Courses across Houston open for business
Precautions in place after judge clarifies stay at home order
It’s a go. Houston-area golfers can play on courses located in Harris County effective immediately. But there are restrictions and certain requirements must be followed.
Golfers have to maintain distancing of at least six feet and cannot use rented golf clubs. Practice facilities are not to be used.
“We are going to be issuing some clarification on golf, specifically the driving range will not be permitted to operate,” said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesperson for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, on Thursday. “However, folks will still be permitted to play golf so long as they practice social distancing and they do not use rented equipment. They must use their own equipment.
“We want to make sure folks know that playing a round of golf is OK and permitted so long as they don’t use rented clubs or get too close together.”
On Tuesday, Harris County residents were issued a “Stay Home, Work Safe” order from local leaders. Unless it was essential, residents were advised to limit public contact and stay home and nonessential businesses were to shut down.
The order was a bit vague concerning golf courses, even though parks were open to the public. Some golf courses in the Houston area were closed Wednesday. More remained open for play on a beautiful spring day in which temperatures approached 90 degrees.
Harris County courses Cypress Lakes and Longwood, both in Cypress and managed by Triumph Golf, were closed Wednesday and open for play Thursday.
“I closed because of the order that was issued,” said Tim Sulak, general manager at Cypress Lakes and Longwood. “It said all nonessential business. I don’t really consider golf an essential business.”
Sulak said his employees were doing the same thing as those at other courses, which includes for the most part issuing one golf cart per person as well as sanitizing anything that comes into contact with people.
“The six-foot rule is hammered into everybody’s mind,” he said. “You got to stay away from people in order for us to continue what we’re doing. We’re giving everybody basically a reprieve to get outside.”
The safety measures include sanitizing golf carts at each golf club. Flag sticks, scorecards, pencils and sand bottles are being pulled from carts. Rakes have been removed from bunkers, and water coolers and ball washers have been taken away.
“We’re doing everything that we’re supposed to do,” said Casey Wade, head golf pro at High Meadow Ranch Golf Club in Magnolia. “We’re just happy to be open.”
Wade and others in the Houston-area golf community are going to great lengths to ensure safe conditions while also implementing social distancing.
Golfers at golf clubs are asked to wash hands while in the clubhouse, with no more than 10 people in the area at one time. Snack bars are reduced to carry-out.
Meadowbrook Farms in Fort Bend County was open for play Wednesday because of an amended and restated order by the county judge. It allows individuals to engage in outdoor activity at open outdoor recreation areas provided measures are taken to comply with the necessary precautions to reduce transmission of COVID-19, including the practice of social distancing.
Gus Wortham was closed on Wednesday and Thursday, as were Houston city courses Memorial Park, Hermann Park and Sharpstown.
“We’re closed by the directive from the parks department in accordance with the county judge’s order that was issued,” Houston Golf Association president and CEO Steve Timms said. “We’d like to be open. Golf, by design, is socially distancing.”
On Tuesday, Gus Wortham recorded just under 200 rounds. Starters not getting within six feet of players and range balls are washed with soapy water after each use were among safety precaustions taken at Gus Wortham.
The safety rules are being adhered to around the area.
“For people that want to play golf, find somewhere close,” Wade said. “The deal about the coronavirus, limiting travel and limiting personal interaction. Play with people you know, and don’t travel too far to play golf.”
Layne Ricks, general manager of Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club in Katy, has his club implementing safety precautions.
“I know we’re not an essential business, but we’re trying to stay open,” Ricks said.
Ricks and his staff are asking patrons not to pay in cash. If that’s the only method of payment, employees are wearing gloves and using hand sanitizer. Water coolers also have been taken off the course. Meadowbrook Farms is not giving receipts to take to the starter. That confirmation is relayed by electronic transmission.
“We’re doing everything we can do under the circumstances,” Ricks said.
Ricks said he hasn’t seen a big drop at Meadowbrook Farms in the number of seniors, who are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.
“I see the same demographic playing golf,” Ricks said. “There were four guys (Tuesday), everyone was over 80, and they were in their own individual carts. We’re allowing people to walk. They don’t have to ride if they don’t want to.”
Eagle Pointe Golf Club in Mont Belvieu, which remained open Wednesday and Thursday, had 78 players on its course on Tuesday.
“I think all golf courses should be open to some degree,” Jeff Strong, general manager at Eagle Pointe, said. “You’re 100 yards away from the next group that you are in front of. They can’t get to 10 people.
“The employees, I’m asking them, ‘Are they comfortable? You don’t have to work. Do you want to work?’ That’s dropping now that the stay at home is in place. It’s changing as we go. We’ve made it as safe as we possibly can.”