Course Information

Lynn Woods Reservation and Larry Gannon Golf Course:
A Historical Overview

The Larry Gannon Golf Course is nestled within the stunning Lynn Woods Reservation, one of eastern Massachusetts' most treasured natural and recreational treasures.

Here's a concise historical summary of the reservation:

Founded in 1881 as a public forest preserve.
Primarily located in Lynn, Massachusetts, with sections extending into Lynnfield and Saugus.
In 1889, the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (famous for Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace) served as a design consultant. He strongly advised preserving the area in its natural, "rugged and wild" forest state rather than developing it as a manicured park, emphasizing its value as a refreshing, unspoiled woodland retreat.
Spans approximately 2,200 acres, making it one of the largest municipal forest parks in the United States (often cited as the second-largest after Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, though rankings can vary slightly by source and definition).
Covers roughly one-fifth of the City of Lynn's total land area.
Managed collaboratively by the City of Lynn's Department of Public Works, Park Commission, and Water and Sewer Commission.
Originally inhabited by the Pawtucket people before European arrival.
European settlers began using the area for timber and fuel starting in 1629.
The land was gradually assembled through a multi-decade effort involving private donations (including $30,000 from the Lynn City Council and $20,000 from Philip Chase), municipal purchases of about 815 acres, condemnation of 114 acres of uncertain ownership, and annexation of 304 acres of ponds, wetlands, and swamps.
Key advocates in the preservation movement included Cyrus Tracy (who helped form the Trustees of the Free Public Forest in 1881) and Philip Chase (a dedicated champion who became Park Commission chairman and sought Olmsted's guidance).

The Larry Gannon Golf Course itself occupies about 180 acres within this expansive reservation. Established in the early 1930s (around 1931), it was originally known as the Lynn Woods Municipal Golf Links (or "Happy Valley") and has long served as a popular, accessible public course for the community.

This blend of protected forest, historic advocacy, and thoughtful recreational development continues to make Lynn Woods a vital green space for hiking, nature enjoyment, and activities like golf—preserving both its wild character and public accessibility for generations.

Post-War Revival and Modernization:
Larry Gannon Golf Course (1940s–2005)

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, post-war prosperity boosted play at Happy Valley, but limited municipal funding and no irrigation system led to gradual decline.

The turning point came in 1965 with a $60,000 irrigation system, launching three decades of upgrades that made the course one of the best-conditioned municipal facilities in the U.S.

1968: Dirt tees replaced with Astroturf (later worn out by heavy use).
1976: Lynn Park Commission hired its first formally trained superintendent—Steve Murphy, a Stockbridge School of Agriculture graduate with experience at Framingham Country Club, The Country Club in Brookline, and other Massachusetts courses.

Under Murphy’s leadership (starting April 1976):

Full irrigation restoration
18 new grass tees (funded partly by $50,000 in community development grants + city support)
Cart paths installed
~20 bunkers added (total 23)
Aggressive aeration, topdressing, and seeding programs
Select tees and greens reconstructed
Ponds dredged and boulders removed

In 2005—his 30th season—Murphy credited ongoing improvements to strong support from Park Commissioners George Cole, Billy O’Shea, and Gene Dooley, as well as longtime operations leader Mike Foster. Together they established Larry Gannon as a model municipal course: impeccably maintained and deeply valued by the Lynn community.