QUECHEE, Vermont – Quechee Club, a four-season lifestyle community featuring two championship courses, has been selected New England Golf Course Owners Association (NEGCOA) 2023 “Course of the Year.”
At NEGCOA’s annual meeting and conference, this longstanding award recognizes four key areas of golf course operations: the exceptional quality of the course, the exceptional quality of ownership and management, outstanding contribution to the local community and to the game of golf.
Quechee Club is the first course in Vermont to receive the recognition and is also one of four finalists to be considered for the National Jemsek Course of the Year awarded by the National Golf Course Owners Association, joining the ranks of fellow awardees including The Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wis. This announcement follows Quechee Club’s recent designation as a Distinguished Club by BoardRoom magazine.
“The Quechee Club deservedly won the NEGCOA’s Course of the Year Award. The overall quality of its golf and club experience is exceptional, and it is a fantastic partner in the community, both in fostering a welcoming environment for all and in support of local charitable endeavors.” said incoming NEGCOA president, Dave Frem. “Yet, it doesn’t rest on its laurels. With a priority on planning for the future and creating grow-the-game initiatives for youths and adults, it is well-positioned to be a successful club for many years to come.”
Quechee Club is home to two championship 18-hole courses – Highland and Lakeland – consistently ranked by Golfweek and Golf Digest as “Top 200 Residential Courses in the U.S.” and “The Best Golf Courses in Vermont,” respectively. Golf operations are led by head pro TJ Anthoine, executive director of golf and recreation sports; and the course is maintained by a team led by Ken Lallier, CGCS, property director.
With record-breaking increases in golf course utilization and rounds played this year, the course conditions and facilities continue to remain a top priority for the Club. A project totaling $3.1 million, the shared golf course and ski hill irrigation system replacement project is anticipated to be completed next year. In addition, this past fall the Club embarked on its largest project in history; this multi-year campus-wide renovation project will include new storage buildings for golf and ski operations, the addition of electric carts, as well as affordable housing options for employees in the form of dormitory-style rooms.
“Quechee Club is a very special place to live and play golf,” said Brian Kelley, CCM, PGA, general manager and chief operating officer of the Club. “And the people behind the Club are really the heartbeat of this campus—our team of associates, our Board of Trustees, Committees and more than 1,400 member residents and their families; they are the common thread weaved throughout our Club’s most recent successes.”
Quechee Club consists of a 6,000-acre residential property was established in 1970 and is stewarded by Quechee Lakes Landowners Association, home to more than 1400 residents. Member residents and guests enjoy access to 36 holes of golf, racquet sports, indoor and outdoor aquatics, fitness facilities, hiking, kayaking, as well as family programming and events. In addition, the club’s restaurants, Davidson’s and Dewey’s Deck, offer year-round dining. In winter, the club’s Ski Quechee is widely recognized family and beginner-friendly ski area with ski lift operation, groomed downhill and cross-country trails, and ski school.
Interest in golf has grown exponentially at Quechee Club, especially among younger demographics. The Club’s Junior Golf School has increased from 350 registered students in 2016 to more than 1000 in 2022, while the PGA Junior Team for players 13 and younger has grown 900 percent over the past five years.
Each year, the Club opens the courses to Vermont Golf Association and New England PGA tournaments and hosts the annual Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) Classic Golf Tournament, which has contributed to raising millions of dollars for the organization over its existence.
On the web: QuecheeClub.com
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