Perry (Iowa) Golf and Country Club informed members that the company managing the facility has not made required payments, which prompted the club to lock them out of the facility. They say they hope to reopen soon, but in the meantime, members may bring their own beverage and food.

The clubhouse of the Perry (Iowa) Golf and Country Club is temporarily closed due to management issues, The Perry News reported. On Aug. 9 a message from Sambino’s Hospitality Group LLC, which managed the clubhouse, indicated that the facility “is currently closed due to the Board of Directors changing all locks to the building the night of Aug. 8, 2023, without notice to the company who operates here, Sambino’s Hospitality Group LLC.”

The club’s board of directors issued a statement Aug. 11 that aimed to clarify the circumstances that led to the closure:

“In the contract with Sambino’s, there is an obligation for the organization to pay PGCC a monthly rent payment from May to September,” the board’s message said. “Sambino’s also agreed to pay 50% of dram shop insurance and 50% of card processing fees. From May to Aug. 8, no payments were made to PGCC. The board had conversations with Sam and were told we would receive payment by Aug. 8. No payments have been received to date.”

At that point, the board of directors “felt the next step was to no longer allow Sambino’s to conduct an income-generating business using our members’ clubhouse,” The News reported.

According to Villanueva, when “our team arrived” on Aug. 9, they were “unable to open for business due to not having access to our leased space, our inventory, our personal property, etc.”

Sambino’s has since “begun the necessary steps to be able to serve you all once again in the future,” Villanueva said, but it looks like the PGCC is moving on, with the board now “working diligently to obtain a liquor license from the state of Iowa” and “collaborating with a few local restaurants to get our clubhouse reopened as soon as possible,” the statement said.

The board acknowledged that the disruption in services made for an “unfortunate situation” for “our loyal membership,” but they said “income from the clubhouse rental is critical to help meet our financial goals and our responsibility to keep membership affordable for everyone,” The News reported.

They said they hope to reopen soon, The News reported. In the meantime, members may bring their picnics. “Feel free to bring your own beverage and food,” the board said. “Please, no glass bottles.”