Laconia Country Club tees off on new clubhouse

LACONIA — The Laconia Country Club is getting new digs.

David Sherborne, architect and vice president of Opechee Construction, told members of the city’s Technical Review Committee the firm would construct a new two-story clubhouse on the country club property, creating a marginally larger footprint compared to the existing structure and increasing the total number of available parking spaces.

The property, which is about 171 acres, is located in a residential zone. The course was established in 1922, decades prior to the state’s adoption of zoning in 1975. Through the end of the project, the golf course will remain unchanged, but views from the new clubhouse should be improved.

“There’s a pro house that’s been there since 1954 onsite, a clubhouse built in 1967 — they are connected by a walkway — and through this project, the course would remain unchanged,” Sherborne said.

Sherborne told the committee Tuesday morning his company is looking for a conditional use permit in order to complete the project. A golf course isn’t listed on the table of permitted uses in the residential zone, though the clubhouse building is permitted as an accessory use to a recreational area.

“The closest primary use would be the outdoor recreational facility, which is allowed by special exemption, and the clubhouse itself would be permitted as an accessory building,” Sherborne said. 

The project will appear before the planning board at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

“We think we’ve hit all the major milestones that are required under the zoning ordinance,” Sherborne said Tuesday in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber at City Hall downtown. “The existing use of the clubhouse is lawfully established and not in violation of any zoning regulations.”

The footprint of the new clubhouse will be slightly larger — 11,325 square feet compared to the 10,500-square-foot size of the existing clubhouse. They’ll keep the old clubhouse in operation while building out the new one, leaving it for normal use until the new facility is operational. Amenities will be the same in the new clubhouse as in the old. Once the old clubhouse is taken down, additional parking will be realized. 

The project will add 25 more spaces, bringing the total capacity up to 98. 

“The architecture has been very intentional,” Sherborne said. “I think it’s in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood.” 

They’ll also install a new fire protection system. Demolition and construction could begin as early as October. 

“One of the advantages that the club’s excited about is this positioning — closer to the road but still behind the setbacks and the curbs — gives better engagement with the golf club itself,” he said. “We’ve got views of multiple holes and greens on the course that, unfortunately, we don't have at this current location.” 

“There is a hydrant somewhere out front, is that planning on staying?” Deputy Fire Chief Louis Loutrel asked, and Sherborne said it would. 

Assistant Planning Director Tyler Carmichael told Sherborne to ensure the fire department would have access in the winter, and asked Sherborne what their plans were for solid waste disposal.

“Currently we have dumpsters located across the street at the end, the southern end of the driving range,” he said. “So that would remain."