Caledonian Record
Paul Hayes
Sep 11, 2022
JEFFERSON — The new owners of the Waumbek Golf Course have come forward.
The Waumbek Golf Course in Jefferson, the oldest and one of the most scenic golf courses in the state of New Hampshire, has been purchased by David and Sarah Hill of Lancaster, in partnership with Forrest and Stacey Hicks of Jefferson. Together the partners plan to rejuvenate and reopen the golf course, build a new clubhouse that pays homage to the Waumbek’s grand history, and create new recreational opportunities such as cross-country ski trails on the 369-acre property. In the future, they hope to see a small inn and restaurant built on the site.
David and Sarah Hill are prior owners of P.J. Noyes Company in Lancaster (now Trividia Manufacturing Solutions), and currently own Dental Herb Company, which markets all-natural dental products. Forrest and Stacey Hicks are the owners of Hicks Logging, Carlisle Place, Bellevue Barn and The Chapel, all of which they built or renovated in Jefferson. “I love the Waumbek golf course, and I am passionate about keeping it alive,” says Forrest Hicks. The Hills have been playing golf at the Waumbek since the mid-1980s when Bob Dichard and his parents Moe and Annie managed the course. “Seeing the neglected state of the course whenever we drove by the Waumbek this past summer was very saddening to us,” they said, “so when the opportunity arose to help save it, we were all-in.” The partners feel strongly about the importance of improving the golf course and preserving as much of the Waumbek’s history as possible. They plan to improve the course layout and reopen to the public in 2024, with a driving range if possible.
The Waumbek Golf course was first designed in 1895 with 9 holes, on the south side of Route 2, located across from the Grand Waumbek Hotel. As the hotel grew to accommodate hundreds of guests, the golf course was expanded to 18 holes. Jefferson became a popular destination, and at one point had its own train depot to welcome guests arriving by rail from Boston and New York. Remnants of the tracks can still be found near the 18th hole. At tourism’s peak, Jefferson had over 30 inns and boarding houses, accessible by several train lines. Now, thanks to local entrepreneurs who wish to honor the past while restoring and improving the property for the future, the legacy of this historic location with its impressive views of the Presidential Range will live on.