Reading Country Club | Reading, Pennsylvania

Owner: Chuck Gulati

In 2024, on the heels of the COVID era, Chuck Gulati and his brothers purchased Reading Country Club from Exeter Township. Although Chuck considered himself semi-retired at the time, the family turned to him to lead an ambitious effort to restore and revitalize this historic golf property.

Originally designed by renowned architect Alexander H. Findlay and opened in 1923, Reading Country Club offered tremendous potential. The Gulati family saw a classic golf course, a grand clubhouse, and a facility with deep roots in the community. At the same time, they recognized that years of deferred investment had taken their toll. The clubhouse restaurant and banquet facilities had been closed since 2016, and many areas of the property were in need of significant attention.

The family’s vision was straightforward but ambitious: transform Reading Country Club into one of the premier golf destinations in the region.

Several key factors helped make that vision possible:

• The Gulatis inherited an exceptionally talented and dedicated team, particularly Head Golf Professional Dave Milore and Golf Course Superintendent Brian Ahearn. Their experience, commitment, and knowledge proved invaluable throughout the transition.
• The family brought extensive hospitality and food-and-beverage expertise to the project, helping guide the renovation and reopening of the clubhouse.
• They engaged a golf course architect to develop a long-term master plan and establish a five-year vision for continued course improvements.

Along the way, Chuck gained a newfound appreciation for the complexity of golf course operations.

“I never realized how much goes into agronomy, turf management, and water management,” he said. “The amount of research, education, and expertise required is incredible.”

Chuck also credits his membership in the Pennsylvania Golf Course Owners Association for helping accelerate his learning curve.  “One of the biggest benefits has been networking with other owners and operators,” he explained. “It was eye-opening to discover that everyone faces many of the same challenges. It’s reassuring to know there’s a community of people willing to share ideas and help one another succeed.”

Just two years after acquiring the property, the results are evident. The Gulati family has invested approximately $2 million in capital improvements, including a complete clubhouse renovation, extensive tree removal, and the reconstruction of several tees and greens. Additional improvements remain on the horizon.

The investment has paid dividends, as Reading Country Club continues to experience growth in rounds played, events, and overall business activity. Chuck firmly believes that the facility’s success is directly tied to the ongoing commitment to improving the property and enhancing the customer experience.

Community engagement has also been a major focus of the club’s revitalization efforts. Recent initiatives include:

• Installation of indoor golf simulators that complement the club’s food-and-beverage offerings and create year-round activity.
• Hosting outdoor movie nights using a large projection screen, creating unique family-friendly experiences for the local community.
• Launching events such as “Mammograms and Margaritas,” which combine community outreach, health awareness, and social engagement.

Despite the significant progress already made, Chuck believes Reading Country Club is still in the early stages of its transformation.

“We’ve set high expectations for ourselves, but I feel we’re right on track,” he said. “Success comes from continually investing in the property and surrounding yourself with talented people.”

That philosophy ultimately led to another major decision. In the fall of 2025, Reading Country Club entered into a management agreement with Troon. While Chuck remains actively involved, the partnership allows him to return to a more strategic oversight role while leveraging Troon’s expertise in agronomy, food and beverage, operations, and purchasing.

For Chuck, it was a natural next step in ensuring the long-term success of the club while allowing him to enjoy more of the semi-retired lifestyle he had envisioned before acquiring the property.

As Reading Country Club approaches its next chapter, the future looks bright for this historic facility—proof that a clear vision, significant investment, and great people can breathe new life into a community golf asset.

Interested in learning more?
Chuck welcomes the opportunity to connect with fellow PGO members and discuss Reading Country Club‘s ongoing transformation.