A devastating fire ripped through the main clubhouse and banquet room at Frog Rock Golf and Country Club in Hammonton, NJ early in the morning of October 7, leaving the old family business in ruins.
Owner Rock Colasurdo, who has dedicated nearly six decades to the club, watched as firefighters worked to contain the blaze that destroyed the building. The fire started around 2:30 a.m., when neighbors reported hearing an explosion. By the time emergency services arrived, the structure was already on fire.
Hammonton Fire Chief Sean Macri said about 100 firefighters from nearly 20 companies responded to the scene. Broken electrical wires sparked even more fires, destroying about 50 golf carts parked nearby.
Drone footage revealed the complete destruction of the clubhouse, with charred wood and collapsed walls. The roof collapsed during the fire and officials deemed the remaining structure unsafe and had to be demolished.
The fire also disrupted plans for upcoming events. A wedding scheduled for the banquet hall in two weeks has been canceled and Colasurdo is helping the couple secure a new venue and will refund their deposit.
Colasurdo recalled building the clubhouse himself, block by block, and said the club once hosted events attended by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in the 1970s. He also had photos of President Ronald Reagan from a 1984 rally in Hammonton: memorabilia lost in the fire.
Despite the destruction, Colasurdo remains determined to rebuild the country. He plans to build a smaller facility to keep the golf course open, but has no plans to immediately resume catering or restaurant operations.
The New Jersey State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. No injuries have been reported.
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