Laconia Country Club new building nears completion

LACONIA — A brand new clubhouse with updated amenities and great views of the golf course is taking shape at Laconia Country Club, and is expected to be completed in the coming months, with the restaurant open for members this winter.

“As for the progress, right now we are right on scheduled,” General Manager Charlie Wheeler said on Tuesday. “The plan would be to move into the building after the golf course closes in November, and open the building up in December.”

The two-story building is being constructed adjacent to the current clubhouse, and after closing the course in November, demolition will take place, to clear the way for 27 new parking spaces, giving the country club a total of 98 spaces.

Opechee Construction is in charge of the project. Architect and Vice President David Sherborne went before the city Technical Review Committee in June 2025, to discuss the project. The new clubhouse is 11,325 square feet, larger than the current footprint of 10,500 square feet.

Laconia Country Club is located on about 171 acres in the city’s residential zone, and was established in 1922, long before zoning laws were updated in 1975. The original clubhouse was built in 1967, which is connected to a pro shop, which has been there since 1954.

Wheeler said the new clubhouse will be equipped with a pro shop, a restaurant, a quiet dining room sequestered from the main bar and lounge area, indoor golf car storage which he said will be a gamechanger, and expanded bag storage.

The kitchen, he said, is the biggest upgrade, and much larger than what is currently being used. In years past, kitchen employees needed to walk outside and down stairs to get to freezers and storage.

“Everything is in one big room now, which is nice,” he said. “All the equipment will be on the same floor. It will be great to have everything in one building.”

The project was funded partially through a member assessment, and also through a bank loan. Wheeler said the project had 86% member support when it was voted on, and he said members who have seen construction progress can’t wait for the finished product.

“There’s been nothing but positive feedback,” Wheeler said. “Everyone loves that it is going on.”

Wheeler said the ideal aspect of this project has been the ability to keep the clubhouse open as the new one was being built.

“There has been minimal impact to the member experience this year, and that has been extremely successful,” Wheeler said. “Us being able to stay in the existing building the whole time, and not disrupt things for a year, has been extremely beneficial.”

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in November, and by March, there was already a visible frame of the building. Wheeler has been giving updates to members with video walking tours throughout the clubhouse this summer, showing off upgrades, prospective features, and views.

“Right now, the drywall is pretty much up, we’ll start the painting this weekend, and then it’s rock 'n' roll from there, really,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler thanked Opechee Construction and Meredith Village Savings Bank for being “absolutely fantastic” to work with. He said the project has been “smooth and painless.”

“I am knocking on wood right now,” Wheeler said.

The clubhouse restaurant will be open for members throughout the winter, and a grand opening will be scheduled for the early part of the golf season in May or June.