According to the most recent official notices, the PGA Tour Bermuda Championship golf event has been granted a Large Group Exemption, with the exemption conditions stating that SafeKey must be used, contact tracing details must be collected from all attendees and “masks must be worn indoors and outdoors by staff and patrons if 6 foot distancing cannot be maintained.”
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship event — which will take place later this month at the Port Royal Golf Course — has a field size of 132 players and a prize purse of $6.5 million, and will be broadcast on the Golf Channel. The field will feature a minimum of four Bermudians who gain entry via a Local Qualifying event.
The official notice is below:
Large Group Exemption The PGA Tour Bermuda Championship
- Notice Type: Government Notice
- Notice Sub Type: Public Notification
- Notice ID: GN0952/2021
- Public Authorities / Department: Ministry Level
- Publication Date: 01 October 2021
Public Health [Covid-19 Emergency Powers] [Phased Re-Opening] Regulations 2021 Large Group Exemption
Whereas the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport considers that Sean Sovacool of Bermuda Championship is justifying an exemption from the prohibition in regulation 5[5] of the Public Health [Covid-19 Emergency Powers] [Phased Re-Opening] Regulations 2021 on groups of more than 20 persons assembling;
Now therefore, the Minister grants an exemption under regulation 5[5] of those Regulations to Sean Sovacool of Bermuda Championship, 6 Whaling Lane, Southampton SB03, to assemble for the purposes of the PGA Tour Bermuda Championship on 25th to 31st October 2021 subject to the standard large group conditions below, at the following times and venues:
1. Butterfield Bermuda Championship Coca-Cola Pro-Am
- Date – Monday, October 25
- Time – 10:30 AM – 8 PM
- Venue – Port Royal Golf Course, 5 Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton SB03
- Total number of attendees permitted – 460
2. Butterfield Bermuda Championship Am-Am
- Date – Tuesday, October 26
- Time – 10:30 AM – 6 PM
- Venue – Mid-Ocean Club, 1 Mid Ocean Drive, St. Georges FL10
- Total number of attendees permitted – 140
3. Butterfield Bermuda Championship Official Pro-Am
- Date – Wednesday, October 27
- Time – 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Venue – Port Royal Golf Course, 5 Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton SB03
- Total number of attendees permitted – 656
4. Butterfield Bermuda Championship Pro-Am Reception
- Date – Wednesday, October 27
- Time – 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
- Venue –Hamilton Princess, 76 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton HM08
- Total number of attendees permitted – 250
5. Butterfield Bermuda Championship – Opening Round
- Date – Thursday, October 28
- Time – 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Venue – Port Royal Golf Course, 5 Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton SB03
- Total number of attendees permitted – 1,354
6. Butterfield Bermuda Championship Official – Second Round
- Date – Friday, October 29
- Time – 7:30 – 6:00 PM
- Venue – Port Royal Golf Course, 5 Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton SB03
- Total number of attendees permitted – 1,354
7. Butterfield Bermuda Championship Official – Third Round
- Date – Saturday, October 30
- Time – 7:30 – 6:00 PM
- Venue – Port Royal Golf Course, 5 Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton SB03
- Total number of attendees permitted – 1,354
8. Butterfield Bermuda Championship Official – Final Round
- Date – Sunday, October 31
- Time – 7:30 – 6:00 PM
- Venue – Port Royal Golf Course, 5 Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton SB03
- Total number of attendees permitted – 1,354
Standard Large Group Conditions:
- The number of attendees at any event cannot exceed 50% of the normal capacity at any indoor or outdoor setting. ‘Attendees’ include hosts, organizers, staff, volunteers, players, coaches, officials, spectators and vendors.
- The use of SafeKey is required for all attendees at any gathering above the permitted number of persons. Attendees’ SafeKeys must be checked against a valid ID with name and date of birth, and be verified on https://verify.gov.bm/ prior to entry, per guidance at https://www.gov.bm/safekey.
- Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors by staff and patrons if 6 foot distancing cannot be maintained, unless eating or drinking, or with members of one household or during physical exertion, per Public Health Guidelines at: www.gov.bm/mask-guidance
- Contact tracing details must be collected from all attendees including full name, date and time of visit, phone and email in case there is a positive case in attendance.
- Signage must be available throughout indoor and outdoor settings encouraging physical distancing and indoor mask wearing.
- Marshalls must be deployed at the rate of 1 Marshall per 50 attendees, in particular at the entrance, bathrooms, food and drink vending, and narrow and enclosed areas to enforce 6 foot distancing, hand hygiene and mask wearing. Marshalls can include staff, volunteers and security.
- Sanitizing stations must be available at the entrance of any indoor setting and on tables and bar counters.
- Lines for food, drinks and bathrooms must be marked to ensure 6 feet a distance between each person waiting in line.
- Staff should complete the online Infection Prevention Control training available at: www.gov.bm/infection-prevention-and-control-training
- Food and beverage vendors must comply with Environmental Health licensing and food hygiene regulations and requirements.
- Employees must be screened for signs/symptoms of Covid-19 at the start of their shift. Sick employees must be directed to stay home or immediately go home if they feel or appear sick.
- Adhere to cleaning and disinfecting Public Health guidelines at: https://www.gov.bm/covid-19-guidance-events-and-gatherings
- WeHealth is strongly encouraged as it will help contain an outbreak in case of a positive case at any event whether above or below the permitted number.
- A copy of this “Letter of no objection” for the Large Group gathering and the conditions must be posted at the entrance and clearly visible and kept on file to be made available upon request
The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport reserves the right to withdraw the permission to have more than the permitted number of persons assembled at the event without notice or cost to the Bermuda Government subject to the status of Covid-19 in the local community.
The Bermuda Police Service and Officials from the Ministries of National Security, Health and Youth, Culture and Sport have right to attend and observe compliance of the conditions as prescribed above.
Dr. The Honourable Ernest G. Peets, JP
Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport
1 October 2021
