If you love the game of golf as much I do, then it will have come as a real shock to learn of another golf clubhouse fire.
West Essex Golf Club, on the outskirts of London, last year proudly celebrate its 125th anniversary since the James Braid designed course was opened in 1900.
Less than a week into 2026, the club is reeling after the utter devastation and heartache that has taken place.
News also of the West Essex clubhouse fire also coming so soon after the Crans Montana human tragedy, and a wonderful Swiss golf destination venue I have attended so many times in reporting on the Omega European Mastes golf.
The West Essex club’s website says: This Championship parkland golf course, partially draped across the folds of the ancient Epping Forest boasts 270 degrees elevated views afforded from the front nine holes to the dramatic and vibrant London skyline, leaving lasting memories of this demanding and challenging test of golf.
In 1989, Sir Michael Bonallack was on hand to officially open a spectacular new West Essex clubhouse that for the past 36-years has hosted countless club functions, official dinners, weddings and so many other club and community-related activities.
West Essex GC clubhouse engulfed in flames. (Images unknown)
Heart-wrenching sight that no-one wishes to forsee taking place.
All that remains of a proud West Essex GC clubhouse.
All will be shocked looking at the images, while I was reading a young couple was set to host their wedding reception at the club in June.
Of course, fire has brought destruction to golf clubhouses around the world, including early in 2022 when the famed US Oakland Hills clubhouse was engulfed in flames after workers, carelessly using a propane blowtorch against a wall, thus resulting in a reported $80m loss to the famed club.
Oakland Hills has hosted six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, the 2004 Ryder Cup and the 2002 and 2016 U.S. Amateur on its South Course.
Before – Oalkland Hills clubhouse in flames. Image USA Today
Now – Image of the proposed new Oakland Hills Country Club clubouse.
Here in the UK, and nearly 15- years ago in May 2011, fire destroyed the Tilgate Forest Golf Club in Crawley, located around 90-minutes drive south of the West Essex club.
Given it was 4am on a Sunday morning, local police believed the fire to have been deliberately lit.
The fire completely destroyed the clubhouse and restaurant.
The 18-hole Tilgate Forest Golf Course was designed by ex-Ryder cup players Neil Coles MBE and Brian Huggett MBE.
Like so many golf clubs around the world, the humble golf clubhouse is so much more than a place to retire after a round of golf.
Indeed, golf clubs help bring a community together. They can be central to one’s life and, more so, if located in a small village or town.
My own club is Scotland’s Crail Golfing Society is such an example, located in the small Fife village of Crail, some 15 or so miles to the east of St. Andrews and with Kingsbarn Links a near neighbour.
Crail also boasts being the seventh oldest club in the world.
For near on 25-years, I’ve been a proud member at Crail. I have forever enjoyed entering the clubhouse, admiring Old Tom’s photograph proudly on a wall in the vesitibule, and then upon entering the clubhouse proper, admiring the countless number of gleaming trophies and other items showcased behind glass doors along the entire left wall, in making your way into the heart of the buidling.
Welcome to Crail Golfing Society – Image GolfByTourMiss
View from the Crail GS clubhouse overlooking the Balcomie Links and with the North Sea in the distance. Image GolfByTourMiss
The impressive-looking trophy cabinet on show as you enter the Crail GS clubhouse. Image Crail GC
Though it’s the stunning views from the clubhouse proper looking out, as you do, over both courses and then further out to the North Sea that forever commands my attention, and also so many of my fellow Crail members.
I read the views from the West Essex Golf Club to a distant London skyline, are just as impressive. Though I also read, the club lost everything in the fire, including historical and club-working records, framed pictures and the pride of any golf club … trophies.
It begs the question. Are golf clubhouse fires happening more often or not?
I still recall news from December 2018 when a favourite golf destination, the Machrinhanish Golf Club on the far west coast of Scotland, when fire completely destroyed their clubhouse. No one was injured but it later emerged the club steward’s family home was also totally destroyed.
Founded in 1876 the club is famed as you have to his your opening tee shot on its championship course over a large beach.
The view off the first tee at Machrihanish GC
The stunning new Machrinhanish clubhouse. Images Machrinhanish GC
What a view! From inside the new Machrinhanish GC. Image John Gillespie
The club thanked everyone who responded to the blaze, including those who helped remove memorabilia from the lounge.
As you can see in the two photographs above, those now visiting Machrihanish are greeted by a stunning, state-of-the-art clubhouse commanding superb views out over the course and beyond.
As well, the clubhouse now boasts vastly improved locker rooms, an indoor golf simulator and an upstairs function room while additional facilities include a bar and restaurant area for members and visitors who have a club membership for the day.
Also, the building of a new Machrinhanish clubhouse allowed for an upgrading of water management while also providing a more compact and efficient rainwater system that significantly enhances and complements the appearance and architectural character of the building.
Staying in Scotland and not far from Crail, at it was in June, 202o when a golf club opened by former US president George Bush Snr burned to the ground after a devastating blaze.
Emergency services raced to the scene at Charleton Golf Club near Leven in Fife at around 1.48am on a Monday morning.
Despite the presence of three fire appliances, the building was completely destroyed and naturally leaving club officials, members, friends and the local community devastated.
Back in April, 2004 the alarm was raised at about 4am when a factory worker saw flames eminating from the historic Fraserburgh Golf Club, located some 60 miles directly north of Aberdeen.
The Fraserburgh GC with the new clubhouse to the left in the image. Image with thanks Fraserburgh GC
Newspapers reported some 20 firefighters fought the flames for two hours but the building couldn’t be saved and with most club records totally destroyed.
However, if some good can arise from the depths of tragedy then Fraserburgh Golf Club can put its hand up.
In the lead-up to the opening of a new Fraserburgh clubhouse in 2006, work was undertaken to replace the club records. During this search, a document titled Fraserburgh Golf Regulations and Minutes 1777-1786 was found in the National Library of Scotland showing the Club’s older origins.
Until this discovery, there was no awareness of golf club activity prior to 1881, although golf at Fraserburgh was known at the time to have begun much earlier.
The document was listed among the Fettercairn Papers Acc 4796 deposited in 1969 at the National Library of Scotland. The minutes of the Fraserburgh Golf Club begin on 14th April 1777. They list a membership consisting of nineteen of the most prominent landed gentry, who all paid 6 shillings subscription.
There are also notices in the Aberdeen Journal including one calling a meeting of the Buchan Golf Club at Fraserburgh for 20th April 1779 and the Fraserburgh Golf Club on 19th July 1780.
In the 19th century, there is evidence for challenge matches against local rivals Inverallochy / Cairnbulg and inter-club matches in the 1850s are documented between Fraserburgh and Peterhead founded in 1841.
However, in 1881, when the Club was formally instituted, there was no knowledge of these club events and as late as 2004, the Golfer’s Handbook showed 1881 as the club’s foundation, which explains why Fraserburgh has not appeared previously in the annals of 18th century golf clubs.
The original course was nine holes played on the “public commonty” (Fraserburgh Links) but this become congested, with danger to the public and constant interruption the Club. In 1891, thanks to the generosity of Lord Saltoun, the Club moved approximately half a mile south to its present location at Philorth Links.
The course was redesigned in 1922 by James Braid, five times Open Champion, and much of his design remains to this day.
Of course, it’s sad to write such an article and, as mentioned above, coming also after the recent tragic events of Crans Montana, but I hope, like you, it does remind all golfers how special is the clubhouse.
Maybe it could be a time for all golf clubs to also review their own fire pretention measures.
