STOWE, Vermont – For outdoor enthusiasts, the beautiful village of Stowe, Vermont offers a challenge every season of the year.
In the winter Mt. Mansfield is home to four famous skiing runs: the Goat, Lift Line, National and Star known collectively as the Front Four. Skiers must navigate steep narrow trails and massive moguls on their run. But when spring comes to Stowe avid golfers can return to the mountains for a new kind of alpine experience.
In the warm weather you can look at another mountain challenge known as the Spruce Peak Mountain Golf course. Spruce Peak resort is just a few miles outside the village of Stowe, Vermont, and rests at the base of Mt. Mansfield. Spruce Peak gives golfers of all skill levels the ultimate challenge found on demanding mountain golf courses.
The mountain course climbs to a peak elevation of 1,800 feet giving you a magnificent view of the Green Mountains. The narrow fairways demand well executed golf shots over rock outcroppings, many sidehill lies, and delicate approach shots to multi-level greens. But the condition rivals any well-groomed private golf course.
Some of the most interesting holes border Peregrine Lake. Hole number 5 is only 338 yards from the back tees, but the fairway rises 30 feet, and the lake guards the right side of the fairway. Hole number 6 plays directly over the lake. The par-3 hole is 190 yards from the back tees, and it demands a perfectly executed shot over the picturesque lake.
The back nine continues the ascent up the mountain providing majestic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The 14th hole gives you a view where you think you can almost reach out and touch Mt. Mansfield.
My wife is an enthusiastic golfer, but because of a recent spinal fusion she was not feeling up to playing. When we told this to the staff, they offered her a brand-new Callaway wedge and Odyssey putter. “Maybe you can chip and putt a little as you ride along.” She did just that and it was great to see her play golf again. This kind of consideration and thoughtfulness are the things that make the staff at the Spruce Peak Resort superior to many similar hotels.
141 rating 72.1.
The sister course for Spruce Peak is Stowe Country Club that is only a 10-minute drive from the resort. Stowe C.C. also has great views of the mountains, but the fairways are a little more generous than the mountain course. The course was built back in 1952 and is open to the public. Stowe has gentle rolling hills, and large elevated greens that make scoring a bit easier than the demanding mountain course.
Spruce Peak is promoting their “Summer in the Penthouses.” If you book a stay in the penthouses one foursome per night, you receive access to a round of golf at the Mountain Golf Course. For more details about lodging and golf course availability, please contact the resort. The penthouse takes a rustic approach to living with lots of native timbers, stone and large windows with high ceilings. And the views are simply magnificent. It seems like the mountains seal out the rest of the world and give you a sense of perfect tranquility.
The resort has a number of specialized shops that surround a grassy area that hosts concerts and other special events. In addition to the superior service, The Lodge at Spruce Peak offers a variety of fine dining, great golf, great lodging and great views of the mountains. A visit to Spruce peak is a memorable trip for the entire family.
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