HAMILTON TOWNSHIP — Fire officials are investigating a Saturday blaze at Mays Landing Country Club that temporarily disrupted a wedding party and routed golf guests.
The country club on Cates Road was evacuated after witnesses said flames from a barbecue in the club’s Grill Room shot up.
Jay Slotterback, who lives just blocks from the country club, said he was picking up a hamburger and BLT sandwich when he saw flames coming from where a man was grilling steaks.
“It was in the grill room behind the bar and I was waiting for my order, and when the flames shot up, the man was trying to get the steaks off the grill as fast as he could,” the witness said.
“He must have had 20 steaks on that grill,” he said.
Firefighters from Cologne, Laureldale and Mays Landing in Hamilton Township responded at 5:45 pm and Cardiff firefighters from Egg Harbor Township were called simultaneously for a report of a structure fire at the country club.
A wedding party was outside with about 40 guests and 25 to 30 golfers were inside for dinner, said Slotterback, who added that he eats takeout dinner from the country club once or twice a week.
“I think they saved the bride's cake,” Slotterback said.
“The bride and her party were outside getting pictures taken with the firefighters,” he said.
The exact cause of the fire had not been determined, and fire officials could not be reached Saturday night.
The country club recently was sold by the Frasier family who owned the popular reception area for decades.
“It's a shame for the new owners. They are extremely nice people,” Slotterback said.
Slotterback said he had to leave the country club before he could pick up his dinner order, and he and his girlfriend ended up ordering chinese food.
Contact: 609-272-7190 SLoder@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressLoder
