The clubhouse at Oakland Hill Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, just outside Detroit, burned to the ground Thursday.
Several departments responded after the fire broke out around 10 a.m. in the clubhouse attic. The clubhouse, which was completed in 1922, was adorned with irreplaceable golf tournament memorabilia and art going back a century.
Eventually, the roof collapsed, and one fire official called it “almost a total loss” several hours after the blaze began.
The club has hosted to 14 golf majors or USGA championships, including six U.S. Opens, two U.S. Senior Opens, a U.S. Women’s Amateur, two U.S. Men’s Amateurs and three PGA Championships, including the 90th PGA Championship in 2008. The club has also hosted the 1922 Western Open, the 1964 Carling World Open, and the 35th Ryder Cup, in 2004.
It is slated to host the U.S. Women’s Open in 2031 and 2042.
The South Course was recently renovated by architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, reopening in 2021 and poised to host more major championships.
From Oakland Hills C.C. President Rick Palmer:
“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. Oakland Hills is tremendously grateful to firefighters who were diligent in helping save some of our priceless pieces of memorabilia.
It hurts to see this, but we are comforted to know that the heart and soul and legacy of the club resides in our membership and staff. Only time will tell what is next, but we will move forward with a purpose to honor all those who made this grand building come to life with their golf and their work.”
From architect Gil Hanse:
“This is a truly sad day for the history of American golf. Our thoughts are with all of our friends at Oakland Hills.”
From Andy North:
“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. That building is a huge part of our golf history with the displays of the champions and the championships they’ve had. They will rebuild a great new clubhouse, but they can’t rebuild all those things they’ve lost. It’s unbelievable.”