Oakland Hills Opens Rebuilt Clubhouse to Start a New Historic Run
Just a few months shy of 100 years old in 2022, the world-renowned historic clubhouse at Oakland Hills Country Club was destroyed in a fire that not only took the building in whole, as embers still burned four days later, but also gravely-consumed most of the historical paintings, trophies and other golf memorabilia trapped inside.
That terrible moment in the club’s history has been replaced with a new era and a fresh lease on life with a totally rebuilt clubhouse that opened to all its members for Easter Sunday brunch.
Construction of the new clubhouse was the central component of Oakland Hills' ambitious ‘Next 100 Project,’ which broke ground in December of 2023. Spurred by the loss of its century-old clubhouse to fire in February 2022, the project was completed on schedule and on budget ahead of the 2026 Michigan golf season.
“Walking the fairways of the South Course and seeing the clubhouse in the distance once again reminds us how special it is to have one of the finest amphitheaters for golf anywhere in the world,” said PGA Emeritus Professional Steve Brady.
The new clubhouse’s architectural details throughout the building, inside and out, evoke elements of Howard C. Crane’s original design. Standing tall once again is the white, 10-pillared veranda, just steps from the #1 and #10 tee boxes of the South Course, which will continue to host numerous USGA championships in the decades ahead. The next such event will be the 2029 U.S. Women’s Amateur, marking the 100th anniversary of the 1929 championship at Oakland Hills won by Glenna Collett-Vare.
“This clubhouse reflects the membership’s deep pride in Oakland Hills, honoring our iconic history while boldly investing in a future worthy of it. It is a testament to the commitment of our members and ensures that Oakland Hills remains among the most distinguished and enduring private clubs in the world,” said General Manager and COO Marc D. Ray.
The South Course originally opened in 1918, followed by the completion of the club’s first clubhouse in August 1922 and then the North Course in 1924. Since then, the South Course has hosted many of golf’s most prestigious championships, including six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships. Recently, in 2021, the South course reopened following a restoration of Donald Ross’s original design by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, returning it to its place among the game’s most revered championship venues.
To read more about the saving from fire of golf artifacts and history at Oakland Hills, we are re-publishing our exclusive story from April 2022 in the April 2026 magazine.
