Granliden is home to one of the oldest golf courses in the State of New Hampshire.  Golf was first played at Granliden in the late 1800s. Summer boarders of the Covell sisters would play a few informal holes around the boarding house which was located in the area of the current first tee and ninth green. In 1899 Alexander Findlay, considered by many to be the father of golf in America, was hired to design a nine hole course which was constructed on the hill to the northwest of the hotel.  

In 1924 The Granliden Hotel contracted with Walter Travis to redesign the original course layout. The course covered the same terrain but crossing holes were eliminated and many holes were lengthened and the greens took on their present shape and sizes. 
Travis, known as the “Old Man,” started his career in golf later in life but was still a successful golfer and architect having built renown courses such as Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y., Cape Arundel in Kennebunkport, Maine, Round Hill Club in Greenwich, Conn. and Jekyll Island Golf Course in Georgia.

Starting in the mid 1950s, after the hotel was closed and while the property was used as a religious retreat, the course had minimal play and went through some periods of neglect.  In 1967 the course and surrounding property was sold to Eli Sherman, who developed the existing residential resort community with the lake and golf course as two of the leading amenities.
Improvements to the golf course over the years have included restoring the size and shape of greens, updating irrigation to provide efficient use of water, increasing the size of tees to accommodate the pressure from increased play, and enhanced cultural practices to provide playing conditions consistent with current expectations.  The course is still an excellent example of an executive 9-hole layout -- short enough for a quick outing but challenging enough to try the skills of all.

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This course is private for Granliden owners and their guests only.