Manchester Country Club

Manchester Country Club occupies rolling terrain in Bedford, New Hampshire, a residential town just west of Manchester. Donald Ross designed the course in the 1920s during his most prolific period, when he shaped hundreds of layouts across New England and beyond. The property features the moderate elevation changes and natural contours typical of southern New Hampshire, with mature hardwoods framing many holes. Ross routed the course to take advantage of the land's movement, creating holes that play uphill, downhill, and across slopes in varied combinations. The design reflects Ross's characteristic principles: greens with subtle interior contours and false fronts that reward precise approach shots, strategic bunkering that defines ideal angles of play, and a balance between risk and safety on tee shots. The greens themselves are the course's primary defense, requiring careful reading and touch on the putter. Several holes demand thoughtful club selection and course management rather than pure length, a hallmark of Ross's philosophy that strategy should matter as much as power. Manchester Country Club has served as a private club for nearly a century, hosting regional amateur competitions and providing a home course for generations of New Hampshire golfers. The club maintains traditional New England country club customs, with an emphasis on member play and family participation. The course has undergone periodic restoration work to preserve Ross's original design intent, particularly regarding green contours and bunker placement that can evolve over decades of maintenance.