It was a sad start to the morning on August 26th when firefighters were called to Juday Creek Golf Course in Granger, Indiana, due to a massive fire that broke out in the newly renovated clubhouse building. 

According to eyewitnesses and local fire officials, smoke and flames were visibly coming through the roof when the first crews arrived around 5:50 AM. Clay Township Fire Chief Jaren Killian noted that the response required ten different area fire departments to bring under control due to the intense heat and spread. 

On Monday, August 26, firefighters worked to suppress a fire at Juday Creek Golf Course in Granger. (Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune/USA Today Network.)

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Over 3 hours of operations were ultimately needed to extinguish all parts of the blaze.

As a golfer who has played Juday Creek many times over the years, I was disheartened to see the destruction upon arriving on site. The course dating back to 1989 has long been a popular public access option for locals and visitors to the nearby University of Notre Dame.

On Monday, August 26, firefighters worked to suppress a fire at Juday Creek Golf Course in Granger. (Photo by Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune/USA Today Network.)

General Manager Michelle Wittig, who also showed up early to assess the damage, has worked tirelessly to upgrade facilities for golfers. Only a few months ago, a full renovation of the clubhouse was just completed to provide an enhanced experience. However, all of that progress was wiped out by the morning's tragic events.

Preliminary investigations by the Indiana State Fire Marshal are ongoing to determine the root cause. For now, the remains of the structure appear a complete loss. 

Thankfully, no serious injuries to first responders were reported. While the course itself avoided significant harm, operations will certainly be impacted without this key amenity available anytime soon. 

As an architecture enthusiast, I also appreciate historic buildings and hate to see local landmarks lost. My hope is that Juday Creek canRebuild even better for continued service to the surrounding community. This sad story serves as another reminder of how swiftly disaster can strike without warning.