Oakland Hills Country Club’s iconic clubhouse was heavily damaged in a fire that raged throughout the day and into the night in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
The clubhouse, which was built in 1922, had “extensive damage,” according to mlive.com. No injuries were reported from the fire that began around 9 a.m. local time and the cause of the fire has not been determined.
“This is a gut-wrenching day for Oakland Hills. While we know that no one from the membership or staff was hurt, we have lost our iconic clubhouse, that housed our history and our place in Michigan and U.S. and international golf,” said Oakland Hills president Rick Palmer.
The South Course at Oakland Hills has hosted 11 major championships, including six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships, two U.S. Senior Opens and the 2004 Ryder Cup. It underwent a two-year renovation, beginning in 2019, and is slated to host the U.S. Women’s Open in 2031 and 2042.
“My first thought is the history of the club. Buildings can be rebuilt, but you can’t rebuild the memorabilia that they might have lost,” said Andy North, who won the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills. “That building is a huge part of our golf history with the displays of the champions and the championships they’ve had.”
Although much of the clubhouse structure was destroyed, many items from inside the clubhouse, including irreplaceable memorabilia, was saved by firefighters, according to mlive.com.
