Young Mens Christian Association of Van Wert County Ohio

Our Van Wert Community suffered a loss this week. The maintenance/storage building was full of mowers, tractors and vital equipment when it burned to the ground at Hickory Sticks Golf Course. Going forward, lack of inventory, supply chain issues and inflation will make it difficult for the Van Wert YMCA/Hickory Sticks staff to replace this equipment for the upcoming golf season. Was there insurance in place for this kind of disaster? Yes. Will it cover everything? Probably Not. But thankfully, Our local agent is working with us!

Executive Director Hugh Kocab and his staff need to act quickly to secure equipment. It will take money to get this process started. Please help our community in any way you can! Every dollar helps! If you are a golf facility and would like to donate any type of large or small equipment please contact Hugh Kocab at the YMCA with any questions. FOUR ONE NINE TWO ZERO THREE ONE FOUR ZERO ONE. Thanks eric mccracken

Van Wert Ohio February 22 2023 11:05 am

YMCA of Van Wert County experiences a devastating fire at Hickory Sticks Golf Course.

The YMCA has been a huge part of the Van Wert community for 110 years and has recently experienced its most significant tragedy during those years. The YMCA is one of only two YMCAs in the country that own and operate a golf course. On February 22 a lightning strike or power surge ignited a fire that demolished the maintenance/storage building and all of the equipment used to maintain the facility. The loss to the YMCA building, equipment and irrigation system will cripple the YMCA golf course and total damages could surpass $1,000,000.

The Hickory Sticks golf course has also been a source of revenues for the YMCA and contributes significant amounts of money to the operations of the YMCA. In addition, the YMCA course provides free foot golf and disc golf to children of the community along with free golf clinics for children and free use of simulators for the local high school boys and girls golf teams. The YMCA course also is used by several other organizations like DARE, Youth for Christ, Van Wert and Delphos Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Community College, local service clubs and local youth sports teams to raise awareness and money for their causes.

The YMCA is thankful to have the many blessings that we do and the ability to share in our successes with many others. This however is a request to help the YMCA through a very difficult time and allow us to continue our YMCA mission