A changing leader board Village Green teeing up new season under new owner
Contractor Rich Wolota works on renovations at Village Green golf course in Hickory.
The entrance to Village Green golf course, near Hickory
Village Green is getting ready to tee it up.
“We’re hoping to have the restaurant open by March 1,” Paul Kersnick said.
He is the new owner of Village Green Golf Course, a 129-acre expanse off Route 18 in the Hickory section of Mt. Pleasant Township. It features an 18-hole layout, restaurant and bar, all of which will have new looks as well.
“We’ve been doing so much demolition, repainting, taking old trees out … ” said Kersnick, a Southpointe resident, Fort Cherry High graduate, president of Elm Grove (W.Va.) Collision Center and a 6-handicapper.
Oh, and laborer. He is among a group of about eight who are handling the remodeling. Instead of trying to remain open, Kersnick opted to shut down the business during construction.
Kersnick showed his creative side this holiday shopping season. He bought a golf course Dec. 22.
“This is the first one I’ve owned,” he said, laughing. “It’s definitely been a learning experience.”
There is a disagreement about the sales price. It’s $184,000, according to Washington County Recorder of Deeds Debbie Bardella, who said the deed lists JS Hickory Partners LP as the seller and PAJASA LLC of West Virginia the buyer.
Kersnick, however, laughed at that figure, saying he paid much more.
Steve Cameron was the previous owner.
His successor is supervising change, inside and outside the facility. Kersnick wants this to remain a year-round operation, and although he said “we’re trying to keep as much of the original building intact,” he is pursuing a number of initiatives to improve the place.
He plans to install a large window, in what is now a solid wall at the back of the bar/restaurant. It would look out immediately onto a practice green and a patio, with part of the course in the background.
Village Green Tavern & Grille are being upgraded, including the purchase of two grills, and he has applied for a liquor license. “We want to make sure we’re ready for golf season,” said Kersnick, who hopes to have special events such as Wing Night.
Outside, the aforementioned trees are gone, along with a structure that was once the home of a previous owner, Mark Godwin, and has served as offices in recent years. A metal building is planned for storage of carts. Village Green dates to 1968.
There also have been some personnel changes. Sandy Tustin, longtime general manager of the course, has retired, but Tom Paul is staying on as course superintendent.
“He was with us pretty much since Day 1,” said Cameron, who bought Village Green with his brother Jim in 1999. Mark Godwin was the seller.
Steve Weidner has been hired to run the golf shop and leagues. Weidner was an assistant golf pro at Rolling Hills Country Club, which may close soon because of declining membership. Horizon Properties has been in negotiations to buy the club in Peters Township.
Kersnick was an 11-year member there.
Tiffany Scears of Washington is in charge of Village Green’s kitchen and restaurant.
All of this is a departure for Steve Cameron, of course. He and his brother, Jim, purchased the course from Godwin in September 1999. Jim eventually broke away, and is now serving double duty as president of The Golf Club of Washington and as co-owner of Destiny Hill Farm with his wife, Nancy.
“The golf business can be challenging, but overall it was enjoyable,” Steve said. “Both of us (the brothers) are golfers. My son grew up there as a teen. I enjoyed the leagues and outings.
“But I’ve had enough of the golf course business, and I have a 3-year-old grandson. It was time to get out.”
Reflecting on 16-plus years of ownership, Steve is proud of what the Brothers Cameron achieved.
“When we took over, we redid a couple of holes, put cart paths all around,” he said. “We redid the pro shop, bar and restaurant. We made a considerable investment in the course.”
He also witnessed a considerable shift in play.
“The biggest change is women coming into the sport,” Cameron said. “When we bought the course, the largest league was made up of men. When we sold, a women’s league was the biggest league.”
Despite not yet being open for golf, the new owner said there already has been a positive public response for the upcoming season. He pointed out that “a bunch” of groups already have committed to outings.
They will be playing, and dining at, a different Village Green.