The city of Galveston is taking pity on golfers stranded with nowhere to swing their clubs after last month’s municipal course closure.

To help ease the pain of the anticipated 18-month absence of public golf on the island, City Council decided to reopen the driving range.

Buckets of balls will be available Monday.

Opening the range will cost the city $35,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends in September. The funds will come from the previously approved golf course budget.

All former golf course employees who decided to remain with the city have been assigned to other positions. Part-time employees will operate the range, which will be open seven days a week from noon to 9 p.m.

Range amenities will include a snack bar and scaled-down pro shop. Golf lessons also will be available by appointment.

After April 15, golfers will be able to practice from a putting green and a sand trap. Beer will be available at the snack bar.

The municipal golf course closed in February so that Moody Gardens could begin making the $14.1 million improvements that will launch their take-over of the links.

Once the work is completed, the course will be on par with other highly acclaimed public golf facilities around Texas.

Under the terms of its agreement with the city, Moody Gardens will operate the course for the next 40 years. Any profits the group makes will be invested back into the course.

Moody Gardens representatives expect to reopen the course April 1, 2008.