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Golf carts, chairs damaged by wedding guests
By By Jill Meier
Challenger editor
Challenger editor
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EmailSeptember 06. 2010 6:00AM
Newlyweds who celebrated their special day with a reception and dance at the Brandon Municipal Golf Course might have to foot the bill for vandalism caused by party guests.
The Brandon Police Department is investigating the destruction of five golf carts and eight metal patio chairs that occurred about 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 22.
“It’s the worst vandalism we’ve ever had here,” said Zane Swenson, manager of the golf course. He estimated the damage is between $10,000 and $15,000.
“Obviously, we would prefer the person or people responsible would just fess up,” Brandon Police Chief Dave Kull said. “If they do so, we could probably work with them.”
If no one comes forward, the newly married couple, who signed the community room rental contract, will be responsible for the damages. Sarah Horn and Dustin Ahrendt held their reception at the golf course that night, and were on their honeymoon last week, unable to be reached for comment.
“According to the contract, it says they’re responsible for all damage to the property,” Swenson said.
As of Friday, there were no new developments in the case, Kull said.
The person or people could be charged with a Class 4 felon, punishable up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine.
“There were some signs earlier that night that there could be some trouble,” Swenson said of the reception and dance attended by about 300 people. A community room employee had stopped a guest from throwing a patio chair over the upper deck.
Swenson said the five carts were damaged when someone put them in neutral and pushed them off the hill near the No. 10 tee box into a grove of trees. A city employee used a backhoe to remove the carts from trees Sunday morning.
The vandal or vandals had easy access to the golf carts, which did not have keys in them. Swenson said course employees had lined up the carts outside in preparation for a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday.
To prevent future vandalism, Swenson said security measures may be stepped up. He said additional video surveillance cameras may be installed around the clubhouse.
Alderman Bob Bruning, the council’s liaison to the city golf course, was surprised to learn of the damages. He’s lived next to the course for eight years, and in that time, said he’s “never heard a peep of things getting out of hand there.”
“Alcohol can be at the bottom of a lot of mischievous deeds,” he said. “But anytime you’re in that business where you’re serving alcohol, you can be open to some things of this sort. You can take steps or precautions to deal with these things … but there are still going to be some mischief makers.”
This isn’t the first time the Brandon course has been vandalized. In August 2007, vandals caused about $5,000 in damages, tearing up the No. 17 ladies tee box and the No. 16 green with a full-sized vehicle. The person responsible for that damage was found and charged.
The Brandon Police Department is investigating the destruction of five golf carts and eight metal patio chairs that occurred about 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 22.
“It’s the worst vandalism we’ve ever had here,” said Zane Swenson, manager of the golf course. He estimated the damage is between $10,000 and $15,000.
“Obviously, we would prefer the person or people responsible would just fess up,” Brandon Police Chief Dave Kull said. “If they do so, we could probably work with them.”
If no one comes forward, the newly married couple, who signed the community room rental contract, will be responsible for the damages. Sarah Horn and Dustin Ahrendt held their reception at the golf course that night, and were on their honeymoon last week, unable to be reached for comment.
“According to the contract, it says they’re responsible for all damage to the property,” Swenson said.
As of Friday, there were no new developments in the case, Kull said.
The person or people could be charged with a Class 4 felon, punishable up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine.
“There were some signs earlier that night that there could be some trouble,” Swenson said of the reception and dance attended by about 300 people. A community room employee had stopped a guest from throwing a patio chair over the upper deck.
Swenson said the five carts were damaged when someone put them in neutral and pushed them off the hill near the No. 10 tee box into a grove of trees. A city employee used a backhoe to remove the carts from trees Sunday morning.
The vandal or vandals had easy access to the golf carts, which did not have keys in them. Swenson said course employees had lined up the carts outside in preparation for a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday.
To prevent future vandalism, Swenson said security measures may be stepped up. He said additional video surveillance cameras may be installed around the clubhouse.
Alderman Bob Bruning, the council’s liaison to the city golf course, was surprised to learn of the damages. He’s lived next to the course for eight years, and in that time, said he’s “never heard a peep of things getting out of hand there.”
“Alcohol can be at the bottom of a lot of mischievous deeds,” he said. “But anytime you’re in that business where you’re serving alcohol, you can be open to some things of this sort. You can take steps or precautions to deal with these things … but there are still going to be some mischief makers.”
This isn’t the first time the Brandon course has been vandalized. In August 2007, vandals caused about $5,000 in damages, tearing up the No. 17 ladies tee box and the No. 16 green with a full-sized vehicle. The person responsible for that damage was found and charged.
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Guests at the wedding of Sarah Horn and Dustin Ahrendt are allegedly responsible for damages done at the Brandon Municipal Golf Course last month. Challenger file photo |  |
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