Based on multiple confirmations from golf industry insiders and part-time employees, Seven Hills Golf Course in Hartville will not reopen this spring and likely will be sold off in five-acre lots as a housing development.
Over its six-plus decades, the challenging tournament-style layout has hosted events like the Ohio Public Links Championship, many Akron District Golf Association tournaments, and numerous high school golf sectionals/districts and junior competitions. But after its 2020 sale, the course operations went downhill quickly.
The course was initially built in 1968, designed by Bill Newcomb. In 1972, George and Peggy Gran purchased the golf course. The husband-and-wife team ran the course until their two sons, Cary and Dick, took over after their retirement.
In 2020, Dr. James Gesiotto, a dentist, purchased the course from the Gran family, with stated plans for significant improvements. Gesiotto is the father of Fox News contributor, political candidate and former Miss Ohio Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, who is married to former Pittsburgh Steelers NFL lineman Marcus Gilbert. Both Gilberts worked at the golf course for a period of time.
The promised improvements to the golf course property never materialized, past a few small clubhouse upgrades. In 2021, the golf course conditions began to deteriorate, and by 2022 the course review websites listed dozens of brutal comments and many 1-star ratings.
The clubhouse doors were shuttered early on the 2022 golf season, as golfers reported a locked pro shop in the beginning of October during an extended period of beautiful weather.
Calls and emails by past league directors who play at the course have gone unanswered. A part-time employee of the course stated to a golf industry member that the course equipment is set to be auctioned this spring.
None of the sources who provided information about the closing would agree to be quoted on the record, but separately all of their statements matched.
Calls placed to the clubhouse at Seven Hills do not ring, dropping as if the number has been disconnected. A contact made to Dr. Gesiotto’s office for comment was not returned.
