Ronnie Pfleider, who has been part owner and head pro at Idylwild Golf Club since September of 1992, went to work Monday morning. It was, you might say, a watershed moment in an area sick of rising water.

So why was Pfleider going to work noteworthy?

Because it was the first time there had been significant activity at the beautiful layout near Sour Lake since Aug. 29. Tropical Storm Harvey flooding in the days that followed was so devastating, Pfleider and co-owner Ray Moore seriously considered closing the course that had opened in November of 1961.

“It was horrible,” said Pfleider of the Harvey aftermath. “There was 12 to 14 feet of standing water in the lowest places on the golf course. Three bridges on the front nine are gone. Several greens were torn up by propellers on rescue boats.

“We lost all our carts and maintenance equipment. There was five feet of water in our new clubhouse. Water didn’t completely drain off the course for two weeks. We were told the water was 5 feet higher than in the 500-year flood of 1994. It was just a sickening sight.”

Adding to the anguish for Pfleider and Moore was that their homes adjacent to No. 1 fairway, despite how high they were built up during construction, took on 4 feet of water. Pfleider hopes to move back in by February. Moore says he won’t return.

Until last week, Idylwild’s future dangled in limbo amid speculation it would be the latest hurricane-ravaged golf property to close. Rita and Ike claimed Port Arthur’s Palms at Pleasure Island, Riverwood in Vidor, DERA in Orange and Belle Oaks (formerly Port Arthur Country Club).

After much angst and soul searching, the Idylwild owners decided they would give it one more shot. They have targeted Feb. 1, 2018, to re-open the back nine and are tentatively hoping to open the front as much as a year later.

“We thought long and hard about it,” said Moore, a former Beaumont attorney who for many years was one of the top amateur in Southeast Texas. “It got down to the fact this community has suffered so much from past flooding. We wanted to help bring it back. Without the golf, property values would go down.

“I don’t think anyone who didn’t see this or live through it can understand how truly devastating it was and is out here,” Moore continued. “I could never have envisioned something like this. There are numerous issues, but the main impediment for the golf course is the bridges on the front.

“It could be we will end up with 16 holes, with No. 5 and No. 6 no longer in play.”

Idylwild, which was known as Pinewood Country Club until purchased by Pfleider and Moore, has been the subject of all-to-frequent flooding over the years. Quick to rise Clements Gully on the back and Little Pine Island Bayou on the front intersect behind No. 8 green.

Whenever extremely heavy rains fall, not just in Sour Lake but in areas above, water rushes down, overflows the banks, threatens homes and makes a mess of the golf course.  Drive through the Pinewood area and you immediately notice how many of the 460 homes are elevated as a defense measure.

“I didn’t believe water would ever come into a home as high as Ray and I had ours built up,” Pfleider said. “Once it kept raining, Ray evacuated on Monday. We stayed until about 8 on Tuesday morning, then had to be rescued.

“The next day, while we were sheltered at the First Baptist Church in Sour Lake, there was 20 inches of rain. At that point, I knew we were in big trouble.”

Pfleider, who is still in the process of trying to secure equipment for the restoration, said the process began Monday with picking up the considerable debris on the back nine. Sand traps need to be cleaned out and re-edged and winter grass is going to be planted on the greens and driving range.

“We felt we could get the back nine open without too much cost,” he said. “The target is Feb. 1. It could be a few days either way. The clubhouse should be ready in a couple of weeks. We are going to have to take our time with the front. There is so much that must be done there and a lot more expense.”

Compounding the cost of getting Idylwild up and running is how little insurance money will be coming in. The clubhouse was not insured. There was limited insurance on golf carts and equipment but not enough to cover replacement.

“It is an unfortunate situation,” Moore said. “We have had some really bad luck with flooding out here over the years. Hopefully we are spared in the future. I don’t think the golf course could survive another major flooding event.”

CHIP SHOTS

Chris Stroud was home over the weekend and thought he was headed to a surprise party for a friend Saturday night at the Rockin’ A Cafe in Beaumont. The surprise, however, was on Stroud when it turned out he was the honoree of a bash cleverly planned by his wife, Tiffany.

“The party was amazing,” he said. “The fact that nobody slipped and told me anything, including my 5- and 8-year-old daughters (Harper and Halle) is scary. Tiffany deserves all the credit.”

Stroud’s wife had started planning the party the week of the PGA Championship in August, as another way for Chris to celebrate his first PGA Tour win the week before the PGA in Reno. She wanted him to have the opportunity to share his long-awaited first victory with folks who had been on his bandwagon for years.

“There were literally 100 of the most influential people of my first 25 years of life,” he said. “Best friends. Second moms. Mentors. Coaches. Family. It was absolutely crazy and it is still sinking in.

“I’ve never felt so many emotions at one time, including when I won. I had to hold back tears several times while talking to certain people. I’m very blessed to have such a loyal following.”

Front and center at the party was the imposing trophy he won at the Barracuda Championship. There was also a realistic, life-size cardboard cutout of Stroud holding the trophy. Numerous folks had their photo taken with it …

In the Monday Senior 50 Plus two-ball game at Babe Zaharias, the team of Benny Sharpe, Ronnie LaSalle, Pete Reobroi and Dwayne Benoit won the front with minus-2. Three under won the back for James Shipley, Cap Hollier, Bob Luttrull and a ghost player.  …

The Saturday Senior two-ball at Zaharias produced a three-way tie at minus-2 between teams captained by Randy Monk, Paul Flores and Adam Noel. The back was won with minus 4 by Craig Fontenot, Hollier, Charlie Leard and Dan Floyd. …

In the Friday Senior two-ball, there was a tie on the front at minus-2 between the team of Tony Trevino, Don MacNeil, Wes McDonald and Don Duplan and the foursome of Tom LeTourneau, Larry Johnson, Troy Touchet and Craig Castille. On the back, Joey Alexander, Harrell Guidry, Larry Foster and Leard won with minus-3 …

Thirteen points won the Wednesday Dogfight for the team of Johnson, Ron Mistrot and Charles Perez. The threesome of LeTourneau, Mike Rodgers and Richard Menchaca placed second with 9 points. Closest to the pin winners were Rodgers (No. 7) and Hollier (No. 12).

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