Laurel Canyon residents filled Canton City Hall on Tuesday night to learn the fate of the city-owned golf course in their neighborhood, which was closed on Monday.

Rocky Roquemore, the developer, lessee and operator of the 200-acre, 18-hole Fairways of Canton course in the neighborhood off Reinhardt College Parkway/Highway 140, said the closure is for an indefinite period of time.

"Obviously, the business income was less than the expenses," Roquemore said of the three-year-old course's financial troubles, adding that club members with an account balance would be refunded their money. He said membership fees were assessed monthly.

The purpose of the meeting called by Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood was to inform residents about the situation and let them know the city government understands the impact the closure will have on them.

Hobgood had city officials on hand to explain its legal position, responsibilities and obligations. The city's building authority owns the course, which was funded by a public-private partnership with Roquemore's company, Laurel Canyon Golf.

"We understand how detrimental this is to you and your property," Hobgood told the crowd. "We do want you to understand that we feel your pain to a great extent."

City Attorney Robert Dyer said the lease allows for Laurel Canyon Golf to cure the fault, or reopen the course, within 45 days. He said the city government is working on an agreement to perform maintenance on the course during that time.

Councilman Bob Rush said Roquemore has agreed to allow the maintenance.

City Manager Scott Wood said it would cost the city $200,000 a year to maintain the course at a marketable level, though that price could decrease if the city works with people in the community who have volunteered to help. The money would come from contingency funds.

Dyer said if Roquemore or his lender officially end their involvement with the course, the city government will hire someone else to take over the lease. He said there is no timeline for that to happen.

Wood said having the city take over management of the course would be an "expensive proposition." He said the cost for Laurel Canyon Golf to operate the course was $550,000 a year.

"We are not in the golf course management business," he said about the prospects. He said city officials have met with some management companies and will be meeting with more in the next week about assuming a managerial role at the course.

Soleil at Laurel Canyon resident Carl Wellborn said the city should get out of the golf course business completely.

"Sell it. Sell it quick to the highest bidder," he said during Tuesday's meeting.

Resident Steve Bloom said the course still is an asset to the city, but a decision about its management shouldn't be delayed.

"If the city does not come up with an action plan in seven days, it will become a disaster," he said.

Rush, who lives in Laurel Canyon, said two of the greens, the second and 15th hole, have turned brown and a couple more are following them.

"It is a severe problem," he said.

Roquemore said the cost of building the course and its amenities in 2007 was about $12 million, with the developers and city sharing the cost. The city's portion, $3 million, was to be paid with impact fees over a 10-year period. The course was built as a way to attract corporations to the nearby Bluffs at Technology Park.

Rush, who serves on the building authority board, said the city government still owes $2.4 million to pay off building the course. The last payment came from the general fund due to lack of impact fees.