PHOTO COURTESY OF MERCER COUNTY

Hopewell Valley Golf and Country Club now open

Hopewell Valley Golf Course is now open.

The Mercer County Park Commission and county officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the golf course, a newly acquired property of the Park Commission, according to a press release through the Park Commission before Memorial Day.

This 186-acre, 18-hole course includes a clubhouse, ballroom, three Har-Tru tennis courts, three platform tennis courts and a pool. The facility is now fully operational and open to the public and provides new amenities for residents in and outside the county.

“Most of our active recreational facilities are located in our main park in West Windsor, and I am pleased that residents in this part of our beautiful county now have a top-notch park where they can swim, play golf and tennis and dine, all while taking in spectacular views,’’ said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

At the ribbon-cutting celebration, Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson was joined by Chief of Staff Kelvin S. Ganges, County Administrator Lillian L. Nazzaro, Planning Director Leslie Floyd, County Commissioners Nina Melker, Lucylle Walter and Andrew Koontz and members of the Park Commission, according to the press release.

Park Commission President James Schulz signed the first tee flag and made the first ceremonial shot.

“This facility opens so much potential for the Park Commission and we are thrilled to finally be able to welcome the public to this incredible new asset,” Watson said. “This acquisition expands our golf and tennis offerings, and the addition of a pool gives us the opportunity to provide something new and exciting in the county and opens the door to new programs and events at this location.”

Mercer County’s tennis center is located in Mercer County Park and the county operates four additional golf courses.

Hopewell Valley Golf Club is located on Pennington-Hopewell Road in Hopewell Township.

The tennis courts and pool opened on Memorial Day and will remain open through Labor Day. The golf course and club house are open year round. Course conditions are weather permitting.

To book a tee time for Hopewell Valley Golf Course, visit www.golfmercercounty.com. For tennis reservations, call 609-448-8007. Mercer County Tennis ID holders can book a court using www.courtreserve.com. Pool sessions must be booked online through Community Pass.

Golf Course Acquisition

In July 2020, the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the acquisition of the Hopewell Valley Golf and Country Club.

County officials completed the acquisition of the golf course and club in December 2020.

In 2016, the club had reopened under new ownership when Spirit Golf Management LLC took over the property. Three years later, Hopewell Valley Golf and Country Club closed its doors to members and the public in 2019.

County officials sought to purchase the property, which had been in foreclosure, for $1.9 million.

The county acquired the property through bonds and grant funds from the Green Acres Planning Incentive program (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). The loans would be repaid from the Open Space Preservation Trust Fund, according to the county resolution documents.

Mercer County will now own and operate five golf courses with the addition of Hopewell Valley Golf and Country Club, a former private golf and country club designed by Thomas Winton in 1927. The county already operates Mountain View Golf Course in Ewing Township, Princeton Country Club in West Windsor Township, and Mercer Oaks East and West also in West Windsor.