1906: Scotland-born Donald Ross, legendary golf course architect, designed the layout for the Merrimack Valley Golf Club – the second one he had created in New England at that time. He went on to design 400 courses between then and 1948, laying an important foundation for America’s golf industry.
1971: The Kattar Family took over ownership of the Merrimack Golf Club, purchasing the parcel of land at auction.
2008: Golf Digest award winner George F. Sargent, Jr., a legacy Donald Ross designer, was commissioned to give the course a much-needed facelift. The key issue was to address major drainage problems on several holes; however, the course was also losing its signature Ross look and feel, with deteriorated course features, sunken greens, blind shots, worn-out tees and nondescript bunkers.
2008-present: Transition to a premier public course. The redesign breathed new life into the Merrimack Golf Club, making it a choice destination for golfers of all abilities thanks to its innovative approach. Part of the 2008 redesign was to incorporate a new clubhouse, which now offers amazing deck and patio views from 14 out of the 18 holes. The Sandtrap Bar and Grille has become more than just a quick watering hole and has evolved into a golfer- and family-friendly dining spot encouraging people to linger and catch up with friends. Four function halls round out the amenities with the ability to host anywhere from a few guests to 200+ guests in luxurious style.
The Merrimack Valley Golf Club has been a landmark in Methuen since 1906, but the modern era of this distinguished course began in 1971. At a time when disco was just making its way onto the scene, political tensions were rising, rights movements were in full swing, and traditional family roles were being challenged yet again, a young couple embarked on a life-altering journey they never realized would take them this far.
The early 1970s set the stage for George T. Kattar and his wife Phyllis to take a chance on a dream. They decided to purchase a golf course right in the middle of Methuen – by all accounts one that was cherished in the community but that had no doubt fallen on some hard times lately. The course was overdue for some TLC and dedicated ownership to breathe new life into it.
Over the years, it was obvious more had to be done in order to bring Merrimack Valley Golf Club up to par with others in the area. It was definitely in need of a facelift, and the Kattars were the ones to reinvent it. 2008 saw the birth of a premier public golf course that benefited from structural, drainage and aesthetic alterations in order to transition to a premier local course.
Today, Merrimack Valley Golf Club is what it is because of one couple, one local legend that always had faith in this little gem of the Merrimack Valley. George T. and Phyllis Kattar started a family legacy nearly 50 years ago – one that has withstood the test of time, improved the local community setting, and put Methuen on the map as a golfing force to be reckoned with.
The legacy still lives on today, as the Kattar’s children and extended family and friends continue to work hard at making the Merrimack Valley Golf Club a respected name in the industry. In the beginning, the goal was to create a place where people could come together to have fun. The family has never lost focus of that mantra.
For most of us, true appreciation and acknowledgment of our military is limited to occasions such as Veterans Day and the times their perils come into view on the nightly news.
But for members of the Merrimack Valley Golf Club, honoring veterans is at the center of their game. Set near the tee for the 17th hole, a new memorial serves as a permanent reminder of veterans from all services and eras. The understated, year-old memorial is borderd by small mounds of lush fescue. The centerpiece is a simple array of senven flag poles. The middle and tallet pole bears the Stars and Stripes, flanked on either side by the banner of each U.S. military service and the black MIA/POW flag.
Designed by world renowned golf course designer George Sargent, the space is a quite respite from the busy links. From the slightly elevated memorial, visitors have a panoramic view of the course and nearby Methuen. Kevin Kattar, who owns the club with his family, wanted to commemorate the service and sacrifice fo veterans. Many of the club's members are veterans, including Jim Moran of Lawrence, who served in the Air Force.
"Its' a great thing that Kevin has done here. It makes me proud to be a veteran," Moran says. Kattar held a golf tournament to help raise money for the project. He says it sold out immediately. But that's par for the course when supporting vets is concerned.
