Darien Coronavirus: Golf Course Confusion

DARIEN, IL — The Darien Police Department was under the impression that golf courses were supposed to be closed. That's understandable because that's what Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered last weekend as part of his stay-at-home order to counter the coronavirus.

So when police were called Wednesday about golfers at Carriage Greens Country Club, they showed up to tell people to cease and desist, Police Chief Greg Thomas said in an interview Thursday. But then officers learned the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity had revised the order earlier in the day to open golf courses with restrictions.

"It's a little embarrassing for us to tell them to knock it off and find out later that they can operate," Thomas said.

In a later email, Thomas told Patch, "Unfortunately, (the state) advised the golf courses and not the police. The expectation is local police will enforce the Executive Order. I'm OK with that, but if a change is made to the order and/or an interpretation of the order, it needs to be in a place so we can make the right decision."

Later Thursday, the state closed golf courses again, deeming them nonessential businesses. This time, Thomas said, the police department got the message quickly, courtesy of the Illinois Municipal League.

During the short time golf courses were allowed to be open, the state set a number of restriction on golf courses: Golfers must obey social distancing guidelines, golf carts cannot be used, and driving ranges and clubhouses must be closed.

Read more:

Illinois Coronavirus Update: 19 Deaths, Nearly 2,000 Cases

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