The Brackenridge Heights Golf Course remains on the market after several years.<\/p>\n
If owner Ted Tomson has his way, the 83-acre property in Harrison will remain mostly green.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to see it stay a golf course,\u201d said Tomson, owner of a scrap metal yard in Brackenridge and Harrison, and Lernerville Speedway in Buffalo Township.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful. I\u2019d like the restaurant and wedding venue to reopen, but we\u2019ve got too much other stuff going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomson dismissed rumors that he\u2019d been approached by Allegheny County to purchase the property, which sits off of Lane Avenue in the township\u2019s Natrona Heights neighborhood.<\/p>\n
The nine-hole golf course, its clubhouse and restaurant are listed on Loopnet.com for $2.5 million. It is assessed at about $875,000 and zoned C-1. That allows for uses such as country clubs, public parks and playgrounds, agriculture, forestry, nurseries, greenhouses and cemeteries.<\/p>\n
Originally established as the Brackenridge Heights Country Club, the property near Route 28 at Burtner Road dates back more than 100 years. It was founded in 1913 when a temporary five-hole course was leased from the Henry Brackenridge estate.<\/p>\n
The facility ceased operations as a private club at the end of 2010. It was foreclosed on and sold to the Tomson family in 2011 for $970,000.<\/p>\n
Shortly after, they opened an upscale restaurant, Tables on the Green, and deemed the long-private nine-hole golf course open to the public.<\/p>\n
All amenities are closed but the family still maintains the grounds.<\/p>\n
Abigail Gardner, Allegheny County spokeswoman, said she was unaware of any consideration by the county to purchase the property.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the first time the Tomson\u2019s have quashed rumors of a pending purchase. In 2023, Ted\u2019s son, Rubus, said the rumor mill was ramping up about the property being converted for low-income housing. He said that wasn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n
There was a legitimate proposal on the table in 2019 for a holistic wellness and recovery center, but township zoning stood in the way.<\/p>\n
Developers pitched an idea that would have included a bed-and-breakfast, restaurant, an office building and programs for veterans, but township ordinances didn\u2019t support the plan.<\/p>\n
Tomson, a veteran, said he would\u2019ve liked to see services for military service men and women. A successful recreation spot would also get his vote, Tomson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat might be neat is if the data center fails in Springdale, maybe they\u2019d consider putting it up here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n