Pebblewood Country Club in Bridgman is relaunching the restaurant inside its clubhouse as Ox & Iron at Pebblewood, a new concept named in memory of a St. Joseph teenager who died of cancer at 17. The restaurant overlooks the golf course and is expected to open for a soft launch later in November, with the two couples behind it describing the project as still in a refresh and reimagine stage.
The 18-hole public golf course sits at 9794 Jericho Road in Bridgman and was built in 1923, according to michigan.org, which also notes the property's restaurant, lounge and banquet hall have long hosted golf outings, anniversaries and receptions. Per Moody on the Market, Pebblewood has operated as a major area golf course for about 100 years, though the restaurant and banquet hall were sold off about 30 years ago and run separately by Karen Falak, who in recent years focused mainly on weddings, parties and Sunday brunches rather than daily service.
A Golf Family Reunites the Property
That separation is now ending. Nick Stama Jr. and Ashley Stama purchased the restaurant and hall from Falak and have reunited the Pebblewood operation under the Stama family, according to the same report from Moody on the Market. Nick Stama Sr. has owned the golf operation itself for decades, and Nick Stama Jr. and Ashley Stama also run Captain's Choice, LLC, a construction business, the outlet notes.
Ashley Stama is formulating plans for the restaurant's refresh, and anyone with questions about existing event bookings has been told to contact her directly, the report states. Pebblewood says it is honoring all existing bookings even as the overhaul proceeds. Planned changes include replacing the event hall roof and making cosmetic updates to the bar and restaurant, with a complete review of further event hall updates set for next year; the site notes the restaurant's kitchen is already up to date. A Thanksgiving buffet has also been scheduled, and the course's covered bridge, a longtime wedding-photo backdrop, remains part of the property alongside its nine lakes and ponds, according to michigan.org.
Named for a Teen Who Pushed a Dream Forward
Ox & Iron at Pebblewood will be run day-to-day by Sam Williams and Amber Williams, with Sam focused on the kitchen and Amber serving as front-of-house manager. Sam Williams says he holds a culinary management degree and has about 28 years of experience in food, beverage and hospitality, including roughly five years as culinary director for the Moersch Hospitality Group's Tabor Hill and Round Barn properties, per Moody on the Market's reporting.
The restaurant's name honors Mattox Williams, who died in January 2024 at age 17 after battling osteosarcoma first diagnosed in early 2022, according to abc57.com. Mattox attended St. Joseph High School as a junior and had played on the boys' basketball team; the station reported he was known by the nickname Smiley and remembered for his positive attitude and resilience through his illness. Mattox's memory is now woven directly into the new venture's name.
Hoops for Hope Carries the Mission Forward
Mattox also started his own nonprofit to help other children being treated for pediatric cancers, a cause abc57.com reported he launched himself. That effort, Hoops for Hope, was created by Mattox to support pediatric cancer programs. During the January 2025 event, the station reported the charity received a $20,000 check.
Amber Williams said she wants guests to feel comfortable and welcome, with room to celebrate and make memories, according to the outlet's report. The menu is planned around familiar comfort food and scratch-made dishes in a family-friendly setting, with organizers expecting to draw golfers and destination diners from across Berrien County. Beyond the restaurant, Ox & Iron at Pebblewood is also positioned as a wedding venue for couples from Berrien County and the surrounding area, with the full relaunch targeted for the 2027 season.
