JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A portion of Rivermont Golf Club on Rivermont Parkway went up in flames March 6, resulting in smoke and water damage to around 90 percent of the clubhouse.
Firefighters responded to the scene at around 5:30 a.m. that morning for a fire that took over the laundry room area of the building. General Manager and club owner Chris Cupit said the fire was likely caused by a tree that had fallen on a power panel.
As of press time, an open records request for the incident report has not been fulfilled.
Cupit said there were no injuries.
The clubhouse will be down for several months, he said. While the building’s exterior looks untouched, Cupit said the clubhouse is now a “ghost town” as carpets are being ripped up and furniture is moved off-site. Golf carts have already been relocated, he said.
Golfers were back on the course that Thursday, following rains, Cupit said, and staff is quickly adapting.
Cupit said the Golf Club’s new pavilion, which houses a fitness studio, is providing a temporary space for offices and will continue to provide small food services. He also said there are already tents on-site to provide more space, after city approval of a permit application submitted that Friday.
[The City of Johns Creek has been] obviously very understanding, very sympathetic and are going to try to help us through as best as possible,” he said. “The building will probably come back online in sections or phases, so we’re hoping we could get maybe a temporary certificate of occupancy.”
He said employees, including clubhouse servers, will be financially covered until the clubhouse is up and running again and has plans to increase their hourly wage.
“We’ve been here for 52 years,” Cupit said. “We made the commitment to our employees, you know, no one’s going to lose their job.”
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