OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) - Priceless golf memorabilia is feared lost after a massive fire continues to destroy the historic clubhouse at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills.
Autographed golf clubs, shoes, trophies and other equipment acquired over the 100 years since the clubhouse's opening were kept on display in the main lobby and second floor. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the second floor had reportedly caved in as multiple fire crews battled to keep the blaze under control.
WWJ's Jon Hewett reported fire officials anticipated an "all night response" to the fire as they worked through the snowstorm hitting Metro Detroit.
Oakland Hills Country Club President Rick Palmer said staff who was at the clubhouse when the fire broke out around 9:30 a.m. worked quickly to recover items, forming a line to pass memorabilia out of the burning building and to safety. The fire department also prepared a special team to go in and recover items if needed.
Palmer said he did not know how many items were saved, but was most relieved that no one was injured.
“Such a sad day for our membership for the national golf community in the state of Michigan," said Palmer. "There’s so much memories and so much history here, however thank God nobody was hurt.”
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Witnesses on scene along with fire authorities have reportedly called the devastation from the fire a "total loss."
“We still have an active fire in the attic going across the two ends of the building. We're still throwing tremendous amounts of water at this," John LeRoy, Bloomfield Township Fire Chief said in a press conference with the media.
"The only thing that has changed is we went to a fully defensive fire, only fighting it from the outside at this point.”
Much of the clubhouse -- believed the second largest wooden building in Michigan, behind only the Grand Hotel -- has been burning for hours after the roof to the most famous golf club in Michigan collapsed earlier in the day. Massive flames could be seen raging across the structure as billowing plumes of smoke could be seen for miles.
Reactions from the golf community came swiftly as word of the fire spread across social media and was often summed up in one word: devastated.
"I've played there several times, I've worked there for many major championships, had many a meals there over the years and today, the Oakland Hills Clubhouse -- the country club that the most storied in the state of Michigan -- maybe gone and need to be rebuilt," WWJ's Jeff Lesson said.
"I am truly devastated to learn of this fire at Oakland Hills (where I worked as a hostess the summer after high school)," U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills, said in a tweet.
"My heart goes out our amazing Bloomfield Hills community and my prayers are for everyone’s safety as we try and salvage history."
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.
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