Haystack Golf Club  |  Wilmington, VT

At the southern end of Vermont lies a wonderful Desmond Muirhead design: Haystack Golf Club in Wilmington. Though the course has undergone many changes since Muirhead’s original work in 1972, most are in the area of conditioning, new grasses, and refinement.

Today a first-time player is struck by the beauty of the course, as it wraps around the hillsides and ridges of this ski-region landscape. Such placement means elevated tees and greens, and occasional sidehill lies if one isn’t driving right down the middle.

Though hilly, many find it eminently walkable.

Granite outcroppings frame some greens and fairways, as do long wooded lanes. What players comment upon most are the greens: “Slippery, sweet, and true,” says Jim Baxter, a vacationer from Michigan. Several greens have sizable breaks, influenced by the surrounding hillsides, but one must be alert and sometimes step back to get perspective. “I read putts on two holes in a row that broke the totally opposite direction from what I saw!” says Baxter. “That was worth $5,” laughs his partner Allen Durell.

That’s one of the quirks of mountain golf, and one of the delights of a little local knowledge going a long way.

For those who love drivers, come on down. Several generous fairways await the “big dog,” including the spectacular par 5 eleventh hole, which features a 250-foot drop-off from the tee. Whale away and you might have just a short iron to the green. From there, you face long and short, up and down holes that will delight just about any player.

With a slope of 128 from the blues at 6549 yards, and slope 125/6164 yards from the whites, Haystack presents an opportunity to score well or card a few double bogeys — that part is up to you.

The clubhouse sports a fine grill and bar overlooking the course, the 19th Hole Lounge, complete with a billiards table if you still have that urge to sink a few.

Come try Haystack, and call about the stay-and-play packages.

www.haystackgolfclub.com

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