Troon Dines
The Best of Times
100 Years & Counting at Manchester Country Club
By Joëlle Creamer
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Manchester Country Club (MCC), one of New Hampshire’s premier private clubs. Nationally recognized as a “Distinguished Club” by BoardRoom magazine and “Best In State” course by Golf Digest and Golfweek, MCC has been bringing people of the community together through its long legacy of great golf and the best of times.
Continuing that rich tradition into its centennial, MCC recently renovated its famed outdoor patio, the ultimate social hotspot and beating heart of the club. Alongside the club and Troon Privé®, the project team, comprised of Denis Mires, PA The Architects; RealFood Hospitality, Strategy & Design; and Benson Lumber helped to bring the vision to fruition. The Patio now boasts a full-service bar, custom-built pergola for added shade, firepits, and expanded table and soft seating. It’s the perfect setting to sit back, connect, and enjoy life, après golf or anytime.
The Granite State rewards residents and visitors alike with four seasons of outdoor activity and enjoyment. The coveted golf season starts when the first sprouts of green grass inch through the melting snow and runs through, and sometimes even beyond, the first snowfall. At any point during the season, The Patio is buzzing with activity, too.
Overlooking the fairways of the club’s Donald Ross-designed golf course, The Patio offers the best seat in the house, with a perfect springtime view of the first tee. Patio patrons cheer on (or share friendly and sometimes not-so-friendly remarks) as they watch fellow members take their first swings of the season. In the summertime, local live musicians play while members enjoy alfresco dining and sunset views; and member-favorite “Patio Parties” bring together people of all ages, with live DJ entertainment, interactive food stations, and an array of outdoor games and activities.
Autumn paints the most colorful backdrop of New England foliage for sunny-day rounds and sweater-weather evenings. In the cooler months, wintertime activities are capped off with mittens, cocoa, and gathering around the fire.
Over its 100 years of existence, the club’s menu has expectedly and eloquently evolved, with food trends, back-of-house leadership, and member preferences. While members can still find some of the classics that once decorated menus of the past (the likes of a tasty cheeseburger and fries), the culinary team, led by Executive Chef Daniel Henry, serves a menu of seasonal dishes and local flavors, equally comprised of culinary brilliance and unexpected delights, such as the kitchen’s fresh house loaf, featuring unique homemade flavors each week, or Chef Dan’s hand-rolled sushi.
In every New England season, connection, camaraderie, and culinary celebration come alive on The Patio. And with the new additions following the renovation, it’s a space that will be enjoyed by generations for years to come. With 100 years comes thousands of memories; The Patio at MCC is, without a doubt, the spot to make more.