Eagle Bend to open, despite clubhouse blaze

Golfers will still be able to tee off at Eagle Bend Golf Club this spring, despite a Feb. 16 fire that destroyed the clubhouse. The fire was reported at approximately 2 a.m. that morning and 60 firefighters from five local departments joined Bigfork’s firefighting efforts.

Firefighters observed heavy smoke upon entry and then saw flames before the structure was quickly engulfed, Bigfork Fire Department Chief Mark Thiry said. By approximately 5:30 a.m., firefighters had the blaze under control.

Eagle Bend membership chairman Jim Fagan II said the club and restaurant was closed over the weekend and it was a mystery to him as how the fire may have started, according to a previous Daily Inter Lake article.

The state fire marshal has inspected the structure but a cause has yet to be determined, according to Golf Club Superintendent Shane Bigelow.

“Apparently it becomes a huge insurance battle,” Bigelow said. “It’s going to take a while, from what I understand. I was hoping to get in and start cleaning up the building, and I don’t think we’re going to be able to do that until April 1.”

While cause has yet to be identified, Bigelow said the fire likely originated in the pro shop, which contained golf clothing and equipment, computers, phone lines and handheld radios, along with an office for head golf pro, Michael Wynne.

Bigelow, his assistant and Wynne were on scene during the fire, watching in horror as the clubhouse all but burned to the ground.

“It was awful,” Bigelow said, who has been golfing on the course since he was 10 years old. “All the history, it was built in ‘86, ‘87, and there was a lot of photos and memorabilia … some the photos that we’ll never get back.”

But the coming golf season will go on — albeit with a few adjustments.

In the next couple weeks, Bigelow said, they’ll setup a pair of double-wide trailers to serve as the pro shop, a single-wide to house administrative offices and an additional trailer with restrooms. The club will also bring in a tent, under which they’ll have an area for members to gather, along with a bar and kitchen.

“We are set to open March 27,” he said. “We’re going to probably be in double-wide trailers for the next two-and-a-half years while we’re rebuilding.” ¦

Reporter Scott Shindledecker constributed to this report.