Souhegan Country Club President Raymond Holmes has purchased the country club building and property in a private sale, and will be allowing the club to continue using the building twice a month while it attempts to rebuild its membership base.

The Souhegan Country Club sits on 53 acres of land at 290 Old Country Road. The property was purchased in 1899 by eight men, who each contributed $100 to the sale for the purposes of a country club. The original owners turned the property over to the Souhegan Country Club organization in 1929. The club’s original building burned down in 1979, and the current hall was built in 1982.

At one time, the club was “going gangbusters,” Holmes said, with about 120 members at its height, and a long waiting list. But by 2010, membership had flagged significantly. Jane Elwell of New Ipswich took over as club president in 2016, and began to rebuild the membership, said Holmes, and the club at that time had more than 70 members.

However, COVID-19 hit in 2020. Holmes said he had just taken over the presidency at that time, and the club has never recovered from the strain of COVID shutdowns. It currently only has 16 members, and Holmes said the membership dues and summer suppers were no longer enough to keep up the club. Holmes, who is a neighbor of the club as well as its president, said he and the club came to a private agreement to allow him to purchase the event hall and surrounding property.

“It’s a no-brainer. I live next door, and it’s 53 acres of land, that, if sold to the wrong person, would be developed. I have an interest in that – I don’t want to see that happen,” Holmes said.

Holmes said he also has an interest in seeing the club revived, and it will still have use of the hall twice a month.

“I didn’t want to see it go down – not on my watch,” he said.

The Souhegan Country Club board discussed the sale for about nine months before deciding to sell the property. The entire membership took a vote on the matter, and with the exception of one member who was unable to be present for the vote, unanimously agreed to sell the property, Holmes said.

Holmes said the club will now be able to put more of its resources into events and building membership again. The club has scheduled a membership dinner at the end of July, which will double as a club meeting, to discuss the future of the club and planning events now that the sale has been finalized.

The property includes a 2,000-square-foot event hall, which Holmes plans to rent out for small events such as parties or weddings; a large porch; and tennis and pickleball courts. Holmes said the property needs some updating and some landscaping work, which he’ll be tackling after having closed on the property July 2.

“There’s going to be some major changes, as far as the way the place looks,” said Holmes, who has plans to trim back the woodline and plant new landscaping. “It’s going to look like it used to.”

Membership to the Souhegan Country Club is currently by invitation, though Holmes said the club will be discussing that model as it moves forward with trying to attract new members. The club is planning a grand opening for the upgraded property in 2025, but is taking inquiries about membership now. For information  or inquiries about membership, email theclubatoakhill@gmail.com.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.