JANUARY 9, 2025|
Photo – Building at golf course that houses the restaurant – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The Rawlins city council terminated the city’s contract with the 19th Hole Restaurant at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course.
On Wednesday morning, the city of Rawlins released a statement on the decision: “On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, following an executive session, the Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to terminate the Rawlins Rochelle Golf Course concessionaire agreement. Consequently, restaurant operations at Rochelle Ranch Golf Course are suspended until further notice.”
The decision by the governing body came after the restaurant’s operator ran afoul of authorities and lost the facility’s liquor license.
After returning from an executive session, Councilwoman Jacky Wells, now the mayor of Rawlins, motioned to end the agreement for an unspecified breach of contract.
The motion passed, resulting in the city revoking the concessionaire agreement with the 19th Hole Restaurant at Rochelle Ranch Golf Course.
The restaurant at the links lost its liquor license recently because of mismanagement involving the handling of alcohol.
During the December 17th city council meeting, Councilman Darril Garner, who is now vice mayor, motioned to suspend the eatery’s liquor license for violating multiple city ordinances.
Three days later, 19th Hole Restaurant owner Win Hayward took to Facebook to explain why his liquor license was suspended. In his social media post, Hayward said he forgot to remove left over alcohol from the Jeffery Center following Christmas events for Sinclair Refinery and Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. Hayward accepted responsibility for the mistake and promised to do whatever was necessary to have his liquor license reinstated.
Due to the legal nature of the incident, it is unclear exactly what violations caused the Rawlins city council to terminate its contract with Hayward and the 19th Hole Restaurant.
A social media post on the eatery’s Facebook page simply says, “We will be closed today. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Hayward opened the 19th Hole Restaurant in May of 2023, following the termination of the city’s contract with the previous concessionaire, John Bruhl, one year earlier. Bruhl, who owns several popular food trucks and an out-of-state restaurant, was accused of remaining open during the March 2022 water catastrophe that forced all food establishments in the city to close. Following an investigation by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, which revealed that Bruhl was serving food despite the facility’s lack of running water, the city council voted to terminate the agreement.
As stated by the city, the restaurant will remain closed until further notice.
