Blackthorne golf course, clubhouse will not close, township states

The owners of the golf course and clubhouse in Penn Township’s Blackthorne Estates housing community could be forced to sell their properties.

The township commissioners voted at a meeting Wednesday to release a “Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law” document regarding the Blackthorne Estates golf course community. The document explains the township’s decision at a meeting last month to deny a request by golf course owner Bob Vucelich to construct a new clubhouse.

The original clubhouse for the course — the Club at Blackthorne, owned by Jeannine Schemm — has been closed to the community since November, according to a lawsuit filed by the township in May. The lawsuit, which was amended in August, was filed against the clubhouse, golf course, Blackthorne Investors and Bedrock Developers.

The clubhouse — which housed a pro shop, restrooms and social gathering space for golfers — instead has been run as a private event and wedding venue since November, the lawsuit states.

Vucelich requested permission to create a new clubhouse near Kapalua Lane in Blackthorne to allow the golf course to operate.

Of the five commissioners, only Jeff Shula voted in favor of a new facility. Larry Harrison, Chuck Miller, Lisa Zaucha and Chuck Konkus were opposed.

“While the residents’ fear that the golf course will close is genuine, it is not a basis for granting a modification,” the fact and law document states.

The 1993 traffic study evidence presented at last month’s meeting was “insufficient to rebut the traffic issues raised by residents of Kapalua Lane,” according to the document. These residents expressed concerns at the August meeting about the increase in traffic that would arise from the new clubhouse facility.

The golf course and clubhouse are “required amenities” of the community’s planned residential development agreement, the document states. The current owners would “forfeit their property interest” in the agreement if they do not operate.

“To put it in plain English, the Blackthorne golf course is not permitted to close permanently,” the document states.

The township also has requested in the lawsuit that the golf course and clubhouse “be sold to a qualified buyer who will be required to operate both properties” if the two parties are unable to reach a resolution.

“That is very, very, very much a last resort, but … since there’s not been a resolution reached, it is in there if nothing else works to get them to reach an agreement,” township solicitor Michael Korns said.

Public comment

Six Blackthorne Estates residents spoke during the public comment period Wednesday. Several brought up questions regarding the clubhouse property. All expressed a desire for a resolution.

“Blackthorne Clubhouse LLC has been permitted to operate all year while the golf course has been forced to remain closed due to having no location from which to operate,” resident Maureen Brusca said.

“That to me hints at favoritism,” Brusca said, “and that doesn’t feel good to any of us.”

Resident Ron Allen thanked the commissioners for their vote to deny the construction of a new clubhouse and urged Vucelich and Schemm to work together.

“Move into the clubhouse. Please do that,” Allen said. “And, if you’re not going to move into the clubhouse, I honestly hope both parties sell.”