‘Nothing compares to it’

HARLINGEN — Following a year of development, city officials are introducing the renowned Tony Butler Golf Course’s $5.5 million upgrade into a championship layout that spans over 200 acres of lush greens, undulating fairways, and extensive water features.

This significant endeavor in the golf course’s 95-year saga follows nearly six years of preparation and various obstacles due to rising construction expenses.

After the planning was undertaken by former Mayor Chris Boswell’s administration, Mayor Norma Sepulveda’s office sought to finance its construction, with the objective of attracting more golfers to alleviate a decade-long financial shortfall.

“They sought a championship-caliber course — and we delivered it,” stated Jeff Hart, the golf course’s general manager and advocate for the project, to the commissioners during a meeting on Wednesday.

“It’s a challenging course,” he remarked. “It’s aesthetically much more pleasing — and aesthetics play a vital role in golf courses.”

Since its opening on Nov. 23, the golf course has attracted unprecedented player numbers, earning $54,675 in its initial 10 days, according to Hart.

“Everyone expresses how much they enjoy it,” he mentioned in a Thursday interview. “The layout is fundamentally the same, but numerous modifications have been made. Everything feels almost brand new.”

Hart, who has managed six golf course renovations throughout his career, stated that the project has positioned Tony Butler as the premier course in the Rio Grande Valley.

“I believe there’s nothing comparable in the Valley,” he said. “It presents a unique design, resembling an English links course.”

Crafted by celebrated golf course designer Jeffrey Blume, the layout is intended to challenge the skills of players.

“The course now poses substantially more challenges compared to before,” Hart explained. “There are many elevations and depressions, enhanced water features, and the ponds have been enlarged. More varied shots are required.”

A significant focus of the project was revitalizing the golf course’s putting greens, which Blume expanded from approximately 3,000 to 6,000 square feet, Hart mentioned.

“These greens are faster and much more undulating,” he stated, referencing the newly installed sand-based putting greens.

Across the greens, Blume implemented paspalum turf, a salt-resistant grass replacing the champion Bermuda variety.

“The ball will grip better since the root system grows vertically,” Hart noted. “It won’t bounce forward on impact; it will stop when it reaches the greens.”

Along the greens, Blume incorporated five tee boxes, whereas the previous course had only two.

“There are several sets of tee boxes available, catering to all skill levels,” Hart explained.

As part of the design, Blume revamped the golf course’s irrigation framework, a key element of the project, by installing approximately 14 miles of underground, high-density polyethylene piping to replace a four-decade-old leaky PVC network.

In parallel, a computerized central control unit manages the new irrigation system.

Adjacent to the pro shop, the course is now equipped with 74 new Yamaha golf carts.

Launched on Sept. 25, 2023, coinciding with the closure of the course, the Missouri-based contractor Mid America Golf and Landscape wrapped up construction in August.

Since completion, Hart has collaborated with city teams to finalize details and construct about a mile of concrete paths for golf carts.

“There’s still a lot of work ahead to achieve our desired standards,” he stated. “We’re maintaining and rolling the grounds. It simply needs time to grow. The course still requires maturation. The roots have to establish further. By spring, we should see significant improvements in the course’s condition.”