Golf courses could reopen in the Coachella Valley and the rest of Riverside County starting this week if the county approves a draft of an amended order.

In an amended order from the county public health office, a copy which is dated April 21, the county says that the complete shutdown of golf courses that was ordered April 2 would be lifted, but with certain restrictions. The order will be considered this week.

The proposed amended order was drafted to get input from various officials in the county, including golf courses and government officials. It is possible that changes will still be made to the draft.

“Effective immediately, the Health Officer for the County of Riverside and the County Executive Officer as Director of Emergency Services hereby order that all golf courses in the County of Riverside, whether public or private, may be opened for limited use, as outlined herein,” the drafted order states.

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The closing of golf courses has been a point of contention between the county and the golfers and golf courses in the county, especially the golf-rich Coachella Valley. The county wanted to limit large gatherings of people that can happen in golf course clubhouses, restaurants and bars as a way to limit the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus.

© Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun Golfers putt on on the 18th hole at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort in Palm Springs, March 16, 2020.

Golfers argued that the sport allows for social distancing and with proper limitations can be played safely. They also argued that the sport is a recreation such as hiking or walking and should be treated as such by the county.

Many golf courses tried restrictions such as no touching of flagsticks, no rakes in bunkers and modified cups that did not allow a ball to drop to the bottom of the cup. The county said that wasn't enough and still closed the courses. Some courses even suggested no more than one rider in a golf cart.

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In the proposed order, the county does issue some restrictions. The county insists that courses follow the “Park and Play: Making Your Course Social Distance Ready” program developed by the National Golf Courses Owners Association. That requires six feet of distance between players except for household members.

“No large gatherings, including but not limited to tournaments and fundraisers, shall be held by, hosted by or occur either public or private, at any time before June 20, 2020, pending further Order of the Public Health Officer,” the order continues.

© Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun A sign outside of Palm Springs City Hall tells the public it is closed because of the coronavirus, in Palm Springs, March 17, 2020.

While playing golf has been banned under the county orders, maintaining golf courses was described as an essential business by the county in the April 2 order. The idea was that golf courses should be allowed to open quickly when the county lifts the no-golf order, so courses must be watered and mowed.

"We could go tomorrow," said Jim Robinson, director of golf at the 36-hole Indian Ridge Country Club in Palm Desert.

Riverside County had originally closed golf courses in March and said golf was not considered an essential business by Gov. Gavin Newsom when he issued shelter-in-place orders last month. Many desert golf courses remained open until April 2, when the county came back with stronger wording on its order.

Last Friday in a county update press conference, Supervisor Manny Perez said he expected some kind of announcement about n golf courses in the county this week.

While most desert courses have closed, golf continues to be played at many private courses in the desert, with county officials saying it was difficult to enforce the rules at private courses where golfers may have their own cart and may live on the golf course.

Since the county shut down golf courses, various golf organizations in the area, including the Southern California Golf Association and the Southern California PGA, have been lobbying the county and other areas that have closed to reopen the game. In particular, those organizations want the game to be considered a recreation such as walking or hiking, which are both allowed under the stay-at-home orders.

Adding to the frustration of golfers was that the game was allowed to be played in other states and even other counties in California with restrictions. Over the weekend, Ventura County reopened its golf courses, and some courses in Orange County also reopened.

In addition, Wisconsin and Minnesota have announced golf courses in those states can reopen. In New York state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is allowing golf to be played at private country clubs.

This is a developing story. Please check back at desertsun.com for more updates.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Riverside County could reopen golf courses this week, with some restrictions