Bloomfield Township, Mich. — A devastating fire broke out Thursday at the iconic clubhouse of the Oakland Hills Country Club, a suburban Detroit golf course, that contained artworks from some of golf's biggest stars and the championships won there.
Flames rose from the roof of the sprawling, multi-storey clubhouse. It was built in 1922 and houses irreplaceable memorabilia and art from the nine major championships and Ryder Cups that Oakland Hills has hosted over nearly a century.
No one was reported to be injured. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Fire officials said the 110,000-square-foot clubhouse was one of the largest wooden structures in Michigan.
Firefighters at the scene told reporters that they were instructed where some historical memorabilia inside the clubhouse were located and were able to save some of them. They don't know what was saved and what wasn't, but some of the memorabilia inside the clubhouse included Ryder Cup trophies, PGA Championship trophies, and other important pieces.
"It's a terrible day for Oakland Hills," club president Rick Palmer said in a statement. “While we know none of the membership or staff were injured, we have lost our iconic clubhouse, which has kept our history and our place in Michigan and the U.S. and international golf.
“So grateful to the Oakland Hills firefighters who were diligent in helping save some of our priceless pieces. It is sad to see, but we are comforted to know that the heart and soul and legacy of the club is in our membership and staff. Only time will tell what lies ahead, but we will move forward with the aim of honoring all those who brought this grand building to life with their golf and their work."
Oakland Hills opened in 1916 and has hosted six US Opens – only two other courses have held it more often. The most famous was in 1951 when Ben Hogan won and later declared, "I'm glad I brought this monster, this monster, to my knees." "Monster" became the moniker for Oakland Hills over the years.
Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer win the US Senior Open in Oakland Hills. Gary Player won the 1972 PGA Championship. Europe won the Ryder Cup there in 2004 and Padraig Harrington became the first Irishman to win the PGA Championship in 2018.
It hosted two US Amateurs, most recently in 2016.
"My first thought is the history of the club," said ESPN golf analyst Andy North, who played the 1985 U.S. Championships in Oakland Hills. Open was won. "Buildings can be rebuilt, but you can't reconstruct the memorabilia they may have lost. That building is a big part of our golf history with its showcases of champions and championships. They're a great new thing." Will rebuild the clubhouse, but they can't rebuild everything they've lost. It's unbelievable."
The club has two golf courses designed by Donald Ross. The South Course reopened last summer following a $12.1 million restoration by Gil Swan with the goal of bringing back the major championships in Oakland Hills.
"This is a truly sad day for the history of American golf," Hansey said in a statement.
The club will join the U.S. in 2031 and 2042. Women's Open.
"Our thoughts are with our friends in Oakland Hills. ... We will support the club wherever possible in this rebuilding process," said John Bodenhammer, chief championship officer for the United States Golf Association.