Trevor Ng
Golfers and golf coaches have been at the centre of vaccination debates, with some golfers being denied entry into tournaments and some golf coaches losing their jobs due to their vaccination status. In 2023, Swedish golfer Linn Grant missed the Chevron Championship and other LPGA tournaments as she was not vaccinated against COVID-19. In 2021, Jon Rahm, the third-ranked golfer in the world, was pulled from the Memorial Tournament after testing positive for COVID-19. Rahm had only recently received his vaccine and was still within the 14-day window, so he was not considered fully vaccinated. Benjamin Harwood, a golf coach, was dismissed from his job at the Whangamatā Golf Club in New Zealand for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. These cases highlight the impact of vaccination status on the careers of golfers and golf coaches, with some facing consequences such as dismissal, humiliation, and missed opportunities due to their choices or circumstances surrounding vaccination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Golfer | Jon Rahm |
| Vaccination Status | Not fully vaccinated |
| Reason for not being vaccinated | Scheduling conflicts |
| Outcome | Forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament |
| Golfer | Linn Grant |
| Vaccination Status | Not vaccinated against COVID-19 |
| Outcome | Missed the 2023 Chevron Championship and other LPGA tournaments |
| Golfer | Benjamin Harwood |
| Vaccination Status | Not vaccinated against COVID-19 |
| Outcome | Lost his job at Whangamatā Golf Club |
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What You'll Learn
- Golf coach Benjamin Harwood wins compensation after being dismissed for not getting vaccinated
- Jon Rahm wishes he got vaccinated sooner after testing positive at the Memorial Tournament
- Linn Grant misses tournaments due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19
- Golf clubs in New Zealand adopt a mandatory vaccine policy for members and players
- Benjamin Harwood expresses disappointment with dismissal, inviting the club to resolve the dispute
Golf coach Benjamin Harwood wins compensation after being dismissed for not getting vaccinated
Benjamin Harwood, a golf coach at the Whangamatā Golf Club in New Zealand, has won compensation from his former employer after being dismissed for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Harwood was stood down from his position in December 2021, following the club's "no jab, no play" policy.
The dispute began on November 2, 2021, when the club's general manager, Richard White, and the chairperson of the club's governance committee, Terry Wilson, met with staff to discuss the mandatory vaccine policy for members and players due to concerns about the Delta COVID-19 variant. Harwood, whose roles included professional golf coach, director of golf, and customer service in the retail shop, marked himself as "low/medium" risk. However, White disagreed and assigned him an overall high-risk rating.
Harwood responded by outlining his concerns about the generic nature of the assessment and asserting that he had provided an honest risk evaluation. He also raised objections to the vaccine, citing his rights under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. In his correspondence, Harwood assured that he could manage the risk to vulnerable individuals and agreed to self-isolate and get tested if he experienced any COVID-19 symptoms. Despite this, White informed Harwood that he would be required to show proof of vaccination by December 3, 2021, or his employment would be terminated.
Harwood took the club to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), arguing that the "no jab, no play" policy was "unreasonable and unfair" and that the club failed to consider alternatives to dismissal. The ERA ruled in Harwood's favour, awarding him over $15,000 in compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity, injury to feelings, and two months' wages.
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Jon Rahm wishes he got vaccinated sooner after testing positive at the Memorial Tournament
Jon Rahm has expressed regret over not getting vaccinated sooner after he was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament in Ohio following a positive COVID-19 test. Rahm, who was playing some of the "best golf of his life", received the COVID-19 vaccine prior to the tournament but was still within the 14-day window and thus not considered fully vaccinated. As a result, he was subjected to the PGA Tour's contact tracing protocols and daily testing. After five days of negative tests, Rahm tested positive on Saturday while holding a 6-stroke lead at Muirfield Village.
Rahm was notified just off the 18th green that he had to withdraw from the tournament, an experience he likened to being informed of a rules violation at the same tournament the previous year, which resulted in a penalty stroke being added to his scorecard. "That's the second time I get put on the spot on national TV on the same golf course on the same hole... For all those people wondering when I said, 'Not again,' that's exactly what I mean: Not again," Rahm said.
Rahm acknowledged that in hindsight, he wished he had gotten vaccinated earlier, but his focus at the time was on preparing for the tournament. He stated, "Looking back on it, yeah, I guess I wish I would have done it earlier, but thinking on scheduling purposes and having the PGA and defending Memorial, I was just—to be honest, it wasn't in my mind... I'm not going to lie, I was trying to just get ready for a golf tournament. If I had done it a few days earlier, probably we wouldn't be having these conversations right now."
Despite the setback, Rahm remained positive about his performance at the upcoming U.S. Open. He expressed confidence in his ability to regain form quickly and draw upon the memory of his recent excellent golf shots. "I'm going to choose to remember that. I've been playing really good golf all year," Rahm said.
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Linn Grant misses tournaments due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19
Linn Grant, one of the world's most in-form golfers, will not be participating in the CME Group Tour Championship on the LPGA Tour. The 23-year-old Swede, who currently leads the Race to Costa del Sol ranking on the Ladies European Tour, confirmed her absence in a statement, citing her unvaccinated status as the reason. Grant expressed her disappointment, stating that she would normally be eager to participate in the tournament, especially with the record-breaking $7 million purse on offer.
Grant's decision to forgo the COVID-19 vaccine has resulted in her inability to travel to the United States, where the tournament is held. Travel restrictions for unvaccinated individuals remain in place for overseas visitors to America, as seen with tennis star Novak Djokovic, who missed the 2022 US Open and other tournaments for the same reason.
Grant acknowledged the significance of the tournament for women's golf and expressed her respect for those curious about her absence. She stated that she would keep the reasons for her unvaccinated status private, a matter she wishes to handle internally with her family and team. Grant mentioned two possible scenarios that could allow her to play in the US: a positive outcome on a medical relief process or a relaxation of US travel restrictions.
Despite her absence from the CME Group Tour Championship, Grant remains focused on finishing the LET finale in Andalucia strongly. She has had a dominant season on the Ladies European Tour, making history by winning the Scandinavian Mixed event with the men by nine shots, becoming the first woman to win on the DP World Tour. Grant's talent and success have been recognised, and her decision to prioritise her personal beliefs has sparked discussion about the importance of individual choices during the pandemic.
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Golf clubs in New Zealand adopt a mandatory vaccine policy for members and players
In 2021, golf clubs across New Zealand adopted a mandatory vaccination policy for members and players to address the risks associated with the Delta Covid variant. This policy required employees and contractors to present a vaccine certificate by a specified date, typically December 25 or 26, 2021. Those who failed to provide proof of vaccination by the deadline would have their employment terminated, with their last day of work falling on December 31, 2021.
One such club was the Whangamatā Golf Club, which enforced a "no jab, no play" policy. Benjamin Harwood, a golf coach at the club, refused to comply with the vaccination mandate and was subsequently dismissed from his job. He felt that the policy was "unreasonable and unfair" and argued that the club failed to consider alternatives to dismissal. Harwood took legal action, claiming that his dismissal was unjustified.
Harwood's case was heard by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), which ruled in his favour. The ERA found that while the club had provided Harwood with an opportunity to dispute the policy and addressed his concerns, they had failed to separate the notice period for vaccination from the dismissal notice. This "collapsed" approach was deemed incorrect, as the club should have explored all possible alternatives to dismissal once it was clear that Harwood could not meet the vaccination requirement by the specified date.
As a result of the ruling, Harwood was awarded over $15,000 in compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity, and injury to feelings, along with two months' wages. This case highlights the complexities surrounding mandatory vaccination policies and the importance of fair and just implementation processes.
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Benjamin Harwood expresses disappointment with dismissal, inviting the club to resolve the dispute
Benjamin Harwood was dismissed from his role at the Whangamatā Golf Club in December 2021 due to his refusal to get the Covid-19 vaccine, in line with the club's "no jab, no play" policy. Harwood took the club to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), arguing that the policy was ""unreasonable and unfair" and that his dismissal was unjustified.
The dispute began on November 2, 2021, when the club's general manager, Richard White, and the chairperson of the club's governance committee, Terry Wilson, met with staff to discuss the club's new vaccination requirements. During the meeting, it was outlined that golf clubs across New Zealand were moving towards a mandatory vaccine policy for members and players due to concerns about the Delta Covid variant.
Staff members were asked to complete a risk assessment for their particular work areas. Harwood, whose roles included professional golf coach, director of golf, and customer service in the retail shop, marked himself as "low/medium" risk. However, White disagreed and assigned him an overall rating of high risk.
In response, Harwood sent a letter to White and the board, stating that his employment agreement did not require him to undergo any medical procedures to retain his employment at the club. He also raised concerns about the vaccine's safety and referenced his rights under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Harwood assured the club that he would manage the risk to vulnerable individuals he interacted with and would self-isolate and get tested if he experienced any Covid-19 symptoms.
On December 3, 2021, White wrote to Harwood, giving notice of his dismissal, effective December 31. Harwood expressed his disappointment with the board's decision and invited them to resolve the dispute, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
The ERA ruled in Harwood's favour, awarding him over $15,000 in compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity, and injury to feelings, as well as two months' pay. The ERA found that the club failed to exhaust all possible alternatives to dismissal and did not meet the statutory requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
Jon Rahm was not fully vaccinated when he was pulled out of the Memorial Tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test. He got his vaccine just before the tournament, but within the 14-day window following the shot. He wishes he had been vaccinated sooner.
No, Linn Grant was not vaccinated and hence missed the CME Tour Championship and the 2023 Chevron Championship. She will also miss two LPGA Tournaments in 2023.
It is unclear whether Benjamin Harwood was vaccinated. However, he was dismissed from his job as a golf coach at the Whangamatā Golf Club because he did not get the Covid-19 vaccine. He won an employment case against the club and received over $15,000 in compensation.
Yes, there are likely other golfers who were not vaccinated, but their names were not mentioned in the sources.
