The Sugar River Golf Club (SRGC) Investors Group recently announced that they had not only purchased the course and clubhouse, but intend to make significant improvements. A group of 13 investors, made up of local men and women, purchased the parcel from a Kentucky bank. According to Club Manager Dustin Beaudry, the financial institution purchased the property for roughly $800,000 after the course had gone under during previous management in 2018. SRGC purchased the property with the intention of continuing to give the course a “small-town feel,” something they were worried would be lost if the course was continued to be owned by an out-of-state entity.

The Newport Golf Club in Newport, N.H. has recently announced a change in ownership of the club and course, Eagle Times reported.

On Dec. 15, the Sugar River Golf Club (SRGC) Investors Group announced that they had not only purchased the course and clubhouse, but intend to make significant improvements.

A group of 13 investors, made up of local men and women, purchased the parcel from a Kentucky bank. According to Club Manager Dustin Beaudry, the financial institution purchased the property for roughly $800,000 after the course had gone under during previous management in 2018, Eagle Times reported.

SRGC purchased the property with the intention of continuing to give the course a, “small town feel,” something they were worried would be lost if the course was continued to be owned by an out of state entity, Eagle Times reported. The group has also stated that their vision is to make the club a recreational asset for the community.

“There are a lot of positive things on the way after this purchase was finalized, Beaudry said. “We have a lot of events that are coming back that we haven’t been able to hold in a long time. We are looking forward to hosting more weddings, as well as installing a virtual course to offer year-round golfing, as well as new equipment and carts.”

They also intend to utilize the Sunshine Pavilion, which the SRGC says is one of the Lake Sunapee Region’s largest pavilions, offering up to 175 seats for any event, Eagle Times reported.

The course, built on 143 acres of land in Newport, was designed by well-known golf course designer Phil Wogan, and utilizes the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, streams and ponds to frame its 18 holes. It was also touted by New Hampshire Golf Magazine as the, “hidden gem of the Sugar River Valley.”

“COVID slowed everyone down as far as recreation but, despite that, the course has been running really well. We had a very bare bones operation running this year, but I would say we still had a really great year and we are offering golfing for $100 less than last year,” Beaudry said.

SRGC is headed by Don Hague, a Sunapee resident, along with 13 other local investors from towns such as Newport, Sunapee and Lempster, Eagle Times reported. According to Newport property records, the property value is listed at $1,350,600 and was purchased on Oct. 4.