Concert Golf Partners, a Florida-based company that owns 34 upscale private golf and country clubs nationwide, has purchased Jasna Polana.
Some area residents had feared the exclusive gold club in Princeton would be closed for good and the property would be converted to housing because of the content in marketing materials distributed when the property went up for sale.
Concert Golf Partners was founded in 2011 by Peter Nanula, former founder and CEO of Arnold Palmer Golf Management, and co-founder Susan Dunnavant. The company, based near Orlando, is an experienced and premier buyer of private clubs. The company works to preserve the culture, identity, and traditions of each club while making annual capital investments to enhance amenities, service levels, and the membership experience, representatives for the company said.
Concert Golf’s portfolio includes The Club at Pasadera in Monterey, Gaillardia Country Club in Oklahoma City, The Club at Longview in Charlotte, and The Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers. Golf courses are designed by world-renowned golf architects such as Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Arnold Palmer.
Jasna Polana, a Polish phrase that translates to “bright meadow,” is a 222-acre, upscale private golf club and mansion located along Provinceline Road near the border of Lawrenceville. The property includes event spaces, a tennis court, gardens featuring a reflecting pool, and two private lodges with 16 bedrooms for overnight accommodations.
Opened in 1998, Jasna Polana features an 18-hole golf course designed by World Golf Hall of Fame Member Gary Player. It is considered “one of the most coveted private club memberships” and “among the top private golf courses in New Jersey,” according to Golfing Magazine. Players reportedly once described Jasna Polana as “the finest course of its type” in the world.
The 46,000-square-foot clubhouse was built in 1975 as a private residence for Barbara Piasecka Johnson and J. Seward Johnson Sr., Johnson & Johnson heir. The mansion was designed by renowned architect Wallace Harrison, who also designed Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, and the United Nations Headquarters. No expense was spared in creating the mansion, which was designed to accommodate the famed Piasecka-Johnson art collection. At the time of its construction, it was one of America’s most expensive private residences.
After J. Seward Johnson died, Barbara Piasecka Johnson converted Jasna Polana into an exclusive private golf club, retained the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network to manage the facility, and hired nine-time major champion Gary Player to design the 7,100-yard golf course in 1998. The course boasts a 75.0 rating and a slope of 145. Additionally, the club offers a 3.5-acre practice facility featuring a 60,000 sq. ft. practice tee, four putting.
“Jasna Polana will be an exceptional addition to Concert Golf Partners as the company continues to elevate its portfolio of premier, private golf clubs, and provides a unique opportunity to foster the progress and prosperity of the Princeton community,” said José Feliciano, co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, a member of Concert Golf’s Board of Directors, and a prominent Princeton University alumnus.
In 2020, Feliciano, with his wife Kwanza Jones, gifted $20 million to nearby Princeton University to build two dormitory buildings, contributing to Princeton University’s efforts in increasing the undergraduate student body by about 10 percent.
“We are humbled to invest in a Club with such a rich history, situated within a community that has profoundly shaped my life. We look forward to contributing to the continued legacy and growth of the club, and the vibrant community it supports,” said Feliciano.
The Piasecka Johnson heirs conducted a worldwide search for a new owner of Jasna Polana over the past decade with the help of Cushman & Wakefield. Andy Merin, executive vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, said a variety of investors wanted to purchase the property, and 20 offers to buy Jasna Polana were submitted.
“We sought a new owner who would not only maintain the club but also elevate it for our members. Concert Golf clearly demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving the storied traditions and history of Jasna Polana,” said Christopher Piasecki, president of Jasna Polana Golf Club. “Their vision aligns with our dedication to providing an exceptional experience for our members, ensuring that Jasna Polana continues its legacy, and to thrive for generations to come.”
Concert plans to invest $3 million in amenities at Jasna Polana to enhance and complement the existing infrastructure, clubhouse, and golf course. More than 100 works of rare fine art will remain on the property.
“Jasna Polana boasts an immense history, from its ties to the Piasecka Johnson family to its role in professional golf as a past host of the PGA TOUR Champions and the classic Wonderful World of Golf match between Tom Watson and Hal Sutton,” said Jordan Peace, senior vice president of corporate development at Concert Golf. “We are extremely selective about the clubs we add to our portfolio, and we are honored to be the new stewards of this world-class club. Our mission is to preserve and enhance great private clubs, while honoring their culture and traditions in new and exciting ways.”
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