By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Spring is the peak golf season in the Rio Grande Valley.
But in the East Valley, no course, whether public or private, is immune from the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic or the steady stream of state and local mandates for social distancing and sheltering in place.
There has been debate in some corners of the Valley about whether or not golf constitutes an essential business. While the game has been touted by advocates as an opportunity for fresh air and exercise from a social distance, courses and country clubs tend to attract an older crowd, and the elderly have been designated as especially vulnerable to the virus.
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise along with the increased availability of testing in Cameron County, the likelihood of the golf coming to a complete stop in the East Valley continues to increase.
According to a report from The Dallas Morning News on Thursday, Texas governor Greg Abbott told two judges on a conference call that golf courses should not remain open and golfers should “practice in their own back yard.”
In North Texas, Denton County Judge Andy Eads wrote in an April 4 Facebook post referencing Abbott’s most recent executive order, “Nowhere in that document are Golf Courses listed as an Essential Business or service.”
The cities of Dallas, San Antonio and Austin have all closed their municipal courses.
The manager on duty at the Harlingen Country Club, located in Palm Valley, was issued a $500 citation April 3 by Eddie Solis of the Cameron County Constable’s fifth precinct.
The Harlingen Country Club, Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club and South Padre Island Golf Club did not respond to requests for comment.
Irma Garza, a public relations official at the Harlingen Parks and Recreation Department, was not available for comment.
The Brownsville Golf Center announced on Facebook it was closing March 19 in compliance with Cameron County’s shelter in place order.
“Our revenue has been impacted because we are closed,” said Felipe Romero, a spokesman for the City of Brownsville Parks and Recreation department. “However, the golf center team is still coming into work.”
Romero added that BGC members have been informed that they will be credited for any dues paid during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that patrons can call the facility for more information.
He also noted that tournaments and/or BGC-hosted events affected by the virus will be rescheduled.
Harlingen’s Tony Butler Golf Course followed suit shortly thereafter, suspending operations March 24.
The course’s general manager, Jeff Hart, announced in a Facebook post March 26 that he and his staff are taking advantage of the temporary shutdown to improve the course.
“We are using this time of closure to do some things that needed to be done,” Hart wrote. “So far, we have finished painting the restroom floors, placed out of bounds stakes around the boundaries of the course and aerated the tee boxes. We plan to work on re-striping the parking lot and aerating the greens again on Monday and Tuesday. All so that our customers will have a better golfing experience once this pandemic is over. We hope to see you soon!”
In an April 5 Facebook post, Rancho Viejo announced it was closing its golf course until further notice, as per the direction of Rancho Viejo mayor Cyndie Rathbun.
Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s home course, River Bend Resort & Golf Club, closed from March 25 through this past Wednesday, in accordance with Cameron County’s shelter in place order
Chargers coach Thomas Abete said the course is expected to remain closed, and the University Interscholastic League prohibited any team-sanctioned activity well before courses and clubs began to lock their gates to the public.
“Once (River Bend) shut everything down, that was the best thing they could have done just to prevent people from still going out (and playing golf),” Abete said. “It’s unfortunate that all of these courses are having to close down during peak golf season.”