A golf course clubhouse in Morden, Man. caught fire Sunday for the second time in less than four years, and a few days later it celebrated its reopening after the previous fire.
Minnewasta Golf and Country Club general manager Greg Hesom told CTV News the fire started in the kitchen around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
Mr Hesom said the fire was “absolutely devastating”.
“We celebrated the grand opening of the building on New Year’s Eve and five days later, all that optimism is gone,” he said.
The clubhouse and restaurant were already damaged in a massive fire in November 2021. After years of rebuilding with community support and donations, the city welcomed the club’s new beginning.
“It’s a heartbreaking start to 2025,” said Morden Mayor Nancy Penner.
Photos shared with CTV News show smoke billowing from the building as crews struggled to put out the fire.
Both Hesom and Penner applauded the efforts of the volunteer firefighters, with Penner calling them “heroic.”
While the cause of the fire has not been determined, Hesom said he believes it was accidental.
“I highly doubt it is criminal in nature,” he said, noting that the investigation is ongoing.
No one was in the clubhouse at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.
While Hesom couldn’t put a price on the damage, he said the building is “probably 70 percent destroyed” and could be considered a total loss.
CTV News has reached out to the Morden Fire and Rescue team for more details.
Strength in community
This is not the first time Morden has supported Minnewasta.
For the past four years, club and community members have raised funds to rebuild the clubhouse, something Hesom said he is exceptionally grateful for.
“We live in a wonderful community that was very supportive the first time, and we just have to hope that happens again,” Hesom said, fighting back tears. “We will have to find a way to rebuild as soon as possible. “Just look forward and start again.”
However, Hesom said the loss extends beyond the building.
“We employ a lot of people in the kitchen, and many of them are new immigrants who are just starting out in Canada and living paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “And now they are left without a job and in a new country.
“Buildings can be replaced, but today people’s lives have been affected,” he said.
Anticipation grows for 2025 golf season
While Penner said he believes the golf course will open this year, it is still a blow to the club and the community heading into the 2025 season.
“This setback is significant,” he said. “In times like these, the strength of our community shines brightest and I have no doubt that together, the club will rebuild, recover and come back stronger than ever.”
He added that it will probably be a couple of years before the clubhouse is operational again, but the city is determined to rebuild it.
