Krabbenhoft said the decision was ironic given Sanford’s role as community benefactor.
“To vote not to extend it there because some tee times were interrupted for seven days, it was very difficult to swallow,” he said, adding that Fargo, North Dakota would be happy to host the tournament.
The Minnehaha Country Club vote had been about more than just a few days of tee times. Those members who opposed the extension argued the economic losses to hosting the event outweighed the money the club received. The event itself, as well as the weeks of set-up and tear down, disrupted the club and closed a window of golf in a state where good weather is a scarcity. Some members were also not impressed with the extensive branding of Sanford around the club.
The vote was a rare rebuke to Sanford, and Krabbenhoft.
Two days later, he wrote the email.
It wasn’t just that he questioned the use of masks, which he pointed out have become a symbol, it was the tone of the email. There were 593 people with COVID-19 in state hospitals that day, just 14 shy of the peak. In the past week before, 10,000 people had tested positive and more than 100 had died.
The following day, he told the Argus Leader in an interview that the worst of the pandemic would soon be over – which has so far proven true. He also rejected the need for mask mandates.
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