• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Local Golf Courses Push to Reopen Amid COVID-19

3:47 PM | Friday, April 3, 2020

The mandate to shutter golf courses due to COVID-19 is “a disaster” according to Steve Makowske, the superintendent for Centerbrook Golf Course in Brooklyn Center.

“Gov. Tim Walz has us closed to both golf and maintaining the golf course,” Makowske said.

He wants that changed. Makowske said they are taking both issues to numerous golf course associations across the nation including the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

The issue also has thousands of Minnesotans rising up to sign a petition to get Gov. Walz to reopen courses. 

“We meet all the parameters for social distancing. After everybody tees off, you’re not within six feet of anyone for the rest of the day,” Makowske explained.

‘This is an Ever-Evolving Situation’

Governor Walz addressed the golf issue during a media briefing Thursday. He says he understands the pain felt by golfers.

“We need to do more work, too. This is an ever-evolving situation,” Walz said on the current stay-at-home restrictions. “I want to acknowledge the situation around golf. I have to keep people functioning the best they can and stay sane. I know if golf is your passion, please know we’re trying to evolve these things. I make these decisions on the best health guidance given to me, but also measuring it against the sustainability of a stay-at-home order that puts a lot of pressure on people.”

Walz says he will adapt based on that guidance given to him.

“For all those folks especially with golf, I’m trying to figure this out. If this is going to last a while, if two can go out and not be beside each other, we maybe need to figure that out. I’m asking my folks to do that.”

Makowske said if courses reopen, they would require single-rider policy for carts, take out benches, ball washers and anything else that would lead to people congregating. 

Spring Season Crucial to Business

Don Berry, director of Edinburgh USA in Brooklyn Park told CCX that spring is vital to the golfing business.

“We’ve had a very nice spring, way better than normal,” Berry said. “We feel like each week that goes by, we’re losing a fair amount of money. Money you’re not going to make up.”

He added that they’re saving money on staff, so it’s not a total loss but they wish they were open for business. 

‘Stay Off the Grass’

Berry also mentioned Edinburgh USA is trying to maintain the grass as best it can.

“We’re trying to keep everyone off the turf and not to walk across the course,” said Berry. “We had some football and soccer games and it kills the grass.”

Residents are allowed to stroll on the cart paths of Edinburgh but they should avoid walking on the greens, tee boxes and other turf areas of the golf course. 

The city of Golden Valley also posted that Brookview Golf Course has seen a number of golfers out on the course, despite the golf course being closed. 

Makowske explained that with moisture on the ground, any damage you do now will take roughly six weeks to repair.

“Golfers in Minnesota, we’re a hardy bunch. We lead the nation in golf participation every single year,” Makowske said. “Golf is a lifelong sport and unfortunately we can’t get to it.”  

Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Golden Valley

Related Stories

Tensions Rise As Marijuana Legalization Bill Moves Forward:  A bill to legalize recreational marijuana… Read More
Brooklyn Park Business Tenants Given Two More Months to Find New Home:  A group of business owners in… Read More
Brooklyn Park Family Builds 20-foot-tall Snowman:  A Brooklyn Park family likes our abundance of snow… Read More
Robbinsdale School District Extends Bus Contract:  The Robbinsdale School District has extended the… Read More
Champlin Man Gets Probation for Brooklyn Park Salvation Army Arson:  A man accused of setting fire to… Read More
Local Teachers Among Candidates for Minnesota Teacher of the Year:  Ten local teachers have been named… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2023 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in