First Montgomery Group, which paid $10.1 million for the Cherry Hill, N.J., club in May, is applying to the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for a “special permit for a golf facility.” A representative of ABC said that rather than buying a costly license, applicants for the permit pay an annual fee of $2,000 and must undergo a background check.
The new owner of Woodcrest Country Club in Cherry Hill, N.J., is applying to the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for a special permit that would allow liquor sales, the South Jersey Courier-Post reported.
Woodcrest disclosed its plans in a legal ad on July 6. A representative of the owner, First Montgomery Group (FMG), declined to comment on Monday, the Courier-Post reported.
A “special permit for a golf facility” typically allows sales of alcoholic beverages to a qualifying club’s members and guests, ABC spokesman Zach Hosseini said.
“This essentially functions as a liquor license,” said Hosseini.
But rather than buying a costly license, applicants pay an annual fee of $2,000 for a permit, Hosseini noted. The applicants must undergo a background check, the Courier-Post reported.
“They are required to make a notice 10 days before submitting an application,” Hosseini said, noting that ABC has not yet received a request from Woodcrest.
FMG, which paid $10.1 million for the formerly bankrupt golf club in May, beating a long list of interested bidders, including The Union League of Philadelphia, opened the course to golfers last month. The firm said it would run the once-private club as a semi-public facility, the Courier-Post reported.
“We are working hard to unveil swimming, tennis and fitness classes in the coming weeks,” the club’s website says. Woodcrest, which dates to 1929, has two swimming pools and three tennis courts on more than 150 acres, the Courier-Post reported.
The once-exclusive club struggled financially after it borrowed to build a clubhouse in 2002, then was unable to repay some $10.6 million to Sun National Bank of Vineland. The club went bankrupt in May 2012, the Courier-Post reported.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.