Jackson City begins cleanup at Bent Tree Golf Course (Aug 19)

August 19, 2015 – The final remnants of a charred building were in the process of being removed by the City of Jackson when clean up began at Bent Tree Golf Course Monday.

Arson was ruled the cause of a fire that destroyed the pro shop at the city-owned golf course at 2993 Paul Coffman Drive last Tuesday.

A temporary mobile home will be used as a pro shop until a permanent double-wide is placed at the site of the former building.

“The cleanup should be cleared by (Monday),” said Jerry Moore, president of Pope Golf Management. “We have two insurance companies working this; Pope Golf’s and the city (of Jackson), and our goal is to cooperate with the insurance companies, and reopen as soon as possible.”

Located in Sarasota, Florida, Pope Golf manages Bent Tree Golf Course.

“This is a shame,” Moore said. “Unfortunately, I’ve dealt with this type thing before, but you get back up and running. We lost the building, 39 golf carts, merchandise, food and range balls. The range balls were sent in (last) Monday, and they burned the next day.”

Moore said it’s possible a security system may be installed.

“The issue of surveillance has been discussed,” Moore said. “And it may be in everybody’s best interest to prevent something like this from happening again.”

Should the course reopen as early as Thursday, Pope Golf Management will have lost nine days of revenue.

“We still have to pay people,” Moore said. “We still have to work on the course – our expenses didn’t stop.”

Besides a temporary pro shop, temporary golf carts will also be used while insurance claims are being settled.

Three pumpers and an aerial truck were dispatched by the Jackson Fire Department at 12:16 a.m. Tuesday.

It was determined the blaze was set deliberately, and started at the rear of building.

The fire remains under investigation.