A turn-of-the-century course
– times two

Built by the esteemed Donald Ross in 1906,
Merrimack Valley Golf course enjoys a rebirth a century later

By John Shimer

A century ago, one of the finest golf architects of his era laid the groundwork for what would become Merrimack Valley Golf Club.

The man, Donald Ross, a World Golf Hall of Famer who trained at the birthplace of golf at St. Andrews, would go on to create over 600 courses, including a pair of North Shore jewels in Salem CC and Essex County Club.

Nestled among the hilly landscape in the heart of the Merrimack Valley in Methuen, the Ross trademark touches – crowning greens, flat bunkers slightly turned up at the bottom, and fairways that allow player to run approach shots up to the green – have both baffled and delighted golfers for the past century at the public golf fixture.

Over the course of time, like any masterpiece that had never been touched up, MVGC began to show its age and perennial flooding issues in the wetter seasons only contributed to the problem. Occasionally, the course would have to close down or close off holes over extended periods of time to let those areas drain.

After nearly 40 years of ownership the Kattar family, who bought the MVGC in 1971, decided the time had come to begin the course’s first- ever renovation project to restore and redesign all 18 holes while better equipping MVGC’s irrigation system as well as spicing up the layout.

Later, the Kattars would also make plans for a completely new 20,000-square-foot clubhouse dwarfing the old “Caddy Shack” style building the family had operated for so many years. The new three-story structure designed by architect Warren Daniels will have a pro shop, a restaurant catered by Celebrations, two functions rooms, and a deck overlooking holes No. 1 and 18 with a spectacular view of 14 holes in all.

Without closing the course, the project would take three years to finish.

To realize their vision the Kattar brothers, Kevin and George, hired another rising star and renowned architect George F. Sargent Jr. to keep the Ross vision in place. The New Hampshire architect who through his mentor Phil Wogan had ties to Ross many years ago (Wogan’s father, Eugene “Skip” Wogan, worked with Ross and designed Cape Ann GC in Essex among others).

With a sympathetic restoration in mind, Sargent began the major overhaul using the drainage issues to his advantage by incorporating a pond system and placing several water amenities throughout the course as an irrigation system. One of the holes most notably affected was the par-3 No. 11, which now boasts a challenging island-style green.

Sargent also raised the slope and fairways, while letting them taper off on the sides so that the fairways could better accept shots and drain off excess water. Last summer’s wet stretch provided a welcome test to see how the new design would hold up, and, according to Sargent, the course passed with flying colors.

“With all the rain last year the golf course fared very well and generally stayed open,” said Sargent, who has over 20 years of experience in designing courses. “As I would talk to the members they would say it was a little wet but now very playable even after the heavy rain. In the past you wouldn’t be able to play for a week at least, which I think is a testament to our success.”

To further balance the course, Sargent implemented many new mounds to frame each hole for where golfers should aim off the tee box.

“I think the golfers get a better perception (with the mounds) of where the fairways end and where trouble will be,” explained Sargent, who has designed two Golfer’s Digest Award winning courses – New Hampshire’s Montcalm Golf Club and Point Sebago Golf Course and Resort in Maine.

“We have tried to create an important balance to make sure the mounds fit in and look natural, while helping the golfer.”

Also new to the course are bent grass fairways, and two completely new holes that opened last year – No. 4 and No. 5 - off in the woods with their own distinct feel, according to 14-year member Dr. George Boes.

“I did play the course last fall when it was finished, and I thought they did a great job retaining much of the old charm with the new changes,” said Boes, who added that his grandson helped raise the water level of the pond on hole No. 11 by launching several shots into the drink.

“They put in two new holes with almost a Lake Tahoe-like feel because of their lined fairways and the water that comes into play – it was just beautiful during the fall.”

The new MVGC will also get progressively harder through each set of nine holes by Sargent’s design causing golfers to use every club in the bag and work on every aspect of their game.

“I think as you look at the course after you’ve played it a couple of times and try to analyze it, the stronger holes are towards the end as a series of more challenging holes,” said Sargent, who added that No. 8 on the front and No. 11 and 18 are his favorites.

“That’s by design. You need to have an easier hole previously to warm up, but I want players to be smarter with their selection as they go along to ask themselves, ‘how do I negotiate this hole,’ which helps tone up their game.”

In the end, the finished product is something long time Merrimack golfers like Scotty Lumb, who has been a member for 32 years since he was 13-years-old, have been dreaming about and have the Kattars brimming with smiles from ear to ear.

“I can’t stop smiling morning to night,” said Club President Kevin Kattar, while stating that every hole has new character and beauty from tee to green.

“I’ve never been happier about the quality and how it turned out. It’s a lifetime dream.”

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Before

Founded: 1906

Architect: Donald Ross

Par: 71

Course Record: Ryan Ouellette, 59

Most Club Championships: Scotty Lumb (8, in the Kattar Family era)

Par/Slope/Distance from blues: 63.1/119/6,200

Biggest drawback: Issues with drainage during wet seasons and big rain storms causing the course to close for extended periods or close off several holes.

After

Opening: April 2009; Grand Opening with the clubhouse in the summer

Arcitect: GF Sargent Design, LLC, George F. Sargent Jr., ASGCA

Par: 70 or 71 (depending on whether hole No. 4 will be a long par-4 or a shorter par-5). MGA ratings to be determined.

Flooding solution: With a new pond/irrigation system adding new water amenities throughout the course as well as elevated fairways that slant off to the sides, MVGC now has a much improved drainage system that should allow the course to stay open in wetter seasons.

Website: www.merrimackvalleygolfclub.com

Phone: 978-685-9717 or 978-683-7771