Golf packages we love: March 2022

The Pete Dye Course at French Lick

Spruce Peak at Stowe Vermont – different name, same great golf 

The catch phrase of the opulent Spruce Peak Resort in Stowe, Vermont is that every experience for guests is designed to make them “feel like they are part of the mountain.” Situated at the base of Mount Mansfield, Spruce Peak is Stowe’s only slope-side destination and is a welcoming mountain community that captivates visitors with consistently elevated experiences. 

Such is also the case at two courses available for members and resort guests at Spruce Peak, The Mountain Course and the Stowe Country Club. 

The Mountain Course, designed by the late, great Bob Cupp, has fairways that are laid out in the foothills of Mount Mansfield. The course is split into two sections, with the first 11 holes visiting the lower slopes of Spruce Peak and last seven holes routed around Peregrine Lake on the floor of the adjacent valley. 

Highlights here are the plunging 171-yard seventh hole and uphill 499-yard 10th. The lake comes into play on two drivable par 4s, the 338-yard 14th and the 317-yard closing hole. In between is the 195-yard 15th, a par 3 that’s all carry over the lake. 

The vistas from higher spots on the course can be distracting. Yes, the course plays at just 6,411 yards from the tips and at elevation, but the lack of length is more than made up with undulating putting surfaces and plenty of risk-reward options. 

Stowe Country Club is at the base of the mountain in town and is even shorter, at just 6,195 yards but can also be challenging and is a good B-side to its more ballyhooed sister up the mountain. Built on what was once a dairy farm, it sports rolling fairways and well-maintained greens. 

The course underwent a  complete redesign/reconstruction this past summer of its approach and green areas on the seventh and eighth holes, with the Beau Welling Design group providing the plans for the project. 

The Lodge at Spruce Peak, formerly called the Stowe Mountain Resort, is one of the top luxury properties in Vermont and offers rustic elegance throughout – from the impressive lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows to its bright, contemporary rooms. This property has a lot in the way of amenities, particularly for the area, including an inviting spa, a big outdoor pool with mountain views and an acclaimed restaurant.