Conference 7.286::golf

    I'd try Equinox in Manchester, Vt. Used to be great, then Guinness
    Brewing bought the Hotel & course and pumped several million $$ into
    this old Walter Travis design. The hotel is fabulous, andd will save
    you a few $$ on greens fees. However, it's probably so expensive that
    it might be cheaper to stay elsewhere and pay higher greens fees.
    Manchester C.C. is also in the area, and with a preliminary call, you
    should be able to play there too.
    
     Lots to see and do in the area - dining, summer theatre, fishing,
    shopping, museums. I usually stay at the Barnstead (802) 362-1619 when
    we're in the area. Private, real close to town, great people and super
    accommodations.
    
     A little farther West, the Sagamore, in Bolton's Landing NY is also
    terrific.
    
    --Jack
    
    --Jack

    I recently played at Woodstock and found it to be in very good shape. 
    It is not too hilly and has small river that winds its way through the
    course.  On the hot day that I played, it became necessary, on more than
    one occasion, to accidentally fall in the river while retrieving an
    errant shot.  
    The blues have a slope of 121, whites 117 and a par of 69.  It is not
    terribly long but it has some nice holes.  I know nothing about the inn
    or packages, but all in all its a nice place to play.  
    
    If you want more adventure, then try the Vermont ski area golf tour. 
    Stowe, Sugarbush and Killington all have courses far more challenging
    than Woodstock.  Sugarbush is especially challenging.
    
    Cliff

    re: .2
    >Sugarbush is especially challenging.
    
    	Yup. The most challenging part is "keeping your cool" during a
    5.5 hour round. My wife and I played there in July - on a Tuesday -
    it was the slowest round ever. We had a few chances to talk to the
    foursome in front of us; 3 of the 4 were members, and said "yeah,
    its always like this, we can't complain loud enough. Make sure you
    say something to the guy in the shop when you're done." So we did,
    and got a story about different levels of players, blah, blah, blah.
    Yeah, right. I usually shoot around 100 (should I admit that?) and
    have never taken more than 4:20. The Shattuck is a MUCH more difficult
    course; I've played that in 4:00...
    
    Anyway, back to the topic...

re: .3

    re: .2
    >Sugarbush is especially challenging.
    
    	Yup. The most challenging part is "keeping your cool" during a
    5.5 hour round. My wife and I played there in July - on a Tuesday -
    it was the slowest round ever. 


I think the reason it tends to play so slow is that on most holes, there is
at least one "lost ball" per four-some.  It's an "easy" course if you strike
the ball very straight and not too long.  However, there is little room for
an errant shot, and long-ball hitters are tempted to gamble on a number of holes
...that proves costly, in many cases.

Anyhow, I have seldom been annoyed by the long play *there* since the views and
mountain setting make it easy to enjoy...even when you're waiting.

I owned a vacation home up there for several years and sorta developed the
Vermont laid-back attitude...at least while spending time up there.

I'll be visiting this summer, fer shure, and won't mind a 5.5 hour round at all!

BTW, how were the conditions of the course in general this year?

John

    >BTW, how were the conditions of the course in general this year?
    
	Overall, the course was in good shape. This was in early July...
    	this has been a rainy summer, so conditions are probably still
    	good...

FWIW

Played Sugarbush and Stowe VT on 9/12-13: 

	- Sugarbush was in very good shape and added some touches to make play
	  faster and more enjoyable (like a "cheat sheet" showing how to play
	  each hole, effective rangers, and little reminders to keep up the
	  pace.)

	  Scored lousy though...(d&#n woods gods!).  My wife, on the other hand,
	  almost got her first eagle!

	  $32 bucks if you walk (and you can, after 11:00)

	- Stowe was in less-than-great shape.  It was $39....not worth it, in
	  my opinion.  Many of the tees were in poor shape and it really looked
	  as if the course maintence, in general, was beginning to go downhill.

	  I don't spend $30+ too often to play a round, but when I do, I expect
	  something a little special.  As I get close to $40., I expect even
	  more.  Scored well, but was unimpressed this year by the course.

John

    Just curious.......what did the rangers do that made them effective?
    
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Nelly

    re: .6, .7
    >    Just curious.......what did the rangers do that made them effective?
    
    
    Me too...when my wife and I played there (Sugarbush) in July, there
    were _NO_ rangers...if they've done something to speed up play, we
    might even go back...

re: .7. .8

    >    Just curious.......what did the rangers do that made them effective?
    
To be honest, not a whole lot...they didn't need to since play moved right
along.  Since my wife and I were the first two "walkers" of the day, however,
just seeing them (they were viable) made me make sure we kept up the pace. 

Like I said, I was not having a good day (lost several balls early on...), so
there were times when the group in front of us started to get a bit ahead.
Luckily, however, the course plays no favorites and we always caught back up.

I think that our round played about 4:45 on foot starting around 11:20.

Next year when I play Sugarbush, I think I'll try something in Woodstock or 
Killington instead of Stowe.  (Actually, next weekend will be a GREAT time to
play Sugarbush because of the foliage...the view from the club house and down
the 10th fairway is always breath-taking (and then the "gods of the woods"
steal your ball!)).

John