May 24, 2026, 2:29 p.m. ET
A golf club outside Buffalo, N.Y., suffered $2 million in damages after someone failed to properly discard a cigarette and a fire tore through the course’s wedding and events venue.
Fire crews responded to Arrowhead Golf Course in Akron, which sits about 30 minutes east of Buffalo, just after 10:30 a.m. Saturday after a report of heavy smoke and flames.
Responders finally got the fire under control, but not until the course’s event venue, known as The Sterling, suffered about $1.5 million in structural damage. The contents of the building that were lost are estimated to have a value of about $500,000.
Given the scale of the commercial building and the intensity of the flames, officials swiftly sounded a second alarm, calling in additional crews and resources as the scene escalated.
No injuries were reported, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigation Unit later told WGRZ-TV that the cause of the fire was “improper disposal of a cigarette.”
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The general manager of the Sterling, Jason Spain, issued the following message:
On May 23, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m. EST, a fire occurred outside of The Sterling. Emergency responders arrived quickly and worked to contain the situation. We are grateful to report that no one was hurt or injured in any way.
The venue’s sprinkler system functioned properly, helping protect the building, and there was minimal damage to the interior structure. Repairs and restoration efforts have already been scheduled as we begin the process of returning the venue to normal operations as quickly as possible.
We are incredibly grateful for the swift response and professionalism of the fire departments and first responders involved. Repairs to the outside of the building are already scheduled to be started this coming week.
At this time, our primary focus remains the safety and well-being of our couples, guests, staff, and community. We are continuing to assess the situation and are working closely with local authorities and fire investigators.
We understand that many upcoming couples and event clients have questions and concerns.
Our team will continue providing updates as more information becomes available. We also want to reassure our clients that we have a clear plan in place to ensure all upcoming events at both venues continue smoothly and as scheduled. The Timberlodge remains fully available for booked events and ongoing operations, and we will work closely with Sterling couples to make appropriate arrangements when needed so every celebration is supported without disruption.
We kindly ask for patience as we navigate this situation and gather accurate information. We remain committed to supporting our couples and vendor partners throughout this process.
The par-72 course was designed by architect Scott Witter, and it opened for play in 2003. It hosted a U.S. Senior Open qualifying event in 2005.
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor for Golfweek.