LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- In the eight years since Glenmary Country Club has been closed, Mother Nature has taken over. Overgrown with weeds, the golf course covering more than 100 acres that used to wind through the south Louisville neighborhood was slowly disappearing.

But now, those weeds are gone, paint on the old clubhouse is brand new, and the developer who recently bought the property has the green light to move forward.

In 2021, Chris Thieneman purchased 45 acres of the country club for $625,00 from Par Golf LLC, including the area near Bardstown Road and Interstate 265 where the clubhouse is located. To date, he's invested about $2 million into renovations and simply getting the approval to rebuild presented an entirely different set of challenges.

"I just believe you work hard and you can envision and make things happen," Thieneman said Thursday. "We've put our money where our mouth is on this thing."

For years, some Glenmary residents — 850 families live in the area — pushed back against the plan, causing any construction to be delayed.

"We had to go to court and the board was an obstacle there. What was really exciting were the residents that were out at the hearing that were fighting for us," Thieneman said. "We just fought through it. With all the obstacles, we just overcame them all."

The public will soon get to see these plans come to fruition anchored by the new restaurant, called "Mulligan's," which set to open later this month. Co-owned by Ernesto Rivera of I Love Tacos, the restaurant will serve both American and Mexican staples, including a Sunday brunch.

"We partnered with Sazerac, which everyone knows Sazerac: Buffalo Trace, Elmer T. Lee, Pappy Van Winkle, Weller," Rivera said. "It's going to be a little bit of everything."

The original bar in the clubhouse was moved from the center of the building up against the right side and now features a garage bar that will be opened during warmer days. 

Several televisions surround the space to offer guests views of various sporting events from both inside the restaurant and the patio space.

Next to the restaurant will be a covered porch and event space with original 19th-century hardwood floors.

Down below, the idea is to build a speakeasy with its own hidden entrance. And outside, beach volleyball, bocce ball and pickleball courts are being added to offer more space for events.

It's a major project that Rivera said they're glad to see finally reach a turning point.

"It's been a challenge, but we're here finally and we're excited," he said Thursday. "I don't think the community knew what we were going to do. I think they thought we were going to do something simple, maybe something they didn't like.

"Once they saw it, I believe we have almost everyone agreeing with what we're doing, and I'm sure they're going to love it too."

Thieneman said the restaurant will first hold a soft opening for neighbors sometime in the coming weeks before opening to the rest of the public. The developer also added members of the HOA will be invited to host their planning meetings at the space -- for free. 

Related Stories:

Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.