Country Club of Vermont

The Country Club of Vermont was formed in 1998, with Canadian architect Graham Cooke setting out the club’s 18-hole layout as two contrasting circuits of nine holes – the outward half plays across open, rolling terrain dotted with wetland areas whilst the inward half is routed through an undulating, heavily-wooded landscape.

The fairways occupy just over two hundred acres of a large 415-acre property, with the unused land held by Vermont Land Trust as a natural “buffer zone” that is designated to always remain undeveloped, ensuring that no residential traffic ever encroaches on the golfing element at the country club.

The front nine features a couple of exciting par five holes, with the 470-yard downhill 3rd (“Silo”) offering a good chance of a birdie. In contrast, the 558-yard 9th (“High Point”) is a far trickier proposition, thanks to the wetland areas and bunkers that lie between tee and green on this hole.

On the inward half, the 199-yard 11th (“Pinehurst”) heads into woodland, where the next four holes are also located. The best of these tree-lined holes is undoubtedly the 175-yard 14th (“Free Fall”), featuring a drop of more than sixty feet from the top tee down to a right-to-left sloping two-tiered green.

Architect Graham Cooke kindly provided us with the following comments:

“The Country Club of Vermont was a fun course to design. It’s a fine scenic site with dramatic grade changes and the setting is wonderful for a course, especially with the spectacular surrounding mountain views.

I've played the course a number of times and not too long ago played a fun exhibition match with their club champion to mark the club's 10th year celebrations.

The Country Club of Vermont in my opinion has a very appealing collection of golf holes, each with its own signature. The course is entertaining and fills golfers with an anticipation of what the next golf hole will showcase in both challenge and charm.”