'Absolutely devastating': Southern Manitoba golf course clubhouse burns for second time in 4 years

A golf course clubhouse in Morden, Man. went up in flames Sunday for the second time in less than four years, and mere days after its reopening from the previous fire was celebrated.

Minnewasta Golf and Country Club general manager Greg Hesom told CTV News the fire started in the kitchen around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Hesom said the fire was “just 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 previously damaged in a massive fire in November 2021. After years of rebuilding with support and donations from the community, the town welcomed the club’s new beginning.

“It is a heartbreaking start to 2025,” said Morden Mayor Nancy Penner.

Photos shared with CTV News show smoke billowing from the building as crews fought to put the fire out.

Firefighters stand outside the burned remains of the Minnewasta Golf and Country Club in Morden, Man. following a fire on Jan. 5, 2025. (Supplied: Greg Hesom)

Both Hesom and Penner applauded the volunteer firefighters' efforts, with Penner calling them “heroic.”

While a cause for the blaze hasn’t been determined, Hesom said he believes it was accidental.

“I very much doubt it’s 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 per cent destroyed,” and could be deemed a total loss.

CTV News has reached out to the Morden Fire and Rescue team for more details.

Strength in community

It’s not the first time Morden has rallied for Minnewasta.

Over the last four years, club members 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 gave us a lot of support the first time around, and we’ve just got to hope that that happens again,” Hesom said, choking back tears. “We will have to find a way to rebuild as soon as we possibly can. 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 a lot of them are new immigrants that are just starting out in Canada and are (living) paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “And now they're left without a job and in a new country.

“Buildings can be replaced, but people’s lives have been affected today,” he said.

Anticipation building for 2025 golf season

While Penner said she thinks the golf course will open this year, it’s still a massive blow to the club and the community ahead of the 2025 season.

“This setback is significant,” she said. “It's moments like these the strength of our community shines the brightest, and I have no doubt that together, the club will rebuild, they'll recover, and they'll come back stronger than ever.”

She added that it’ll probably take a couple years before the clubhouse is back up and running, but the city is determined to rebuild it.