The Pekin Country Club has closed its golf course entirely after the Illinois State Police delivered a cease-and-desist letter to the private venue to force compliance with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home executive order.
Illinois State Police spokeswoman Beth Hundsdorfer said the cease-and-desist letter was delivered Saturday, and the course has remained in compliance since.
"Governor Pritzker’s Stay at Home Order applies to golf courses and country clubs. This applies to both public and private golf courses," Hundsdorfer said in a written statement. "Illinois State Police will work with local law enforcement to enforce this order, but adhering to the order will save lives and it is the responsibility of every Illinoisan to do their part."
On April 8, general manager Scott Roher sent a message to members telling them several officers of the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office had expressed "no issue" with continued golfing at the Pekin Country Club. Roher asked golfing be limited to members only, social distancing of at least six feet maintained, and only private personal golf carts used.
Roher also removed cups and flag sticks from the course, which lies just outside the city of Pekin's corporate limits.
"Our intent of that conversation was, if someone on the course walks out of their house and onto the course, we will not be responding to kick them off of property that they have a legal right to be on," said Tazewell County Sheriff Jeff Lower on Friday. "There was no direction or permission given by the sheriff's office."
Lower said the governor's office closed the course to the public, and the Pekin Country Club was compliant with the order as written.
"Some do not understand that although the state government issues an order, it is not a law, it does not supersede the law," said Lower. "I do agree that these actions are necessary to help combat this pandemic, but every county, city and jurisdiction is different. What may work in one, may not work in another."
But Garrett Carter, a deputy general counsel with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, sent a letter to Roher telling him private country club golf courses were categorized as "non-essential" under the governor's executive order. He asked Roher to "notify your members of your mistake" and shut down.
"The Department did not come to this decision lightly. We are facing an unparalleled public crisis as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout Illinois. The Governor is trying to flatten the curve by keeping people in their homes. Please note that if Pekin continues to defy this order, it may be subject to an enforcement action," Carter wrote.
The governor himself poured cold water at the suggestion of golfing on Saturday at his daily press briefing in response to a reporter's question on the Pekin Country Club's continued operations.
"We are just beginning to bend the curve here. This is a good sign. But this is not an indication that we should be letting up on those standards," he said.
The Illinois section of the Professional Golf Association of America said it was in contact with the governor's office in late March and was told there wasn't a possibility of reopening courses, public or private, before the order ends April 30.
The Illinois PGA said the conversation with the governor's staff was "a sobering one," and shifted its efforts from lobbying to reopen courses to helping course owners get through the shutdown period.
When asked for comment, the Illinois PGA referred questions to Roher directly. He hasn't returned a request for comment.
Other courses within Pekin were warned to cease all golf activities under threat of penalty earlier this month.
We’re living in unprecedented times when information changes by the minute. WCBU will continue to be here for you, keeping you up-to-date with the live, local and trusted news you need. Help ensure WCBU can continue with its in-depth and comprehensive COVID-19 coverage as the situation evolves by making a contribution.
