On The Green, Issue 3
Presented by the Woodstock Country Club and the Woodstock Inn & Resort.
Since I was a kid, I’ve loved a good road trip. The early morning wake-up. The anticipation of visiting a place I’d never been and a chance to experience things I’d never seen. Now with a family of my own, I see how much work goes into planning a trip, but I still relish the time on the road. For golfers, travel can mean different things. For some (like me) golf is usually secondary (or tertiary) on the travel itinerary, in favor of kid-friendly activities, or historical landmarks sure to enrich everyone in the car for at least 15 minutes as we plot the course of nearby rest stops from home to our destination. But occasionally I’m able to put together a golf trip with friends and plan the travel around my favorite golf course architect’s work, or hidden gems sure to delight. The hours on a golf trip tick by with speed, but the experience always sticks with me.
Issue 3 of On the Green is dedicated to a road trip we’re calling the Ultimate Vermont Golf Trip. To call this a travel issue would be a bit much. But for anyone interested in visiting the Green Mountains in search of lush fairways, hilltop vistas, cold post-round beverages, and even some fun off the course, this issue is for you.
With multiple courses just a short drive away, and plenty of amenities right here in town, Woodstock is the ideal hub for your next summer golf trip. The itinerary was designed to shine a light on some hidden golf course gems from the surrounding area, along with some of our favorite activities off the golf course. Make the Resort your homebase and get ready to experience the Ultimate Vermont Golf Trip.
Fore please,
Ross Evans
OTG Creative Director
Photo: Your OTG Creative Director, on a recent trip to Hooper in Walpole, NH.
Photo Credit: Tom Curry/The Golfer's Journal.
Woodstock Country Club
Our home course! And in many ways, the home of golf in Vermont. Golf has been played at the Woodstock Country Club since the late 1800’s, making it the oldest public golf course in Vermont. The course we know and love today was completed in 1963 after an extensive redesign by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The work on a golf course never really ends, though. During the latest off-season, we put resources into a massive tree removal project, opening up a number of new lines off of tees, while setting the agronomy team up for easier maintenance (and fewer inputs) of fairways and teeing grounds. And that effort continues to receive praise… Woodstock is currently rated as the #3 course in New England by Golf Advisor and this year was selected to the Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Historic Golf Courses list by Historic Hotels of America.
Pro-tip: take advantage of one of the best clubhouse decks in the state, and enjoy a beverage or meal overlooking the 18th green after your round from the onsite restaurant The Fairway Grill.
Price: $$$
76 South St, Woodstock, VT 05091
Directions to Woodstock Country Club
Green Mountain National Golf Course
After the gradual hills of Woodstock, how about a change of pace that reminds you why Vermont is called the “Green Mountain State”? Green Mountain National Golf Course is one of the newest courses in the state, having opened in 1995, and one of the few municipally owned courses. GMNGC isn’t your typical muni though, with immaculate conditions all season, and high-touch outside services thanks to Brown Golf, the management company that recently took over day-to-day maintenance. Green Mountain National offers some of the most stunning vistas in the state.
Pro Tip: Arrive early enough to take advantage of one of the best practice facilities of any public course in Vermont.
Price: $$
476 Barrows Towne Rd, Killington, VT 05751
Directions to Green Mountain National
Photo Credit: Golf Pass
Rutland Country Club
Rutland Country Club is a classic “Vermont-style” golf course, with two distinct nines. Land for the front (and original) nine was purchased from John Baxter in 1901 and the routing was promptly completed by the end of 1902. In 1927, the Golden Age duo of Stiles and Van Kleek oversaw the addition of a second nine holes, completing the course played today. The front nine stretches out over relatively benign land that was formerly part of Baxter’s Farm. The back nine starts simple enough, but leads you up the western hills of the properly into seven difficult mountain holes. Rutland is home to some of the top amateur golfers in the state and the difficult greens are a big reason for that. Keep the ball below the hole and enjoy the views!
Pro tip: The fifth hole is a long par 3 (220-230 yards). Play your tee shot right and/or short of the green, and play for a four. If bogey were ever a good score on a hole, this is the hole…and being left of the hole or above it brings double bogey, or worse into play.
Price: $$$
275 Grove St, Rutland, VT 05701
Directions to Rutland
Photo Credit: Vermont Golf Association
BONUS: Hooper Golf Course
For one of the most unique nine-hole golf courses in the region, hop the border to New Hampshire and play a casual nine at Hooper Golf Course. Renowned golf course architect Tom Doak rated Hooper’s opening three holes the best in golf (the course as a whole was rated the second-best nine-holer in the country!). Hooper’s routing, another Stiles & Van Kleek design, is funky and demanding, but fair and playable. With 18 tees and nine greens, it’s just as easy to play a quick nine as it is to spend the day playing multiple routings.
Pro tip: Leave time after your round for a beverage on the patio of the on-course restaurant Watson’s Inn & Tavern.
Price: $
166 Prospect Hill Rd, Walpole, NH 03608
Directions to Hooper
A Day Off the Course
While you and I could do doubt fill four or five days of a trip exclusively with golf, if you’re traveling with family or non-golfers, it’s a good idea to make some time to explore off the course. Trust us, you’ll be a hero when you suggest these nearby off-course activities:
- Billings Farm & Museum: just a half mile from the center of town, Billings Farm & Museum is your gateway to traditional rural life in Vermont. The museum features interactive programs, award-winning historical exhibits, and seasonal events.
- Orvis® Endorsed Fly-Fishing: whether a beginner or expert angler, the Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Program at the Woodstock Inn & Resort has the gear and guides to show you around Vermont’s local fishing holes.
- VINS Nature Center: continuing a long tradition of conservation in the area, VINs features an immersive forest walk, nature trails, adventure playscape, live demonstrations, and an avian rehabilitation center.
- Simon Pearce: dine at The Mill, have a drink at The Bar, shop handmade glass and pottery for the home, or view a live glassblowing demonstration at Simon Pearce’s flagship location in Quechee, Vermont.
- King Arthur Baking Company: A feast for the senses! The King Arthur Baking Company Café, Bakery, and Store offer classes, events, demonstrations, and supplies for the baker and the baked good consumer alike.
Where To Stay
Pardon the shameless self-promotion, but Woodstock Inn & Resort makes for a truly amazing homebase while visiting Vermont. The resort is centrally located, with easy access to major highways, and situated in the heart of the postcard-perfect town of Woodstock. Plus with our Unlimited Golf Package, it’s even easier to stay and play with us this summer!
