City council decision to reopen Palm Springs golf courses could come Thursday

At Cimmaron Golf Resort in Cathedral City, it was a steady stream of phone calls coming in Tuesday with golfers booking tee times for Thursday, when the course opens once again for play.

The movement comes after county health officials Monday announced courses in the county could reopen, only by following specific protocol aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus among golfers and course employees.

“A lot of our members and customers are excited to come and have a place to play.  Golf is naturally a socially distancing sport,” said Katie Myers, the resort’s general manager.   

While activity picked up at Cimmaron, just a few blocks away at Escena Golf Club in Palm Springs, it was mostly quiet except for a few people out walking the course.  

While take-out food service at the club house continues, Managing Director John Fitzpatrick and most of his staff wait because an order closing courses in that city remains in effect.

“Well we are ready to be open.  The golf course is in good shape.  We’re ready to bring people back to work.  We are just waiting for the green light.” said Fitzpatrick.    

The City of Palm Springs issued an emergency order March 24th closing all courses in the city.  But, the City Manager David Ready says the city council could lift the order during their meeting this coming Thursday.

For Fitzpatrick and his employees and staff at the 5 other courses in Palm Springs that would certainly be a welcome development.

Meanwhile at Cimmaron and other courses throughout the county, they’re ahead of the game, adopting a number of measures including disinfecting countertops and golf carts.

From the fairways they are removing ball washers, portable restrooms, trashcans and rakes.

Those are just some of the long list of recommendations from the National Golf Course Owner’s Association county officials say all courses are required to follow.

“I think with all the precautions that they say they will have here at Cimmaron and wearing the mask and distancing, I’m really excited, “ said golfer Stephen Seifert.