Louisville's quest to keep people apart stifled by disobedient golfers and street racers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Circulated images of a crowded golf course and a well-attended street race have exposed a simmering debate over how Louisville plans to enforce social distancing guidelines amid the COVID-19 outbreak, and whether that enforcement is being equally applied to all.

One image shows a crowd of 40-50 people gathered to watch cars drag race at 13th and Breckinridge streets in downtown Louisville on Saturday night; the other depicts about a dozen or so golfers standing close to each other at Hunting Creek Country Club in Prospect.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has already spoken out against the street races after one involving what he said were “hundreds” of people reportedly took place Friday night at 13th and Broadway.

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On Sunday, he said golf courses have been kept open because "golf is one of the few sports you can play and maintain 6 feet distance."

"But, too many people are not complying," Fischer said. "Please don't put me in a position to shut our golf courses down."

Tom Sanders, president of Hunting Creek County Club, said he was made aware of the photos circulating on the internet.

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“I’m extremely disappointed because we’ve taken great strides to adhere to precautions and have communicated to membership the requirements,” he said. “And it’s very disappointing to see they were not adhered to.”

Sanders said the people in the picture and the rest of the club’s nearly 400 members were notified Sunday about the need to comply with the club’s newly enacted safety measures, which include closing public access to all indoor areas, ending golf cart rentals and requiring members with their own golf carts to ride solo.

Those who do not follow those rules will lose their golfing privileges, he said.

“I think we all understand this is a very serious topic, and it’s one we’re taking very seriously,” said Sanders.

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In Louisville’s extensive public parks system, basketball rims have been removed from backboards, athletic fields closed and playground swings twisted out of reach.

Golf courses, meanwhile, have thus far remained open. That decision, though, has raised some community concerns over equity, given that golf has historically been viewed as an activity for the affluent.

“It just feels like there’s some inconsistency on what activities are safe,” said Chris Glasser, director of Streets for People, a nonprofit that advocates for public land access and public transportation issues.

At least one Louisville Metro Council member has already called for the city to suspend golf at the city’s public courses and use the land as extra park space for the public to safely get outside while still observing social distancing guidelines.

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“Everyone has had to sacrifice some freedom,” said Louisville Metro Councilman Brandon Coan, D-8th. Golf courses, he added are a “resource that could benefit everybody. We should be able to spread out and enjoy those greens and walking paths.”

Councilman Scott Reed, R-16th, whose district includes Hunting Creek Country Club, said he hoped golf courses could remain open at a time when it’s important that people are able to go outside and be active. But, he cautioned, golfers must follow social distancing rules and golf professionals at those courses must make sure of it.

“Because, quite frankly, if they don’t, courses are going to be added to the close list,” he said.

Street racing rampant in area, building owner says

Fischer used his Sunday press briefing to once again admonish public gatherings like the street races that took place Friday and Saturday nights.

Somewhere between 40 and 50 people were seen at 13th and Breckinridge streets Saturday night. While some cars raced, others sped down the street alone. They were out there at least an hour before Louisville police came to disperse the crowd.

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James Cowherd, a building owner in the area, said street racing has been a constant for the last several years. He's called police and tried to talk to city officials about the issue. But even when police show up, he said, it only seems to temporarily pause the racing.

"Literally 15 minutes later, they'll be back to racing again."

Police were sent to that intersection three times Saturday, said Jessie Halladay, special advisor for the Louisville Metro Police Department. No citations were issued.

Louisville police have beefed up patrols around parks and other areas where congregations of people have been reported, Halladay said.

"We are doing that in order to discourage people from engaging in this very unhealthy behavior," she said. "Being together right now poses too much of a health risk for everyone in this community."

Courier Journal reporter Savannah Eadens contributed to this story.

Jonathan Bullington is an investigative reporter. Reach him at: 502-582-4241; JBullingto@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @jrbullington. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.