From Vermont's oldest private clubs to its top mountain resort tracks — here are the 10 best golf courses in Vermont for 2026, with quick details on each.

Vermont is one of the most underrated golf destinations in the Northeast. The Green Mountain State offers dramatic elevation changes, pristine conditioning, and courses that have been operating since the 1880s. Whether you want a public tee time or are chasing a member's invite to one of New England's most storied clubs, this guide covers the best golf courses in Vermont worth making the trip for.

Quick Navigation:

• Public & Resort Courses — book a tee time directly
• Private Clubs — member access or invite required
• Vermont Golf Trip Planning Tips

Public & Resort Golf Courses in Vermont

1. Green Mountain National Golf Course

Vermont's top-ranked public course by Golf Digest and GolfPass. Tree-lined corridors, serious elevation swings, and tight fairways that punish wayward shots. The slope of 138 is not a bluff — bring extra balls for your first visit.

Why play it: The best public-access layout in the state. Book early; summer weekend tee times sell out fast.

  👉 Book tee times at Green Mountain National

2. Jay Peak Championship Golf Course

Slope 153 from the tips. Jay Peak plays longer and harder than anything else in Vermont and is ranked by Golf Digest as the #2 course in the state. The combination of mountain terrain and a demanding layout makes this a must-play for low-handicap golfers. Year-round resort means ski trips can include a round in autumn.

Why play it: The most challenging public golf course in Vermont — genuinely tests every club in your bag.

👉 Plan your round at Jay Peak

3. Sugarbush Resort Golf Club

A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design set against the Mad River Valley. Water hazards, narrow landing zones, and strategically placed bunkers give this course a classic test that rewards straight, accurate play over power.

Why play it: One of the few Vermont courses with genuine RTJ Sr. pedigree — ideal for players who appreciate classic architecture.

👉 Visit Sugarbush Golf

4. The Golf Club at Basin Harbor

A shorter, scenic layout along Lake Champlain — beginner-friendly but genuinely beautiful. The lakeside setting makes it a favorite for casual golfers and families. Historic Basin Harbor resort guests get priority.

Why play it: Best setting of any public golf course in Vermont. Right on Lake Champlain.

👉 Book at Basin Harbor

5. Okemo Valley Golf Club

A consistently well-conditioned mountain resort course with strategic bunkering and strong hole variety. Good mix of risk-reward holes. The conditioning is among the best of Vermont's public courses — usually in excellent shape throughout the season.

Why play it: Reliable conditions, fair challenge, and one of the state's better mountain views.

👉 Book at Okemo Valley Golf Club

6. Stowe Country Club

Classic New England layout — a mix of open fairways and tight wooded stretches with the Green Mountains as a constant backdrop. The Stowe area itself is one of Vermont's most desirable destinations, making this a natural anchor for a longer trip.

Why play it: Combines mountain scenery with a classic New England feel. Pairs well with a night in Stowe village.

👉 Tee times at Stowe Country Club

Private Golf Clubs in Vermont

These courses require membership or a member invitation. Included for reference and future access.

7. Ekwanok Country Club ⭐ Golf Digest #1 in Vermont

Vermont's finest course by every credible ranking. Ekwanok sits in a gently rolling valley at the base of Mt. Equinox — atypically open for Vermont golf — with generous fairways framed by fescue and famously difficult greens. The par-5 7th, a blind second shot over a hill, has never been reached in two. The club maintains Vermont's only caddie program.

Why it matters: This is the standard by which every other Vermont course is measured.

8. Country Club of Vermont

Newer than most on this list but ranked #2 in Vermont by Golf Digest. The property feels secluded and unhurried — a rare combination for a club that opened in the late 1990s. Immaculate conditioning and a challenging, fair layout make it a genuine gem.

9. Ekwanok's Historic Rival: Rutland Country Club

Famous throughout Vermont for its small, quick, true greens. The back nine climbs into the hillside with elevated green approaches and panoramic mountain views. Modest yardage (6,185) disguises a stout test.

10. The Quechee Club — Highland Course

Two 18-hole courses at a ski resort in east-central Vermont. The Highland Course is the stronger of the two — rolling terrain, Ottauquechee River views, and restored post-2012 by course architect Brian Silva. Consistently rated among Vermont's top courses.

Vermont Golf Trip Planning Tips {#tips}

Best time to play: Mid-June through mid-October. Foliage season (late September–October) offers the best scenery but book well in advance.

Elevation adjustments: Mountain courses play shorter than the card suggests on uphill holes and longer on downhill approaches. Club up on elevated greens.

Public vs. private: Vermont has more private clubs per capita than most states. If your priority is walking in and playing, stick to Green Mountain National, Jay Peak, Sugarbush, and Basin Harbor.

Commemorate your round: If you play a Vermont course you want to remember — especially if it's your home course or a special destination — a custom wooden golf course map from Handreamy is a unique way to bring that course home. Each map is laser-engraved from real course data and can be personalized with your name, a score, or a date.

More Golf Gift Ideas

If you're planning a Vermont golf trip as a gift — or looking for something to give the golfer who already has everything — explore these:

• 🗺️ Custom Golf Course Map Collection — any course, personalized in wood
• 🏌️ Personalized Engraved Golf Course Map — individual product
• 🎁 Golf Gifts for Dad — curated gift guide for golfers