Lake St. Catherine Country Club

Set in western Vermont near a beautiful lake–the course’s namesake–this sprawling championship course was worth the journey to play. I found that Lake St. Catherine demands good driving, careful approach play, and a deft putting touch. The layout, which is rigorously old-school, impressed me hole after hole: it features huge hills, cleverly hidden greenside traps, the occasional blind shot and awkward fairway lie, along with plenty of elevated tees and plateau greens. One indication of the toughness of Lake St. Catherine is its robust slope rating of 129 from the blue tees, and that number seemed a notch too low to me after this first play.

Lake St. Catherine Country Club makes full use of this site’s excellent ground movement over hilly terrain. Good green siting stands out most, especially at the third, sixth, eleventh, and thirteenth, where well-contoured putting surfaces are perched on tall hills. Each of these demands a well-struck and well-judged approach if you hope to earn a par. As well, four tee shots run straight uphill at the ninth, twelfth, thirteenth, and eighteenth, putting a premium on position driving. What impresses me the most, however, are the downhill tee shots, all from high tees–with a few huge and precipitous drops down to fairways or greens. With some of these shots comes an intimidation factor: the fairway or green you’re trying to land on seems, when so far below, quite small. The tee shot at hole sixteen, a mid-length par-3, has to be one of the most exhilarating I’ve played in all of New England. Watching my seven-iron plummet toward the green, seemingly from the height of a seven or eight story building, was magnificent today.

The true character of the course is hard to pin down because it is complex. These eighteen have tremendous variety with no two alike. Only a few of the holes– about three or four–are fully tree-lined on both sides, and a several more on the course’s periphery are woodsy, but on one side only. The rest of the holes impart an open and sometimes even spacious parkland feeling, exemplified, above all, by broad fairways bordered by copses or scattered groupings of mature trees. The broad fairways are no surprise because this track is vintage: it was designed in the Golden Age of golf, ninety-eight years ago. Given its ground movement, its architect (unknown) would most likely have been Scottish.

While Lake St. Catherine has enough interesting holes to highlight two or three golf courses, these four stood out most for me:

Three: par-3, 156.

Playing straight up an elephantine hill (on which the green is perched), this brute rises so high above the tee that I needed three clubs more to reach the pin.

Ten: par-5, 522

This postcard five-par (index 4) looks straightforward off the tee, but, after the landing zone, drops straight downhill. On the second shot a pond lies in wait for a cut or pushed shot, and this is a road hole, so extreme leftward shots could conceivably end up on Vermont’s Highway 30. The green’s pronounced left-side slope will hinder efforts to pitch it close.

Fifteen: par-4, 374.

From the tee, you’ll enjoy a fantastic panorama of golf course, clubhouse, sliver of lake, and Green Mountains. From the back of the green, too, the view to the course below is stunning. Yet this is a good, solid golf hole, culminating on a well-protected and pitched (back to front) green.

Eighteen: par-5, 513 yards.

The hole plays straight uphill off the tee, then drops down into a small vale just prior to the green, which is set on a hillock and guarded by four bunkers. For most, this is a three-shotter. Index two–and it caps off a strong closing stretch of holes starting with fifteen.

CONDITIONING

Greens were very good here: consistent, smooth-rolling, somewhat fast in speed. Also well-maintained were fringes and greenside areas; tees and roughs were good. Fairways ranged from good to average, as some were a bit patchy in places. Overall, conditioning was good for early summer.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this stunning countryside setting among hills and mountains, I stopped five or six times for a minute or more to drink in the views. As for the layout itself, I admittedly favor well-designed Golden Age courses like this one. Their typically broad fairways allow players to pick their own best ‘routes’ to what are mostly small greens, greens with subtle pitches and undulations. Even more so here, determining the right club to play–into elevated green sites and plunging or curving fairways–is a genuine skill. Combining fun, beauty, and challenge, this is the kind of track I could play many, many times.

Really delightful track with good variety of shots required. Absolutely beautiful surroundings. Pace of play was bad due to new golfers twosome who had never heard of letting anyone through, was fine after getting around the blockage. Fairways occasionally required "winter rules", but greens were excellent, Just a generally enjoyable course. Food was great afterward.

This was a great course, absolutely beautiful views. It is hard to find a flat lie and that's what makes it challenging because it is not long. There are some tight greens though and the holes are very different. However the tees are not clearly marked and when we finally located the women's tees we took a sharp turn and tried to break on the hill and the brakes did not work because of the wet grass so the cart spun out of control and I was thrown off and hurt myself but not too bad. The pro did buy us some drinks but the cart paths are in poor condition and the terrain steep so drive very carefully. We played at 9:50 and finished in just over 3 hours. Just a fun day!

The course is well kept and managed by an excellent staff.

Beautiful course with awesome views. Rough was tough. Very hilly, but you come to expect that on Vermont courses. Conditions of the greens and fairway were great. Would definitely come back.

Loved the course. Used every club in my bag. Was the most picturesque course I've ever played on. Fantastic staff too!

This course has some of the best views anywhere and will just get better as fall paints its pictures. course is hilly and slanted in places but lots of fun holes ,enjoy.

What more could you ask for just a nice place to be playing 18 holes and the views are fantastic i

Tee boxes needed a cut. Lots of high crabgrass. Many greens with rough/bare spots. All in all fun.

Yes, this course does offer some wonderful views, however, the course conditions were far from ideal. Crabgrass tee-boxes,only passable fairways, and many greens with large bare spots. Some holes generous, some very tight. Fractured cart paths almost undriveable. Most important, this course did NOT honor the GolfNow rate, but insisted on charging us their standard green-fee. Can't say that I would return here anytime soon.

This is a fun course offering some interesting terrain challenges and some great views on elevated tees. A couple of fairways were a bit bare/damaged, and some small sections of greens had a bit of damage. Overall, however, it is a fun place to play!

If you enjoy the Green Mountains, of Vermont, don't miss this Scenic track. The overall condition of the course is average, but the layout, and spectacular views of the surrounding country side, is what its all about!!!

I AM A 74 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER WHO PLAYED WITH 3 OF HER GRANDSONS. THE PRICE FROM GOLFNOW ALLOWED US TO PLAY TOGETHER AT A DIFFERENT COURSE. WE HAD A GREAT DAY THANKS TO GOLF NOW.

Played in early August and the fairways and greens were a mess. Large diseased spots on nearly every green and large areas of fairway that had little or no grass.

We had a great time and were treated very well by the staff. Very nice layout with some challenging holes and great views. I would recommend it and we will do it again.

Nice,accommodating and friendly staff. Played at a great pace.

View from hole 15 is spectacular! The entire course is lovely and well maintained and an exceptional value. We golf here often when in town and its the family favorite for view, challenge, diversity and delightful staff. You won't be disappointed on any sunny warm Vermont day!

The golf course has great challenges such as hole 3 . My wife and I enjoyed our whole day and the club house had great drinks and food. We can't wait to go again.

I used to play here years ago when we bought the Vermont Golf Around Card, and always liked the traditional layout. OK, so it's not a 'Resort Course', but it's in good condition (especially after this last winter), and it's a blast to play. Although short, it was windy the day we played which made it pretty tough! Some serious elevation changes (both up and down), some 'visually' tight holes, some drivable Par 4's and fantastic views. A very tough walk if you're so inclined. Staff was extremely friendly !
Great value !!!