OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) - A raging fire that destroyed the Oakland Hills County Club last month was started by construction crews working outside the clubhouse, officials announced on Thursday afternoon.
WWJ's Jon Hewitt reported from the press conference in Pontiac where surveillance video showed workers were installing rubberized flashing on a patio renovation outside the golf course's iconic clubhouse before sparking flames to a wall.
"You can see their reaction obviously they believed they had started something and they tried to put water to it using a garden hose," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "Obviously fire got there, you can see once they breached the wall, they had flames right in their face."
The fire broke out on Feb. 17 and quickly sent the storied clubhouse up in flames. Employees and fire fighters worked quickly to save autographed golf clubs, shoes, trophies and other equipment acquired over the 100 years since the clubhouse's opening.
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Authorities mentioned that the workers did not call 911; a emergency call came later from a phone in the clubhouse's basement.
While it does not appear that the fire was intentionally set, Bouchard said that their investigation is ongoing and could potentially take a year to finalize.
"Some things look conclusive, but may not be," he said.
Bouchard said the country club was considered a total loss and damages exceed $80 million.
The clubhouse was built back in 1922 and has played host to some of golf's greatest tournaments over the last century. Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gary Player have all played the club's iconic golf course, along with golf greats Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
The club's first head professional was none other than five time PGA Champion Walter Hagen.
The Oakland Hills Country Club has put on several historic events on its famous South Course, including Seventeen Major Championships, six U.S. Opens, the 35th Ryder Cup in 2004, and three PGA Championships and more.
The Oakland Hills Country Club board unanimously passed a vote to rebuild the century-old clubhouse after the catastrophic fire; construction is expected to take several years to complete.
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