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.
According to Morden Mayor Nancy Penner, the fire broke out at the Minnewasta Golf and Country Club early Sunday morning.
“It was just devastating,” Penner said in an interview.
Photos shared with CTV News show smoke billowing from the building as crews fought to put the fire out.
Penner applauded the volunteer firefighters’ efforts, saying, “the teamwork, the dedication and the selflessness displayed by these firefighters and our volunteers battling such a massive blaze is really nothing short of heroic activities.”
Penner also said the news was especially hard to hear since it came just days after the club celebrated its grand reopening on New Year’s Eve, following a massive fire in November 2021.
“It is a heartbreaking start to 2025,” she said.
Penner couldn’t say how the fire started. She said she doesn’t believe anyone was inside the clubhouse at the time.
CTV News has reached out to the Morden Fire and Rescue team for more details.
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.