TOC officials ask attendees to wear masks outdoors

KAPALUA -- With a large crowd in attendance for the opening round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course on Thursday, tournament officials are asking that everyone at the event wear masks when in close proximity to anyone else, even outdoors, due to COVID-19 concerns.

"Truly, we want to make sure we're working with the mayor and the County of Maui and the big thing for us is we're an outdoor event -- and that's the big advantage that we have -- but at the same time, golf, there are areas where sometimes it's more difficult to socially distance," TOC Executive Director Alex Urban said Thursday afternoon. "And we're encouraging people to wear masks in those scenarios when social distancing becomes more difficult, especially in those areas where you're just closer to folks.

"We will let people define that, within an area where it's more difficult to do that, but we just encourage and want them to mask up during those times."

The announcement comes as the state and county recorded their highest single-day count of new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, with 734 cases in Maui County and 4,789 statewide.

Urban said the first day of the tournament went well and that signage will be added to the grounds asking people to mask up when in close proximity to others.

"I think people are excited -- I think the tournament is awesome and the field is great and the weather is incredible," Urban said. "Last year there was only a couple hundred people that were allowed here, so yeah, I think it's been a good day, but we want to make sure that we continue focusing on the health and safety of everyone here.

"So, I think that's why we want folks, when they can't socially distance, are wearing their masks."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.