The level of damage to the structure, which serves as the golf clubhouse and houses the Par IV restaurant, is making it difficult for the state fire marshal to investigate the cause of the fire. The club had recently invested $35,000 in a wrap-around deck made of cedar and updated the interior and kitchen.
The David City (Neb.) Golf Club’s clubhouse is in ruins, gutted by a fire that started sometime before 3 a.m. on October 23, the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star reported.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, but the level of destruction has made that a challenge. A separate report by the Journal-Star said firefighters were able to knock the flames down within about 20 minutes, but the fire consumed much of the structure that serves as the golf clubhouse and Par IV restaurant.
“It was more than just a building,” said neighbor Galen Krenk, president of the 125-member club.
By late Monday, however, Krenk said club leaders were already concentrating on the future. “It’s time to clean it up and move on,” he said, acknowledging that the rebuild will be a challenge for the club’s bank account. “We are going to do the best possible that we can do.”
David City Mayor Alan Zavodny said the community lost a key piece of the city park. Making the loss even tougher, the clubhouse had seen some major improvements in the past few years, the Journal-Star reported.
The restaurant was owned and operated by Mason Samek with co-manager Demi Bartunek. Not only did Par IV improve its interior and kitchen equipment, but the club had recently invested $35,000 in a wrap-around deck made of cedar, the Journal-Star reported.
“Our hearts go out to Mason and Demi and the golf club membership,” Zavodny said. “It is a blow to our community to be sure. To put things into perspective though, it was just ‘stuff’ that was lost. We are very grateful that no one was killed or injured.”
The city owns the course and the site of the clubhouse. The golf club owned the building and leased the restaurant space to Mason Samek, a David City native whose family has long been dedicated to improving the course. The golf club operates and maintains the course, the Journal-Star reported.
Zavodny said that the city has no interest in operating a golf club or restaurant, but ultimately the City Council will have to determine what can be done on the city’s land. “I hope to schedule some meetings soon on what the viable options are,” he said.
The loss was especially tough for Samek and Bartunek, who considered the restaurant a second home in which thousands of hours were spent updating the bar, resurfacing tables, freshening up the paint and upgrading the kitchen. Samek also added a golf supply wall, added autograph golf memorabilia, added a security camera system, gutted and improved the basement stock room and bathrooms, the Journal-Star reported.
“His family has been very helpful and supportive through everything,” Bartunek said. “The golf board’s support of Mason’s renovations and goals for a successful club house for members and the community has been exceptional as well.”
David City Fire Chief Matt Hilger said that because of the fire’s timing, it was engulfed before a call came from a person passing by. About 50 firefighters responded from David City, Bellwood, Brainard, Bruno and Rising City. “There wasn’t anything left to save on our arrival,” Hilger said.
Mason Samek added that the response from the public was “unbelievably humbling,” adding he planned to move forward with the club’s supporters. “It’s a staple of our community and although all the positives upgrades and changes haven’t always been shared or seen by the public we will do our best to keep the public informed during the rebuilding process,” Samek said.
The golf club has experience rebuilding after a fire. Fifty-three years ago, on July 18, 1963, a previous clubhouse burned down and was quickly replaced, the Journal-Star reported.
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