Green Mountain National will stick to your ribs
|
|
By BOB FEDETTE Herald Staff |
Toolbox
By BOB FEDETTE Herald Staff - Published: June 26, 2009
When you order the prime rib and they charge you for the deluxe burger, you don't ask questions. You come back and order another prime rib.
That's not exactly the stated philosophy at Green Mountain National Golf Course, but you get the picture. Here's a beautiful, superbly conditioned track with top-dog treatment at a very reasonable price. You almost feel like you're stealing.
But the only thing around here that might put you in handcuffs is the golf course. It's 18 holes carved out of mountain forest and you'll just fall in love with the place. And from the pickup service in the parking lot, to ample practice area and range, to post-round lunch on the deck overlooking the first tee, everything is first class.
"That really is what we're trying to do here, to make it a first-class experience. Even though we are the only municipal golf course in the state, we believe we're a resort golf course," head PGA professional David Soucy said. "We try to give first-class treatment … private-club conditions at a public golf course."
GMC has five sets of tees and a knowledgeable staff tries to help first-time visitors to the one that will fit challenge to ability and end in a great experience. As you'd expect from a mountain course, nature's majesty rules at every twist and turn.
But if you come just to test yourself, you'd better put on the blinders and bring lots of game to the blue or black tees (6,589 yards maximum).
The beautifully framed holes pose a chess game of sorts as you go up and down, brave water and ravines, sometimes hitting parachute shots and other times contending with false fronts on some of the huge, rolling greens.
It's not so important to drive the ball long here as straight, with many lateral hazards the consequence for the No. 1 taboo at GMN: slicing the ball. (See the practice tee section for tips on avoiding the slice.)
"The one thing about this golf course is you can't fake your way around," Soucy said. "A lot of golf courses you'll top your tee shot and you'll roll your ball up to the green. You're not getting away with it here. You can't fake your way to a good score. If you get a good score here it's only because you earned it."
The course has a great variety with holes that include doglegs in both directions, good risk-reward par-5s and very pretty par-3s.
Putting is a lot of fun at GMN because of the challenge of reading multiple breaks on what course superintendent Peter Bissell calls 'potato chip greens.' Bissell tries to keep it friendly with a roll of about 9 on the Stimpmeter, but with greens this size there is a broad range of pin placements and hitting irons to the right quadrant is important.
Green Mountain National has been recognized as a worthy championship test, having hosted both women's Futures and men's New England Pro Tour events. The par-5 6th hole was the turning point when Floridian Joe Cioe won the inaugural NEPT tournament; hitting a draw shot off a fade lie, Cioe struck a fairway metal 235 yards to the green and converted for eagle in the final round.
There might not be that kind of memory out there for you but the table is set.
For a small sum you can even have a DVD of you and your friends playing a hole as a keepsake.
"Every time I step on the first tee I know I'm going to enjoy myself. It's like Ekwanok," Soucy said, referring to the private masterpiece in Manchester. "Every time you go you know you're in for a special experience. I get that feeling and I hope other people do when they play here."