#6 on this list
Mountain National
Green
Green Mountain National is aimed at golfers who love mountain solitude, dense northern forests, and dramatic elevation swings. Owned by the Town of Killington, Vermont, and designed by Gene Bates, this scenic layout sits carved into the Green Mountains. It provides an isolated, quiet golf experience where fairways are heavily separated by mature hardwoods, birches, and native stone outcroppings. The course plays as a target-style mountain layout rather than a sprawling links. Extreme shifts in elevation require players to calculate uphill blind approaches and club down on dramatic downhill drop shots. Ponds, wetlands, and mountain runoff streams cross several holes, making course management and conservative iron play from the tee far more rewarding than raw distance. In autumn, when the foliage turns, it offers one of the most visually stunning rounds in New England. The trade-offs are typical of northern mountain designs. Erratic bounces off rock faces or tree lines can quickly derail a good score, and blind landing areas require patience or local knowledge. The playing season is also relatively short, generally running from mid-May through October, with mountain bugs active in the early summer months. At standard rates, however, it remains an outstanding public value. **Highlights** - Dramatic Green Mountain topography with isolated, tree-lined fairways - Stunning panoramic views, particularly during the autumn foliage peak - Strategic target layout emphasizing positional iron play over driver distance - Natural water hazards, rock ledges, and mountain stream crossings - Accessible green fees compared to coastal metropolitan championship courses **Watch-outs** - Several blind shots and sloping lies can frustrate first-time players - Compact playing season due to Vermont mountain winters
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#7 on this list
Hills
Wintonbury
Wintonbury Hills is for players who appreciate thoughtful, subtle golf architecture over raw length. Owned by the Town of Bloomfield, Connecticut, just northwest of Hartford, this layout represents Pete Dye's first and only championship municipal design in New England. It offers everyday public golfers a chance to play classic Dye features—railroad ties, pot bunkers, and strategic angles—at a reasonable price point. The layout blends an open links-style front nine with a wooded parkland back nine. Dye created wide fairways that allow players to swing freely off the tee, but he angled the landing areas so that aggressive lines provide significantly easier approaches into the greens. The putting surfaces are contoured with subtle tiers, false fronts, and surrounding collection swales that test your short-game creativity with wedges, hybrids, or putters from off the green. While Wintonbury Hills is more forgiving than many of Dye's famous tournament courses, its green complexes can be challenging when rolling fast. Wind across the open holes can also turn routine mid-iron approaches into difficult challenges. Pace of play can stretch during popular weekend morning slots, but the course is consistently praised for superior municipal turf conditioning. **Highlights** - Pete Dye's lone championship municipal design in New England - Dual character combining open rolling links with wooded parkland holes - Wide fairways paired with strategic approach angles and collection areas - Intelligently contoured greens that reward imaginative recovery shots - Fair, accessible green fee pricing for town residents and visitors alike **Watch-outs** - Fast, undulating greens can cause high three-putt counts for casual players - Exposed front-nine holes are susceptible to persistent crosswinds
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Mountain National | Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Killington, Vermont | Bloomfield, Connecticut |
| Course Architect | Gene Bates | Pete Dye |
| Ownership | Town of Killington | — |
| Estimated Rate | Approximately $75 | — |
| Operational Window | Mid-May through October | — |
| Layout Style | Mountain target design | — |
| Course Type | — | Municipal 18-hole championship |
| Typical Rate | — | Around $79 |
| Terrain Profile | — | Open rolling links front, wooded parkland back |
| Signature Elements | — | Railroad ties, pot bunkers, shaved collection areas |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Mountain National
- Heavily wooded corridors provide distinct isolation for each individual hole.
- Remarkable scenic value and mountain topography at accessible municipal green fees.
- Rewarding tactical routing that emphasizes smart shot placement over pure distance.
- Well-maintained bentgrass surfaces despite harsh Vermont winter conditions.
- Numerous blind shots and sharp slopes can heavily penalize first-time visitors.
- Short playing calendar restricted to roughly mid-May through late October.
- Severe mountain terrain makes walking impractical for the majority of players.
Hills
- Authentic Pete Dye strategic architecture at accessible municipal rates
- Engaging layout featuring distinct links-style front and parkland back nines
- Consistently superior turf conditioning compared to typical town-owned venues
- Contoured green complexes that reward short-game creativity and proper approach angles
- Open front-nine holes are heavily influenced by gusting crosswinds
- Subtle green tiers can lead to frequent three-putts for higher handicappers
- Weekend tee sheet density can cause deliberate four-and-a-half-hour rounds
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