Built in 1948, the Lawton Country Club hasn’t experienced a falloff in rounds during the COVID-19 pandemic, head pro and general manager Johnny Wilson said.
During the winter’s good days – with temps in the 40s and little wind – the number of golfers playing the 71-par course has been better than normal. And on warmer days, the course has been packed.
“The pandemic actually helped us,” Wilson said. “We seemed to get more and more people out there because it’s outdoors. Our golfers, they play all the time. We’re pretty much wide open for business.”
Playing nine or 18 holes also keeps people from being in large crowds and away from the virus’ spread, he said.
Still, the virus had its indirect impact on the country club because of delays in ordering equipment and obtaining golf equipment parts from overseas manufacturers.
“We were telling people during the summer that their orders would take two to three months,” Wilson recalled.
It’s this of year when golf courses nationwide are prepping their properties and filling equipment orders, and Lawton Country Club is no exception. Crews are applying pre-emergence on the course and golf club demonstration days are be- ing scheduled for players who want to evaluate new golf clubs.
“They can look at the new Callaways, Pings, Titleists, anything that’s out there and place an order,” Wilson said.
An entire set of golf clubs can cost up to $2,500, said Wilson, but the price can be lower depending on the needs of the individual golfer. A good used set of clubs might cost $500.
He is hoping country club members will notice the facility’s improvements this spring with new golf carts, bridge repairs and full access to the clubhouse with social events such as parties, weddings and receptions. The issue of full access to the club won’t be determined until later depending on the COVID-19 pandemic and local and state mandates.
Wilson, 56, initially worked at Lawton Country Club from 1979 to 2004 starting in the bag room and working his way up to head pro in 1989. After a short hiatus, Wilson returned to the country club.
Lawton Country Club has more than 350 members and offers a playable, family-friendly course with four sets of tee boxes. The first nine holes were designed by renowned golf course designer Perry Maxwell when the course opened 72 years ago.
“It was built in nowhere, west of town, and wasn’t hardly a part of town at the time,” Wilson said.
Maxwell also designed hall-of-fame courses such as Colonial Hills in Fort Worth, Texas, and Southern Hills in Tulsa.
Lawton Country Club, located at 4601 W. Gore Blvd., also offers a high-end restaurant, tennis courts, swimming pool, fitness center, ballroom and meeting rooms.
The country club offers a variety of tournaments each year, including the Firecracker stroke-play event which is held July 4th weekend. The top prize is a $500 gift certificate to the pro shop.
For more information about the country club, visit www.lawtoncc.com or call 580-353-2076.