Conference 7.286::golf

    
    
    Stratton looks beautiful from the road but I have never played there.
    
    I have played at Killington and it's beautiful.  It's usually in good
    shape and it the toughest course I've ever played.  If your ball isn't
    in the fairways (which aren't exceptionaly wide) then it's gone.  Some
    tough sloping greens.  Not much water.  And while I don't think it's 
    required, you should take a cart, after all you are playing on the side 
    of a mountain...
    
    

re: .1

Sounds like Sugarbush.  There are a couple of water holes there, though, and
one, #16, is especially unforgiving.

There is also a green on a PAR 3, #5 I think, that is impossible to read and
unless you've played it before, you'll never believe the pitch or the direction!
It's REALLY an optical illusion!  The whole green slopes SEVERELY from left to 
right (as viewed from the tees (assuming you could)), but when you're on the
green, it looks almost flat...no slope.

Though Sugarbush isn't especially long, "an errant ball is a lost ball".

John

    My wife and I played Stratton in June. There are three 9's -- Lake,
    Mountain, and Forest. One is usually reserved for the golf school.
    We played late on a Sunday afternoon; only had time for 9. We played
    the Lake course. The course was in real good shape. The course wasn't
    overly long; but was very interesting, w/hills, doglegs, water, etc.
    If you're planning on going in August, you better call first; there
    is an LPGA tournament there in mid-August. Oh yeah, carts are required
    on weekends :-(
    
    I've seen Basin Harbor, but haven't played there. I think it is 
    semi-private (?).
    
    Other courses we've played in VT:
    
    - Mt. Anthony, Bennington -- 18 holes, nice layout, hilly, condition
                                 was excellent the day we played.
    
    - Copley CC, Morrisville -- 9 holes, mostly flat.
    
    - Tater Hill, Chester -- 9 holes, not bad...
    
    Courses we haven't played, but have heard are nice:
    
    - Orleans CC, Orleans (Northeast VT)
    
    - a new course somewhere near Orleans (Barton ??)
    
    - Mt. Snow, Wilmington
    
    - Haystack, Wilmington
    
    - Williston, near Burlington
    
    - Crowne Point, Springfield (?)
    
    And, of course, the aforementioned Woodstock, Queechee, Sugarbush, and
    Killington...
    
    Steve

    
    Basin Harbour is a very flat wide open course.  Pretty good place to
    really air it out from time to time.
    
    Last time I was there, (Last fall), they still had one temporary green
    because they were rebuilding one.  Most of the greens are in very nice
    shape and quite fast.  Ofcourse I'm only a hacker :-)
    
    Shane
    

    Can anyone give me more information about Sugarbush? I'm playing there
    next weekend and need some stroke saving tips!  :v)
    
    -george

    hi george,
    
    played about 90 holes up at sugarbush this year, my advise is simple,
    hit it stright and if you don't bring lots of balls. also take a cart,
    actually the course is a typical rt jones design, lots of blind shots,
    if you're ball goes into the woods it's like jungle, most of the woods
    are ob. holes to watch out for are #3 - hug the left side, #5 aim for
    the left of the green, #6 how's your snap hook, #8 craziest green i've
    ever played, #14 again how's your snap hook.
    
    p

    hi george,
    
    played about 90 holes up at sugarbush this year, my advise is simple,
    hit it stright and if you don't bring lots of balls. also take a cart,
    actually the course is a typical rt jones design, lots of blind shots,
    if you're ball goes into the woods it's like jungle, most of the woods
    are ob. holes to watch out for are #3 - hug the left side, #5 aim for
    the left of the green, #6 how's your snap hook, #8 craziest green i've
    ever played, #14 again how's your snap hook.
    
    p

>>>
>>> I've played there a number of years and I'd say that #5 is the "craziest
>>> green i've ever played".  I've not played this year, so maybe they've
>>> made #8 go crazy too!
>>>
>>> Playing #5, a 160(?)yd par 3, slightly up high, is really an art.  Playing
>>> to the left is one approach, but it's still a gamble.  You see, the green
>>> looks almost flat, maybe a bit of a left-to-right pitch as viewed from the
>>> tees, but its really a SEVERE left-to-right pitch.  They ALWAYS have the pin
>>> placed on the right side of the green and, though a BIG green, there is 
>>> almost NO WAY to stop the ball from rolling off if you miss the green to
>>> the left on your first shot and need to pitch on.  In fact, when you're on
>>> the green, it looks like the green is HIGH on both sides (right and left).
>>> If you happen to land on the right side (easier to put from, but there are
>>> trees that line this side of the green), you'll think you have a DOWNHILL
>>> putt to the hole...you DON'T.
>>>
>>> As you can tell, this hole just drives me crazy.  I don't know how many 
>>> times I've played it, but I still CAN NOT read the green.  The only way
>>> that I can play it well is to (a) play to the RIGHT side (though dangerous
>>> because of the trees) on my first shot, and then (b) putt FROM MEMORY, and
>>> not let my eyes and brain fool me.
>>>
>>> Finally, as the last person said, the secret to the course is to hit the
>>> ball STRAIGHT, not long.  It's actually pretty easy if you stay in the
>>> fairway...it's impossible if you miss.
>>>
>>> The course offers some very beautiful vistas and don't be surprise to see
>>> some wildlife (deer, fox, etc.) stroll along some fairways.  So, if it's
>>> not your day to score well, look up and enjoy your surroundings!
>>>
>>> JOHN
>>>