Down But
Not Out
by CHRIS LANG
Without spectators, the Dominion Energy
Charity Classic will go on | by ARTHUR UTLEY
Ayear ago, the PGA Tour Champions,
the Country Club of Virginia
and Dominion Energy
celebrated signing a historical
10-year extension for one of the most popular
golf tournaments on the PGA Tour
Champions schedule—The Dominion
Energy Charity Classic
Tournament Executive Director Steve
Schoenfeld noted then that the long-term
extension would allow the tournament to
evolve over time.
“We need to stay nimble so we produce
an event that the market is interested in
supporting each year,” Schoenfeld said.
Little did Schoenfeld or anyone else
involved with the tournament know just
how nimble the 2020 edition would have
to be in a world turned upside down by the
deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Because of circumstances related to the
coronavirus, professional sports shut down
for months while commissioners, athletic
directors, owners and athletes wrestled
with how to bring their sport back safely for
participants, spectators and sponsors.
Numerous golf tournaments were canceled
and others rescheduled.
The PGA Tour quit in early March after
one round of the Players Championship.
It returned to action the second week of
June as a safety-driven bellwether for
the other professional tours because golf
has demonstrated it could be played in a
socially distanced manner and there would
be no spectators at the tournaments.
“Our main focus has and will always be the well-being of our
sponsors and their guests, volunteers, spectators and the
professional golfers, but also our ability to make a charitable
impact here in Richmond and Henrico County.”
—Steve Schoenfeld, tournament director
The PGA Tour Champions resumed
play at the end of July following guidelines
similar to the PGA Tour’s.
THE SAFE CHOICE
The week before play restarted, Schoenfeld
announced the 54-hole Dominion
Energy Charity Classic would be held
without spectators.
“Due to the ever-changing climate surrounding
COVID-19, hosting the 2020
Dominion Energy Charity Classic without
spectators was the safest path moving forward,”
Schoenfeld said via press release.
“Our main focus has and will always be
the well-being of our sponsors and their
guests, volunteers, spectators and the
professional golfers, but also our ability
to make a charitable impact here in Richmond
and Henrico County. While this was
a difficult decision, it was one made with an
abundance of caution in mind.”
Schoenfeld also announced the Pro-
Ams scheduled for Oct. 14 and 15 will be
played. Volunteer registration began as
did the charity programs. Through the
DANIEL SANGJIB/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH VIA AP
26 V IRGINIA G OLFER | S EPTEMBER/O CTOBER 2020
vsga.org