New Fonderlac owner plans major upgrade

By Don Shilling

NORTH LIMA — Local businessman Edward Muransky is planning sweeping changes after buying Fonderlac Country Club.

“I want to make it one of the finest clubs in the area,” said Muransky, who bought the Paulin Road golf course last week from a group of members who had owned it.

Muransky said he still is developing his plans so he did not want to be specific. But he said he would continue to operate Fonderlac as a private club.

“I want to bring in people to the Valley. We have a lot of fine clubs, but I want to make this something special,” he said.

Debbie Kish, club office manager, said golf course architects already have been on the property, and she expects upgrades of the course to occur first, followed by improvements to the clubhouse.

“Everybody is very excited about Mr. Muransky and his vision,” she said.

Denny Kunce, a 25-year club member and president of the former ownership group, said the club didn’t have enough money for necessary improvements.

“Country club dollars were getting scarce and very competitive,” he said.

He noted that some upscale courses have opened in the area, and Avalon Holdings in Howland is making major upgrades after buying Squaw Creek Country Club in Vienna and Sharon Country Club in Pennsylvania. It also owns Avalon Lakes Golf Course in Howland.

Country clubs need upgraded health clubs, outstanding food service and other amenities, he said.

Kunce said Fonderlac has about 170 members and needs about 50 more to be financially viable. He said he thinks Muransky can attract 30 or 40 additional members because of his business contacts.

Kish said Fonderlac had a full membership of 275, plus a waiting list, four years ago. As membership fell, expenses for maintaining the course continued to rise, she said.

Corporate changes in the area made it hard to maintain members, she said. The number of people who use country clubs for networking has declined as companies have consolidated operations or moved plants out of the area, she said.

The club is owned by Fonderlac Inc., which represents a group of club members. Not all club members were shareholders in Fonderlac Inc.

Muransky is the chief executive of Southwood Commons, an office complex in Boardman, and The Muransky Companies. One of his projects is the $7.5 development under way at Market Street and Southwoods Avenue. It will include office and retail space.

Muransky formerly worked with Eddie DeBartolo Jr.’s development company and played football for the University of Michigan and the Oakland Raiders.

Fonderlac was created in 1966 by four local businessmen, Steve Pipoly, Steve Bacon, Aldo Nespeca and William Herman. They bought the land along Lake Evans, created a nine-hole course and expanded from there.

Don Pipino later bought the club and operated it for years before selling it to members. He is still a member and is Muransky’s father-in-law.

shilling@vindy.com