Bloomfield Township — More than four years after a massive fire ripped through and destroyed one of the most historic and recognizable buildings in golf, Oakland Hills Country Club’s new clubhouse is finally and officially open to the membership.
Club officials formally unveiled the new, 110,000-square-foot clubhouse Monday, with a guided tour for members of the local and national media.
The new clubhouse, built to be a replica of the old clubhouse, down to the 10 stately white pillars on the veranda, but with updated amenities and infrastructure, cost more than $100 million and was paid in part by a large insurance payout as well as through membership assessments.
“This clubhouse reflects the membership’s deep pride in Oakland Hills, honoring our iconic history while boldly investing in a future worthy of it,” said Marc D. Ray, Oakland Hills’ general manager and COO, this month.
“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.”
The new clubhouse, visible from all throughout the grounds of the historic South Course, features a two-level men’s locker room, a bigger women’s locker room, three kitchens, ballrooms, dining rooms, a cigar room, outdoor balconies, lounges and more. The new clubhouse has a hall of history, with artifacts from the club’s storied past — many of which were saved by quick-acting firefighters and club staff during the Feb. 17, 2022, fire.
There’s also a fitness facility, a lifestyles building and maintenance facility, and an upgraded parking lot at the clubhouse, located south of Maple Road and east of Telegraph Road.
The old clubhouse was about 90,000 square feet and built in 1922, and was celebrating 100 years when it was destroyed by the fire, caused by a propane torch being used by workers on a patio construction project. The old clubhouse hosted some of the area’s most prominent movers and shakers, the greatest golfers ever, and even United States presidents. Oakland Hills had a temporary tented facility that served as a member gathering and dining facility for the past few years, as the new clubhouse was being built. Ground was broken in December 2023.
The clubhouse, located in the same footprint as the old one, as the backdrop to the first and 10th tee boxes and the ninth and 18th greens, arrives in time for Oakland Hills’ upcoming run of marquee national championships, including the U.S. Open in 2034 and 2051, the U.S. Women’s Open in 2031 and 2042.
The old clubhouse was destroyed by fire shortly after the club underwent a massive restoration project on the historic South Course, with acclaimed architect Gil Hanse modernizing the course with significant tree removal, new greens, new bunkers and additional length, in a strong bid to land future United States Golf Association championships. Shortly after the fire, the USGA announced the club had been awarded several majors.
“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 Steve Brady, PGA emeritus professional at Oakland Hills.
Oakland Hills has hosted six U.S. Opens (most recently in 1996), three PGA Championships (2008) and a Ryder Cup (2004), among many major tournaments. Champions on the South Course, dubbed “The Monster,” include the likes of legendary figures such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Gary Player.
Oakland Hills’ South Course is ranked 20th among courses in the United States, according to the latest Golf Digest top-100 rankings, published in May 2025. It’s the second-highest-ranked in Michigan, behind Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort at No. 15.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Four years after massive fire, Oakland Hills unveils new clubhouse
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
