‘I have never seen fire spread as quickly as this’: Clubhouse at Kingsthorpe Golf Club destroyed in just 40 minutes as flames ripped through balcony and onto roof
The roof of the clubhouse at Kingsthorpe Golf Club was totally destroyed in just 40 minutes, according to an eye witnesses at the scene.
Flames were initially seen on the balcony of the 22 year old clubhouse at Kingsthorpe Golf Club with multiple 999 calls made at around 3.20pm on Monday August 10.
Firefighters from across Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Buckinghamshire battled for around three hours to gain control of the flames which ripped through the balcony and into the roof, totally destroying it.
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) confirmed that the fire started accidentally.
Dayne Hawkins from the Dayne Hawkins Golf Shop & Academy – based at the club in Kingsley Road – said on his Facebook page: “I have never seen a fire spread as quickly as this. It took 40 minutes to destroy the place.
“Fortunately no one hurt thank god.” Dayne’s pro shop was spared the flames with him adding that it was ‘not quite business as usual but still with a friendly smile.’
Northamptonshire Golf Limited, which organises amateur golf in the county, offered sympathies for everyone affected.
The group said: “NGL offer our sympathies to the management, members and staff of KGC and will reach out in due course to offer more formal help.
“We hope and understand that the golf course and Professional shop remains unaffected and will soon be open for members and visitors. Quite obviously the day-to-day clubhouse services will not be.
“If you would like to help, the best thing you can do would be to book a tee time at Kingsthorpe and go pay a green fee.” Operations at the club concluded on Tuesday morning after firefighters spent the night damping down any remaining hotspots.
Kingsthorpe Golf Club has been part of Northampton’s sporting landscape since 1908. The course was extended to a full 18 holes in the 1920s while a modern clubhouse was built and opened in 2004.
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service spent the day investigating the cause of the fire on Tuesday, having concluded that it started on the balcony at the front of the building.
A spokesperson for NFRS said: “The investigation took place and the fire has been determined to have been caused accidentally.”
Management at the site on Wednesday said that the club was currently shut. However tee times are available to book from tomorrow onwards. It has not been confirmed if the club will be definitely open by then.
The golf club declined to comment further.