The new clubhouse will be 15,000 square feet, and feature a restaurant, bar and meeting rooms. The former clubhouse was 9,500 square feet.
The new clubhouse is expected to open in time for next golf season, Powell said.
“The membership has been really strong throughout the process,” Powell said. “They’ve stuck with us through a number of architectural drawings and renderings. We think we now have one that’s doable and we’re in the process of building that. We have really devoted all of our resources to the golf course itself. The golf course is very playable and in great condition.”
Two fires in 2014 destroyed the historic clubhouse as well as a barn on club property, 1250 Mead Road.
The wooden clubhouse — which county auditor records showed was built in 1900 — was home to the golf store, a kitchen, bar and locker facilities. The building was valued at $423,290 and its contents at $285,000.
In the May 2014 fire — a historic barn also built in 1900 — was destroyed, along with the country club’s fleet of 49 gasoline-powered golf carts and golf clubs belonging to some members.
Powell believes electrical issues are what started the fires.
“I was shocked … how all-consuming the fire was,” he said of the clubhouse blaze. “It was just unbelievable the way the fire was consuming the whole building. I was kind of heart-broken; a lot of memories there and a beautiful structure. It really demoralized the partners and the members.”
Sugar Valley Golf Club’s restaurant and bar business has suffered since the fires, but the country club has made the 1840 House and new pavilion “very usable by our members to use it for weddings, that sort of thing,” Powell said.
News Center 7’s Andy Sedlak is working on this story, and will have more coming up later today.
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