mind.  First, ensuring the safety of our members and staff and making the most responsible decisions possible at the moment.  Second, following government guidelines set forth by National and Regional government entities.  We are in agreement with worldwide health organizations as well as government guidelines that if we are responsible now we can limit the severity in our area of this outbreak and life can return to normal much quicker.

With that being said, we feel that if everyone is committed to following extreme safety precautions it is possible to re-open the El Tigre golf course.  I have spoken with many colleagues both in the United States and in Mexico.  Many have been able to keep their golf courses open for play following strict safety guidelines while some have been forced to change the decision and close because golfers were not able or willing to follow the regulations in place.  We are counting on our members and guests to commit to following all of the safety and health guidelines I am listing below:

1. One player per golf car.  Husband/wives, family members can ride together if desired but all other play will need to follow this procedure at all times.
2. We will be spacing tee times further apart to keep with the “Social Distancing” recommendations of all health organizations.  You will need to keep this distance between groups at all times.
3. Golf Members will not need to check in for their round in the Golf Shop.  Proceed directly to the Golf Car Staging Area and let the service staff know you are here.  They will communicate with Golf Shop staff and the check in process will be handled without this interaction.  Guests and non-members will still need to check in in the Golf Shop.  during check in please stay 6 feet away from other customers while you are in the Golf Shop.
4. We have devised a method to allow for no touching of the flagstick.  Your golf ball will not fall to the bottom of the hole when you are putting.  Whether your ball is resting against the flagstick or bounces off, it is considered holed.  Simply pick up your ball without touching flagstick and proceed to the next tee.
5. We will be removing rakes from the golf cars.  During this time simply move your ball to an acceptable position in the bunker and play from that spot. 
6. Please follow all “Social Distancing” guidelines.  Stay 6 feet away from your playing partners, staff and other golfers.
7. Service staff will only handle your clubs after you are completely finished putting personal items away and have left the area.  It is preferred that you handle your clubs yourself and take them with you after golf but we will continue to store clubs if needed but staff will only handle them after you have left the area.

In order for us to open and stay open it is imperative that everyone commit to adhering to these policies.

We will have an extensive sanitizing procedure for our golf cars before and after each use.  Please respect the staff’s ability to follow these procedures before using your golf car.  They will be spraying and wiping all areas of the golf car with sanitizer before and after each use so please keep your distance during this process. 

We will open the golf course for play beginning at 7:15 AM Friday March 27^th.  Tee times are available to book immediately either online or by calling the Golf Shop.  There are no plans for any organized group play so none of these times will be blocked.

We will have limited Beverage Car service available at this time.  There will be no prepared food, mixed drinks, etc. available.  The cars will have beer, soda and bagged snacks (chips, peanuts, etc.) available for purchase.  Please do not expect the staff to handle used items from your golf car, (empty bottles, cups, garbage in general) please dispose of these items yourself. 

Thank you in advance for your strict adherence to these policies.  We believe that the open air of the golf course is an excellent place to be during these difficult times but this is only possible if everyone will do their part in keeping us all safe and healthy.

Steven B. JohnsonDirector General/General Manager
PGA Director of Golf/Gerente Campo de Golf
El Tigre Golf & Country Club
Tel : [322] 226.8190  Ext: 102
Fax : [322] 226.8192
Mail: sjohnson@paradisevillagegroup.com