Well, after many months of being on the TBGC Board, and after several years of debating with the Harlingen City Management over holes 19 through 27, it is time to let the golfers know what is going on. First a little history as I remember.
1) TBGC was a 27 hole layout and operated as an Enterprise Zone under the City of Harlingen Management. Enterprise Zone is similar to the Airport. These operations run on their own with no funding from the city. TBGC has paid many dues to the City of Harlingen in the past years. 10 years ago TBGC was a profitable Enterprise Zone with money in the bank. That money was used to refurbish the club house. Due to City Management neglect, course conditions and competition, TBGC began losing money. The City of Harlingen LOANED the difference to TBGC, those loans have increased each year and we are now over $1,000,000. This loan has to be paid back. 
2) Two years ago, City Management began looking at closing 19-27 and selling 19-23. Once they sold the property, the $1,000,000 loan would be paid off and the revenue would be used to renovate 1/18. National Golf Foundation (NGF) was hired to survey the course. NGF found the course to have simply outlived it's infrastructure and needed a makeover. Condition was the main complaint on their survey. NGF could not quantify the amount of rounds played on 19/27 and the total rounds of golf played did appear to warrant 27 holes. The NGF suggested 19/27 remain open during 1/18 renovation. City Management considered their paid recommendation however they ignored the advice. They scheduled closure for Spring of 2021. Once closure was announced, 9 Winter Texan Parks with leagues moved their play to Stuart Place Golf Course. Naturally, this lead TBGC to lose even more revenue.
 3) Once 19/23 closed, the survey teams were all over the place, mapping out what was to be sold. Pins were pulled and the holes were filled in. The TBGC management asked the City Management representatives to allow the golf course personnel to maintain the greens, just in case the sale did not go through. TBGC management were told not to maintain the greens. They were also told not to water greens 19/23. There was no reason for this, City Management allowed the greens to deteriorate so they could not be reused. Parks took over maintenance of 19/23 and two golf course employees transferred to Parks.
 4) All of a sudden the surveys were complete and then there was silence from City Management. Many questions were posed from numerous sources about the course to City Representatives and there were no credible answers of any kind. Common answer "we do not know". What happened to the sale? The City of Harlingen went MUTE. In 1953 there was a resolution in the establishing of "Sam Botts Park". This resolution references property North of the Arroyo Colorado and the Main Canal of the Cameron County Water District. That property is Tony Butler Golf Course. I quote "NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the above described tract is hereby and henceforth designated as the Sam Botts park of the City of Harlingen, Texas, to be and become a municipal park for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of Harlingen, Texas." So, this really put a kink in the City Management's plan. We certainly now see our City Management's transparency. We now know why all the sales pitches stopped. City Management had not researched the property they wanted to sell! Really???????? I see egg on face, now you know why City Management went MUTE. Now what?
5) Harlingen City Elections are in May, less than 70 days off. We will be electing 3 new Commissioners. Some of the Commissioners (de la Rosa, Mezmar, Uribe, Leal) voted to close holes 19/27. Mezmar and Leal have opponents for their position and de la Rosa is not running. I will be interviewing each of the men running for Commissioner and let you know how they stand on the golf course. The new Commissioners can turn things around.
 6) Proposition????? Rumor has been floating around that the City of Harlingen Management may add a Proposition on the ballot. Proposition may read something like "remove the stipulation from park land to commercial land, block this and block that ........" This proposition may not even mention that the property was formerly Tony Butler 19-23. This would be consistent with the lack of transparency that the City of Harlingen has exhibited in the past. In other words, a lot of "legalese" that most average people can't decipher.
7) The last rumor was that City Management wanted to use part of holes 24/27 as a parking lot for Victor Park. Really......... I also heard a bit about Frisbee Golf, but how much revenue will be brought into our city from Frisbee Golf? Just sayin'........
I may seem a little cynical about the City of Harlingen officials and Tony Butler Golf Course, you would be correct. City officials have busy not being truthful, stone walling, manipulating and suppressing information to arrive at their agenda.
Without a doubt, Tony Butler needs all 27 holes on the golf course. Holes 19 through 27 is the training ground for our golfing youth, it is the training ground for the new golfers that do not want to be pressured by better regular golfers. Those holes represent an easy walk for our seniors, two years ago they flocked to holes 19/27 to walk 9 holes. Winter Texan Park Leagues PREFERRED holes 19/27 for their League Play. I uncovered an estimate that was provided to City Management (by TBGC Staff) about the cost of losing holes 19/27. The estimate was $200,000 in only Winter Texan Park league play. City leaders chose to ignore those numbers. City of Harlingen Management turned their back on our youth and senior golfers. We have not even thought about the natural beauty of holes 19/27. It is really cool playing golf along with all the critters scurrying around the course: ducks, squirrels, gophers, scores of birds & butterflies, armadillos, skunks and raccoons, just to name a few.
One thing to consider, ONCE YOU ELIMINATE THIS NATURAL HABITAT OF TREES AND GRASSES, IT WILL BE GONE FOREVER! All for a concrete parking lot.........
FYI, due to Covid-19 and the improved condition of TBGC, rounds of golf are UP 52% to date over last years rounds. TBGC year starts in October through January. I think we need those extra 9 holes.
Pics are from holes 19/27. We miss them!
NO ONE IS GOING TO COME TO HARLINGEN FOR A PARKING LOT
What can you do?
1) Cast your ballot in the May election. VOTE!
2) Know who your Commissioner is! Your Commissioner needs your vote and will listen to you. Every contact (email, call or letter) equals the opinion 26 others. 100 contacts = 2600 unhappy voters.
3) Contact your Commissioner or all Commissioners. They never expected this golf issue could effect an election. They screwed the Harlingen Golfers and now it just might be pay back time.
Mike Mezmar mmezmar@myharlingen.us (voted TO close 19/17)
Frank Puente puenteroofing@gmail.com (voted NOT TO close 19/27)
Ruben de la Rosa rdelarosa@myharlingen.us (voted TO close 19/27)
Richard Uribe ruribe@myharlingen.us (voted TO close 19/27)
Victor Leal vleal@myharlingen.us (voted TO close 19/27)
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Tony Butler Golf Course formerly known as Harlingen Municipal Golf Course was constructed in 1929. This is a confusing reference, #19/27 was the original 1/9 (front 9), holes 1/9 was the original 10/18 (back 9). Current 10/18 did not exist.
Harlingen Country Club was located where the Condo's are now located back of the #9 green. HCC used Harlingen Municipal Golf Course as their home course. I spent many summer days in the pool at HCC . My grandparent were founding members of HCC. I also spent many afternoons walking 19/27 with my Grandfather. He was a hack, but always had a great time.
1959 came around and TBGC was remodeled. Front 9, (19/27), was the same but the back 9 (1/9) was rearranged. I have the maps at the shop.
In 1974, the City of Harlingen, borrowed $290,000, to add the current 10/18 and refresh the course. This made TBGC a 27 hole layout.
In 1991, the course was changed again to make holes longer and the course more difficult.
Harlingen Municipal Golf Course was renamed Tony Butler Municipal Golf Course after PGA Professional Tony Butler. Tony was the long time Club Professional at TBGC.
I took one lesson at 12 years old +/-, I remember it well, he showed me how to grip the club and make a swing. I proceeded to pipe three shots down the middle of the driving range. He just looked down and me and said "we're done here". I remember hanging out at the old club house (torn down across the street), it was dark, and the cleats clicked across the Saltillo tile floor. Cards being played in the corners of the room along with gamblers paying their debts and the brew was flowing. Good times!
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Some times when golf balls are not going where they should, it could be due to SWAYING.
This can produce some terrible shots because it is very difficult,
after swaying back during the backswing, to bring the clubface
to the ball in the proper alignment.
Although there is some slight head movement during a swing,
any significant side-to-side (or up-and-down) head movement
should be avoided.
To get the right feel, hit some practice shots with feet together.
During your weight shift, concentrate on keeping the weight on
your right foot on the inside of your foot.
Check your progress by taking practice swings with the sun
behind you and watching your shadow.
Don’t let the clubface get ahead of your hands at impact.
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Harlingen Sunburst Rotary
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Just a notice to all our Rotarians and Friends of Rotary. Our Rotary Club is now meeting at Richard's Restaurant. Thursday at 7 AM. Help us make a difference.
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