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October 21. 2012 7:45PM
Work is under way on a $7 million renovation project that will transform the Manchester Country Club and, its directors hope, make it a bigger player for business and social functions.
Manchester Country Club has big dreams for bigger digs
Work is under way on a $7 million renovation project that will transform the Manchester Country Club and, its directors hope, make it a bigger player for business and social functions.
BEDFORD — Work is under way on a $7 million renovation project that will transform the Manchester Country Club and, its directors hope, make it a bigger player for business and social functions.
The project includes an expanded and renovated ballroom for weddings and events, a new conference center with a rooftop deck, a private member dining area, a new pro shop and training facility and renovated locker rooms.
“It's been in the planning stages for two to three years,” said David Eaton, president of the club's Board of Directors. “The members' component of the facility — the locker rooms, pro shop, cart storage area — needed to be brought up to modern standards, so those things are being done as a member benefit. The business model for the country club is also to create a meeting spot for both social and corporate meetings that is start of the art. So it was a two-pronged effort.”
A three-story, 10,780-square-foot addition to house a new cart barn, pro shop and training facility was unanimously approved at the May 7 meeting of the town Planning Board. An addition to the dining room, a new patio and veranda were also approved for construction at the 180 South River Road location.
Planning Director Rick Sawyer gave the proposal a positive recommendation prior to the vote, according to the minutes of the meeting. “From staff's perspective the club has been great, and they came forward with an excellent proposal,” he said. “We think the barn is going to be an excellent addition to the community and to the site. We're all going to learn to love it over time ... It's a great addition to the town.”
Builders broke ground three weeks ago, and the foundation is already in place for the pro shop and cart barn. The new pro shop is twice the size of the existing shop and will include space for dressing rooms and bath facilities.
Eaton said the second floor will feature high-tech golf simulation machines, hitting stations and a “virtual” swing evaluator that club members can use on their own or with the golf pro. “It will have a simulator that allows a professional to evaluate your swing,” he said. “It's a state of the art concept.”
The most significant change to the main building will be an expanded and renovated 4,000-square-foot ballroom, increasing the club's capacity from about 220 to 300 guests. Two 75-seat function rooms are being added to the second level of the main building, overlooking the golf course and connected by a large deck.
Some of the historic building's original architecture will be restored through construction of an open-air veranda with bluestone terrace accessible from the expanded ballroom.
Other than the new barn, most of the changes are taking place inside the building. “We're not changing the outside, other than putting new siding and windows on it,” Eaton said. “The actual footprint will look the same. The intent is to keep the ambiance of the exterior and create a state of the art building inside.”
Other improvements include a new second-floor conference center with three conference rooms, a 16-seat boardroom, two 75-seat lecture rooms with elevated golf course views and a new 24-seat private dining area in the member dining room.
“We just renovated our member dining are three years ago,” said Eaton, “and it's been such a success that you can't get in there for dinner on certain nights of the week.”
The club is currently at full membership, with 340 full golf members, and has no plans to increase that number, Eaton said, although the club is promoting membership on its website in anticipation of turnover.
The project has been financed with a conventional loan from Bank of America and some member contributions. Eckman Construction of Bedford is the general contractor.
Functions and banquets will continue at the club until December, and then be suspended until a grand re-opening in May. The club will be closed in January, with member dining reopening in February and the pro shop and locker rooms reopening in March. The golf course will remain open throughout.
“We planned the work in the winter to keep member disruption to a minimum,” Eaton said.
dsolomon@unionleader.com
The project includes an expanded and renovated ballroom for weddings and events, a new conference center with a rooftop deck, a private member dining area, a new pro shop and training facility and renovated locker rooms.
“It's been in the planning stages for two to three years,” said David Eaton, president of the club's Board of Directors. “The members' component of the facility — the locker rooms, pro shop, cart storage area — needed to be brought up to modern standards, so those things are being done as a member benefit. The business model for the country club is also to create a meeting spot for both social and corporate meetings that is start of the art. So it was a two-pronged effort.”
A three-story, 10,780-square-foot addition to house a new cart barn, pro shop and training facility was unanimously approved at the May 7 meeting of the town Planning Board. An addition to the dining room, a new patio and veranda were also approved for construction at the 180 South River Road location.
Planning Director Rick Sawyer gave the proposal a positive recommendation prior to the vote, according to the minutes of the meeting. “From staff's perspective the club has been great, and they came forward with an excellent proposal,” he said. “We think the barn is going to be an excellent addition to the community and to the site. We're all going to learn to love it over time ... It's a great addition to the town.”
Builders broke ground three weeks ago, and the foundation is already in place for the pro shop and cart barn. The new pro shop is twice the size of the existing shop and will include space for dressing rooms and bath facilities.
Eaton said the second floor will feature high-tech golf simulation machines, hitting stations and a “virtual” swing evaluator that club members can use on their own or with the golf pro. “It will have a simulator that allows a professional to evaluate your swing,” he said. “It's a state of the art concept.”
The most significant change to the main building will be an expanded and renovated 4,000-square-foot ballroom, increasing the club's capacity from about 220 to 300 guests. Two 75-seat function rooms are being added to the second level of the main building, overlooking the golf course and connected by a large deck.
Some of the historic building's original architecture will be restored through construction of an open-air veranda with bluestone terrace accessible from the expanded ballroom.
Other than the new barn, most of the changes are taking place inside the building. “We're not changing the outside, other than putting new siding and windows on it,” Eaton said. “The actual footprint will look the same. The intent is to keep the ambiance of the exterior and create a state of the art building inside.”
Other improvements include a new second-floor conference center with three conference rooms, a 16-seat boardroom, two 75-seat lecture rooms with elevated golf course views and a new 24-seat private dining area in the member dining room.
“We just renovated our member dining are three years ago,” said Eaton, “and it's been such a success that you can't get in there for dinner on certain nights of the week.”
The club is currently at full membership, with 340 full golf members, and has no plans to increase that number, Eaton said, although the club is promoting membership on its website in anticipation of turnover.
The project has been financed with a conventional loan from Bank of America and some member contributions. Eckman Construction of Bedford is the general contractor.
Functions and banquets will continue at the club until December, and then be suspended until a grand re-opening in May. The club will be closed in January, with member dining reopening in February and the pro shop and locker rooms reopening in March. The golf course will remain open throughout.
“We planned the work in the winter to keep member disruption to a minimum,” Eaton said.
dsolomon@unionleader.com
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