The Quechee Club (Highland Course) – Played July 2022
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 3268 Quechee Main Street, Quechee, Vermont
- Year: 1970
- Original Architect: Geoffrey Cornish
- Additional Work By: Brian Silva
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 6,840 yards, Par 72, 73.6 Rating/139 Slope
- Blue: 6,510 yards, Par 72, 72.1 Rating/136 Slope
- White: 6,128 yards, Par 72, 70.4 Rating/134 Slope
- Green: 5,395 yards, Par 72, 66.3 Rating/122 Slope (Men’s), 72.3 Rating/128 Slope (Women’s)
- Gold: 4,832 yards, Par 72, 69.4 Rating/123 Slope
The Quechee Club isn’t the most famous site in the town of Quechee, Vermont. That honor belongs to the Quechee Gorge, also know as Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon.
The gorge was my only experience with the town prior to my visit to see the Highland Course at The Quechee Club.
The Quechee Club is Vermont’s only 36-hole facility. Cornish’s work has received some high praise over the years. Unfortunately, Hurricane Irene decimated the area and 27 holes were destroyed. Brian Silva was brought in to restore the property and it reopened four years later.
In addition to golf, there are many other activities. The club is truly a four season destination.
I played the Highland Course. You’ll see the course characteristics as we go through the tour, but there are some very nice views. There are also three sets of hybrid tees to give you ample choice of how long to play the course. Let’s get started!
Hole 1 – 175 yards – Par 3
The round starts out with some quirkiness on a par three. It’s not overly long and the green is a big target. Just in case you didn’t hit any balls beforehand!
I liked the look of this bridge that crosses the small river that winds through the courses.
Hole 2 – 514 yards – Par 5
This will always be a favorite hole of mine. I made an albatross with seven wood from the left trees! The hole bends hard left and plays shorter than the listed number. Blasting your tee shot over the bunker is a good line.
Hole 3 – 421 yards – Par 4
Unfortunately, this hole was closed during my round due to a maintenance project. I was only able to get a photo of the green. The hole plays straightaway with a sloped fairway and is moderately long.
Hole 4 – 376 yards – Par 4
Rising every so slightly to the green, this hole can bite you with OB down the left side. With bunkers on the right, the left side is the preferred approach angle.
Hole 5 – 480 yards – Par 5
This short par five is another birdie opportunity on the scoreable opening nine. A good tee shot leaves the green within reach. It’s a generous target for a fairway wood approach.
If you come up short of the green, your pitch shot will be partially blind as you’ll be playing from a severe dip in the fairway.
Hole 6 – 353 yards – Par 4
Driver isn’t necessary for this dogleg right. After the slightly elevated tee shot, the hole flattens out on its way to the green.
Hole 7 – 392 yards – Par 4
Another maintenance project had all the tees on the forward box. That made this a very short par four that some could reach. I played short off the tee to get a feel for how the hole would normally play.
If you don’t get down the fairway enough the view of the green can be obscured by the terrain.
Hole 8 – 221 yards – Par 3
This brawny one-shot hole plays back over the river. An ample short grass area presents options if you can’t reach the green.
Hole 9 – 300 yards – Par 4
The front nine is capped by a definite birdie opportunity. The more daring you want to be, the more you should aim to the right towards the green.
Take note of the ridge in the green. It’s important to be on the right level for the best chance at birdie.
Hole 10 – 296 yards – Par 4
We’ve got another short par four here where playing up the right side shortens the hole. The dogleg is more pronounced on this hole though.
You don’t want to miss left here as the drop off is more severe on that side.
Hole 11 – 315 yards – Par 4
This tee shot felt a bit quirky. The angle of the hole and tree placement almost force you into a fade unless you take a lot less club off the tee. However, due to the uphill slope, it plays a lot longer than the listed yardage.
The front slope is no joke. I saw my ball spin on the front of the green and come all the way back down.
Hole 12 – 188 yards – Par 3
The Quechee Club likes their long par threes. This is a tough shot that plays slightly uphill to an angled green.
Hopefully, you have stopping power with your longer clubs.
Hole 13 – 385 yards – Par 4
You can probably guess that playing up the right side is the play here. The fairway cants hard to the left and will push shots that way. With the slope you can get some serious run out and have a short approach to attack the pin.
Hole 14 – 510 yards – Par 5
Beware of going left here. Trees and a hazard come into play quickly near the bunker you can see on that side. A good drive sets you up with a chance to get home in two.
This is the view from behind the green looking back up the hole.
Hole 15 – 435 yards – Par 4
There haven’t been too many brawny par fours in the round but this one certainly qualifies. The fairway is wide but it plays slightly uphill. The front bunker is an added challenge to hitting the green with a longer approach shot.
Hole 16 – 360 yards – Par 4
Think left side on this tee shot. The trees on the right can wreak havoc on your approach.
Don’t ask me how I know that!
The green is deceivingly narrow as well.
Hole 17 – 212 yards – Par 3
While this is another long hole, I found it played about a club shorter. The green is a pretty big target but is sloped, so chipping is difficult.
Hole 18 – 577 yards – Par 5
You’ve got a long, gnarly finisher at Quechee Club. The tee shot is a bit awkward as it plays to a severely sloped fairway. Keeping it as far left as possible allows for the most runout.
Make sure you walk ahead to survey the hole as there is a hazard along the left side.
The green and approach shots play alongside the ski slopes which provides a fun dichotomy to finish the round.
The Quechee Club was a memorable round for me due to my first ever albatross. The added bonus of a fun and interesting course with smooth greens made for a great day in Vermont.