The source of a blaze which almost caused a Bovingdon golf club to shut has been confirmed by firefighters.

Golfers rushed to safety after a fire broke out in a greenkeepers’ shed at the Little Hay Golf Complex in Box Lane on Monday (August 5) at around 6.30pm.

An investigation by the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue service has now confirmed that a mechanical fault with a grass cutting machine was to blame for the accidental fire.

In a post online on Thursday (August 8), the golf club thanked nearby businesses for stepping into help after its essential maintenance equipment was damaged in the incident.

It explained that challenges in sourcing spare or rental equipment meant the club nearly closed this weekend as the greens would have been “unplayable”.

The club said that loaned equipment from the Chesham & Ley Hill Golf Club in Hemel Hempstead and the Denham Golf Club in Uxbridge meant it could stay open, adding: “We can’t thank them enough!”

The driving range has also been reopened after the club was loaned a tractor from Kings Langley-based business Oliver Landpower Ltd as well as 6,000 balls.

Five fire engines raced to tackle the blaze in the large outbuilding on Monday evening and firefighters worked until 8.30pm to extinguish it, although nobody was hurt.

Fire engines refilled at a hydrant in Bovingdon High Street as it took almost two hours to extinguish the blaze.Fire engines refilled at a hydrant in Bovingdon High Street as it took almost two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Image: Audrey Stent) Oliver Offredy, who was among those at the club at the time, saw “dark smoke pouring” out of a building near the car park after someone raised the alarm.

“Even though it can’t have been ablaze for long, you could feel the heat and smell the strong smell of smoke,” he added.

The Little Hay Golf Complex said it was “doing our best” to maintain the course after the fire and asked for members’ understanding if some holes were not “at their usual best” over the weekend. 

Golfers rush to safety as smoke covers the greenskeeper's shed.Golfers rush to safety as smoke covers the greenskeeper's shed. (Image: Oliver Offredy) “Finally, this week has been a real challenge for everyone,” it added. “The fact that we only lost one day on the Range and haven’t had to close the course is a testament to our incredible team. 

“From the greens crew to the catering, admin, and office staff – you’ve all been fantastic.”