SUTTON, Mass. Jay Kunkel and Michael O’Brien tried to buy Pleasant Valley Country Club in a 2010 foreclosure auction, but were outbid by John Magill Sr.
They were close to buying the club from the Magills in March 2020 but they decided against it due to the pandemic.
The historic 18-hole golf course is now owned by the couple. O’Brien stated that the purchase price was $4.1 million.
O’Brien stated that it was an honor for the Magills to offer to sell it to them. We felt it was a privilege. It’s a privilege to be able to share in the history of this course.
Pleasant Valley Country Club is well-known for hosting the 32 PGA Tour events and 13 LPGA events. The last was in 1999. There have been many notable players, including Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus and Kathy Whitworth also played. From 1967 to 1974, seven LPGA Championships were held at the course.
Kunkel, a former member of the club, stated that Pleasant Valley should return to its original location. “When you say ‘Pleasant Valley’, there’s history and tradition in that name, and I want that name back to be the same as it was before. It’s not that it’s bad, but Pleasant Valley was known by the entire East Coast many years ago.
Kunkel would not rule out attracting a LPGA or PGA Tour Champions event in Pleasant Valley. However, he is more focused on providing quality experiences for his members.
Continue to be private
Kunkel stated Pleasant Valley will continue to be a private course for 350 members, so it won’t become too crowded. Clubhouse improvements include replacing light fixtures and rugs, and installing a double oven. To avoid water shortages like last year, the new owners want to make sure that there are more water sources available for the grounds crew.
O’Brien stated that there is a 90-day countdown for me to complete a lot before the club opens on April 1. “And that’s basically taken up every single day.”
O’Brien started Galaxy Development LLC, a commercial real estate company, over 35 years ago. His company developed many sites in Worcester County including Trolley Yard, which is located on the site of the former trolley maintenance facility and garage, which he purchased from Worcester Regional Transit Authority.
“Galaxy is a history in acquiring assets with an intent to make improvements that will increase value,” O’Brien wrote in December in an email to Pleasant Valley residents. “And we felt PVCC was the perfect fit for this.”
Pleasant Valley is however his first course of golf. O’Brien stated that he doesn’t play golf often but Kunkel, a well-known golfer, was a PV member for 15 years before joining Quinnatisset CC, Thompson, Connecticut in 2018. Kunkel won Pleasant Valley Invitational four more times with Dale Smith, and three times with Dan Teguis.
Great golf, great food, and great service are our goals
Kunkel stated, “Like Mike told me,” that if the members have three things, a great course of golf, great food, and great service, then everything will be fine. Everything will go smoothly. This is our goal.
Kunkel is still in touch with many Pleasant Valley members, and many have sent him messages of congratulations for buying the club. He intends to return to Pleasant Valley.
Kunkel stated, “I believe it’s going be a great partnership.” “Mike is an expert in the business side, and I am an expert on the golf course so we can learn from each other.”
The PV’s restaurant/banquet hall will open to the public. The new owners hope to make Pleasant Valley once again a popular destination for weddings.
Pleasant Valley’s entire staff will be retained by the new owners, including Eileen Aviza as general manager, Nate Henry as superintendent, and Paul Parajeckas, who is also head pro.
Parajeckas normally travels to Florida in January but he is staying in the region to assist the new owners. Kunkel was his friend growing up.
Parajeckas stated, “It’s wonderful to have an owner that plays golf a lot.” Parajeckas is well-versed in the history of the club and wants to make it better. It’s a great honor to be part the team to continue it.”
Honoring the Magills
Aviza stated that she was excited about the vision of new owners, and thanked the Magills.
She said that Pleasant Valley was helped by them. They also spent a lot of money, time and effort to rebuild the club. I feel the Galaxy team will take it further than the Magills. The Magills are a legend. They gave their all to the club.
John Magill Sr. was a Pleasant Valley resident for over 20 years before he opened Highfields Golf and Country Club. In November 2010, he purchased PV from Bank of New England for $5 million at an auction. Magill passed away in 2012. His son Jay Magill and Beth Shropshire took over the management of PV and Highfields. The Magills renovated Pleasant Valley’s 30,000-square foot clubhouse, cleaned up the course, and upgraded the sewer system.
In an email last month, the Magills stated that Pleasant Valley was an honor and they consider it an honor to be its caretakers for the past 12 years. We feel that we have made a significant contribution to Pleasant Valley’s revival. Galaxy Development will continue to make the club a place that you can be proud of.
Pleasant Valley was foreclosed by the Bank of New England after Edward J. “Ted Mingolla” couldn’t repay a loan amounting to nearly $6 million. Mingolla worked at PV since 1961, when his father Cosmo E. Mingolla opened it on the site of an old apple orchard. Mingolla became the owner and operator of PV after his father’s passing in 1979.
Pleasant Valley is the second sale of a Worcester golf club in the past few months. Regan Remillard, a Dallas-based owner and operator of private golf clubs, sold The Haven CC in Boylston to Invited. Remillard was a member of the club in 2012, when he bought it from financial ruin. He then invested millions to revive it.
By: Bill Doyle
Title: Pleasant Valley Country Club in Massachusetts, which has hosted 32 PGA Tour and 13 LPGA events, sold for $4.1 million
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/01/11/pleasant-valley-country-club-massachusetts-sold-4-million-dollars/
Published Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2023 14:00:29 +0000
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