Berkshire Hills History
Berkshire Hills Country Club
Named for Its Regional & Local Characteristics
In the early 1950's a gentleman farmer by the name of Griefe Raible purchased a large tract of land & named it Pebblebrook Farms. Pebblebrook Farms came to be known as one of the premiere farms in the area for breeding of prize Guernsey Cattle. Special barns were built for the prize cattle & others for thoroughbred horses- like everything else Mr. Raible did, the buildings were constructed with the best materials available & by some of the areas finest craftsmen. The main barn was also used to stage Square Dancing for the local familes -- ask some of the Geauga County First Families to tell you more about these dances-- Many of the buildings are still being utilized by BHCC today.
Although Mr. Raible & his wife originally resided in a Century Home off Heath Road, he had the desire & funds to build what has become the center jewel of Berkshire Hills Country Club - the Manor House. The Manor House, designed by famed architect "Monty" Copper, (Monroe Walker Copper, Sr.), has 31 rooms in total including seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. It has two kitchens, formal living and dining rooms for grand entertaining. The front entrance boasts the symmetry of an English courtyard, while the remainder of the grounds combine an equal balance of the natural terrain and subtle man-made terraces that reminisce the vineyards in Spanish and French countrysides.
Griefe's vision was to create an affordable residential community out of the large farm. He began the development by constructing the roads that would allow for access to many home sites. Fortunately for us golfers, marketing of the land stopped short of the original plans leaving most of the farm land and wooded areas undeveloped.
In 1954, Pebblebrook Farm was purchased by the Wagner Brothers, Lou & Morrie, who began the long and arduous task of creating a private country club with amenities such as an 18 hole champion golf course designed by Ben Zink, a 25 yard swimming pool, tennis courts, formal dinning room, and banquet facilities for several hundred. After completing the construction and renovation the Wagners named the club Pebblebrook Country Club, the name derived from the streams and brooks winding through the golf course. The Wagners remodeled the barn structures, which are still in use today as a club house/banquet facility and auxiliary locker room building, constructed the largest lap pool in the area, which is currently used by the members of the private swim club and added a pro shop to provide for members' club storage.
In the mid 1950's to early 1960's, Chesterland was a "one traffic light" town and still cosidered too far to drive for many of the private country club's customer base. So in 1963 the Wagners put a "For Sale" sign on the property.
Milan S. Kapel, Sr. the founder of Berkshire Hills Country Club (October 23,1925 to October 17, 1984), along with his brother, Frank J. Kapel (September 18, 1917 to August 24, 1970) and a hand full of other investors bought the Pebblebrook property and renamed it Berkshire Hills Country Club. The name Berkshire Hills was decided upon because the notorious hills in this area, which BHCC is designed upon, are the foothills of the Berkshire Mountain Chain in the Northeastern US. The membership rosters for BHCC was a virtual "Who's-Who" list for Cleveland & Northeast Ohio. The BHCC logo and many of the foundations upon which the BHCC is based were borne in part on the creations of BHCC first General Manager the late Rudy Rowen, Milan S. Kapel, Sr and many others that gave much of their time and energy to BHCC. Their combined devotion to BHCC has made possible the facilities we enjoy today.
The Kapel vision for the property was not unlike that of its original owner, Griefe Raible. Everyone who knew Milan S. Kapel, Sr. knew that when he took on a task he put himself 100% into it and he went "first class". Only the best materials and finest staff would be employed in the transformation of Pebblebrook to Berkshire Hills CC.
However, providing a quality facility was only one aspect of Milan S. Kapel, Sr.'s legacy. He wanted to provide this quality to people without the customary restrictions to access by the majority of the other private clubs. Milan S. Kapel, Sr. came from humble beginnings and he never forgot where he came from. He understood the hard work it takes to make a dollar and he wanted to make sure that those who were using theirs to play golf, swim or have their special event at Berkshire Hills Country Club "get their money's worth". The Founder was committed to making this club in the country-- a high quality Country Club without the restrictions that other clubs imposed.
Armed with this focus, ambition and a willingness to do whatever had to be done, the Kapels began the overall improvement of the of the golf course & facilities. During the following years many improvements increased the playability of the course and enhanced its beauty. The club remained private until 1983 when Mr. Kapel decided to change the direction of the course to a previously uncharted territory of "a golf course/party center".
In 1983 Berkshire Hills CC became a "daily fee" or "open to the public" golf course. This change of format created an even greater opportunity for more of the public to play on a course that was previously exclusive to members.
The current manager of the BHCC Golf Course is Arthur Managment, Ron Miesz, President. Arthur Management is a company started by Ron's father Henry Miesz, the developer of the former Landerhaven Golf Course in Lyndhurst, Ohio. In 1984 Landerhaven GC was sold to developers for a multi-building, multi-tenant, headquarters office campus project. Prior to divesting himself of Landerhaven, Ron Miesz, began looking for another golf facility to operate to keep the expertise and quality staff that Arthur Management had acquired over the years. Through a mutual friend and former investor in BHCC, a meeting was set up beginning the management relationship that Arthur Management and BHCC continue to enjoy today.
Improvements are always being made at BHCC to provide our patrons with enhanced enjoyment.
Whether a "private club" or a "daily fee public course", BHCC has followed through on Providing Patrons with a Quality Recreational Experience at a Reasonable Price! This holds true for each of the departments today.
For more about Kapel Enterprises and the Kapel Family please go to: www.kapel.com
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Berkshire Hills Country Club
9760 Mayfield Rd Chesterland, Ohio 44026
Ph:440-729-9511 E-Mail: swimming@berkshirehills.net