News

Fire damages National Golf Links of America clubhouse

April 18, 2018

On Wednesday morning a fire was reported at National Golf Links of America, with video and photos showing the clubhouse engulfed in smoke.

Firefighters from Southampton, North Sea,, Hampton Bays, and other local departments were called to the Tuckahoe property at 11:34 a.m. regarding a fire on the clubhouse roof. According to 27East.com, witnesses said firefighters were transporting water up a hill to douse the fire in the east wing of the building because firetrucks were unable to fit through the club's narrow front gates.

According to a Golf Digest source, the club was undergoing roof work on its outdoor eating area that's referred to as "the Birdcage." Most of the club's historical documents reside on the other end of the clubhouse.

A Golf Digest reader sent in the following video from the NGLA grounds:

An official from Southampton Fire Department said more than 100 firefighters are on the scene, pumping water from the Bullhead Bay to combat the flames. According to the spokesperson, the fire started on the roof and is contained in the east wing.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

National Golf Links of America opened in 1911, and served host to the inaugural Walker Cup in 1922 (with the exhibition revisiting in 2013). It was designed by C.B. Macdonald, with Seth Raynor overseeing its construction. NGLA was listed as the eighth-best course in the latest America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.

(Additional reporting by Stephen Hennessey.)

(This article will be updated as more information comes in.)