Bryan Co. tornado recovery: Owner of heavily damaged golf course at odds with insurer

ELLABELL -- The stymie rule was abolished in golf midway through the 20th century. Don't try telling that to Hal Godwin.

Godwin and his wife Shannon are the owners of Black Creek Golf Club, which saw its clubhouse and pro shop undergo heavy damage by the tornado which swept through the Ellabell area on April 5.

Stymied is where he finds himself as he attempts to get his golf course up and running at full steam.

In Godwin’s case it’s not another player’s ball who is blocking his path on the putting green but rather his insurance carrier.

Tornado aftermath: 'It’s hard. But there are people worse off than us': Black Creek Golf Club to reopen in May

The golf course is fully operational but it is only a part of what Godwin and his wife Shannon have built since they bought the property from O.C. Welch in November 2017. There is also a full-service restaurant that has served as a gathering point for the North Bryan community.

The clubhouse and restaurant are still closed and may be for quite some time due to insurance claims issues regarding whether to repair or rebuild the heavily damaged building.

The course is the only public golf course in Bryan County and draws golfers from a wide area including Savannah and Chatham County, Statesboro, Claxton and Metter in addition to Bryan County.

Non-golfers also flocked to Black Creek because of the onsite eatery, named Bogeys.

Golfers could get a good burger and cold drink after a round but it was also a place where businessmen gathered for lunch and couples and families could enjoy dinner in the evening.

“We were always packed on Fridays and Saturdays,” Godwin said. “We offered good food in a nice atmosphere at reasonable prices. Just about anyone could afford to eat here. People probably miss the restaurant as much as they did the golf course."

Tornado aftermath presents challenges

The back and forth with the insurer is ongoing. Godwin wants to raze the structures and rebuild while the insurance company wants him to make repairs.

“I hired a structural engineer and he recommended tearing it down," Godwin said. "My concern is there’s structural damage plus it has set for so long we now have mold and water damage with the rain we’ve had this summer.”

The delay has had other consequences as well. Godwin said he had to layoff his kitchen staff to keep the golf course grounds crew on the payroll.

“You can lose a golf course in a week,” Godwin said. “If that happens it’ll take you three months to get it back. We’ve had to rebuild the No. 12 and No. 13 greens but any other damage to the course was taken care of pretty easily.”

The golf course is currently operating out of a makeshift pro shop. The tornado destroyed the cart barn but Godwin said he has been able to lease carts and new carts have been ordered with an end-of-year delivery date. The building housing maintenance equipment was not damaged.

The Godwins are also dealing with being out of their home, one of several heavily damaged by the April tornado.

“I live about 300 yards from the course,” Godwin said. “We were in a motel for three weeks before we got in a rental house. Our house is wrapped but because of material shortages and finding a contractor to do the work. It’ll be at least February before we can get back in it.”

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Black Creek restaurant damaged in deadly April tornado still not open