A large fire tore through the clubhouse of West Essex Golf Club in Waltham Abbey on Monday afternoon, sending plumes of black smoke visible for miles. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service received reports of the blaze at 2.41pm, with 60 firefighters and crews from over ten stations dispatched to the scene.
The entire two-storey clubhouse, measuring approximately 25 metres by 15 metres, was engulfed in flames. Firefighters from Essex, London Fire Brigade and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service worked together to bring the fire under control. By 5pm, crews reported making good progress, and the fire was extinguished by 6.45pm.
No injuries were reported, with all staff and members accounted for. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation will commence once the site is deemed safe. The club, founded in 1900, features a James Braid-designed championship course set within Epping Forest.
The clubhouse was opened in 1989 by Sir Michael Bonallack, a renowned amateur golfer. The golf club, affectionately known as 'The West', is a historic venue in the Epping Forest District, and the incident has drawn significant local attention.
