Golf Course Review-Mt. Anthony Country Club

P.O. Box 947, Bennington, VT

Opening for play in 1897, Mt. Anthony is one of Vermont's oldest golf courses. Much of the original flavor has remained untouched over the past century. At every turn a golfer sees reminders of the archaic character inherent to early American course design. Most obvious of reminders are the greens. They are not only very small, they are often very round and flat. The overall pattern of construction and design is also noticeably different from contemporary layouts. Very little dirt was moved in the construction of this course. The individual holes were laid down over the existing terrain. This procedure allowed the venue to gradually mature into an environment which can best be described as "park like." The existence of the famous memorial obelisk on the hillside above the course further accentuates the park like feel.

"Looking Down From the Ridge"

The course, itself, is a pleasant and open affair that appears relatively benign at first glance; easier looking than its slope of 125 would indicate. Golfers will discover that this is not the case. Though it is not a very long course, a number of holes do traverse the lower flank of Mt. Anthony in a most inconvenient fashion. The fairways across this section (nicknamed Mt. Agony) are frequently canted sideways. Mishits can roll a long, long way away. Sidehill lies to small, tight greens have brought frustration to many generations of area golfers.

The tiny greens are not to everyone's liking. This writer appreciated the antique honesty of the small surfaces, but this writer is an excellent chipper and a weak putter. Those used to large, velvety greens will have trouble adjusting to the concept of these old timers. Pressure must have been great to upgrade them over the last few decades. Luckily, the Mt. Anthony club has resisted the temptation to adhere to modern standards. The Vermont golfing experience would far less rich if modernization had been allowed to occur on this course.

"See Thru Flag -13"

For a country club, Mt. Anthony is a very casual place. It has an open and warm, small town feel to it. The staff and the members are very congenial and relaxed. The facilities, which include a small range, tennis courts, several dining rooms, a cozy bar/lounge and a small pro shop, are all quite adequate but are not kept up to the standards normally associated with the fancier venues in the next town up the road, Manchester. This is a casual, relaxed place. Your minivan won't have its feelings hurt in the parking lot. However, this does not mean that you can show up in cut-offs and a six pack. This is a real and serious golf club. It just also happens to be a fun, community course at the same time. The owner, Ted Price, is a PGA pro himself, so you know that the playing conditions are going to be good.

If you like "old-fashioned" golf, you will love Mt. Anthony. This is the kind of course you will wish your family had belonged to when you were growing up. It's just plain fun. It's also an excellent training ground as evidenced by the recent success by one of its younger members, Dustin Cone. Dustin, at age 16, won the state Division 1 high school championship and followed it up with a win at the Vermont Amateur.

A special feature of the Mt. Anthony C. C. is head pro, David Scoucy's approach to working with kids. He sets up a small "hit and chip" course for them in an open area near to the clubhouse. This lets them have some fun on their own. The holes are laid out in a manner that will most allow them to enjoy themselves while improving their playing skills. This is an aspect of golf that should be emphasized by more clubs.

2000 Greens Fees: Weekdays - $30, Weekends, $35

Directions: Just beneath that great big pointed thing that sits on the side of the hill right outside of town.

Telephone: #802-447-7079