I am traveling through southern and central Vermont this week, making short stops at golf clubs and resorts in the region to introduce myself and to choose the best places to revisit in the spring.  This is "leaf peeping" season, and while rain on my first day in the area yesterday made the colors on the mountains look a little musty, I am hoping some light shines on the tableau the rest of the week.  I know the thousands of folks who plunk down higher prices for hotel stays and sometimes clog the roads in New England this time of year are hoping for the same.  I have not seen very many cars pulled over on the sides of roads with cameras (and tongues) hanging out.  Could be the economy or the weather or both.  Not many people are going to pony up $150 per night at a Holiday Inn Express to look at trees through a mist.

        Yesterday I stopped at Brattleboro Country Club, Haystack Mountain, and Mount Snow, the latter two with significant adjacent residential communities.  Today I am planning stops at 

Quechee Lakes, a huge 36-hole golf community; The Woodstock Inn; Okemo Valley; and at Green Mountain National Golf Course and Killington Golf Club, both in Killington and near the famed ski slopes.  The rest of the week will include stops at Rutland Country Club, The famed Equinox, and the Stratton Mountain Resort.  I'll squeeze a few more stops in between, so if you have one in central or southern Vermont that you want me to check out, just click on the Contact button above and send me a note.

        Cheers.

        During my visit to Cape Cod last week, after two glorious rounds at the private Oyster Harbors Golf Club, I noticed this ad in a local newspaper.  It provides one way to play a great golf course and support a local library.  If you play below your handicap level at this outing, you will be doing well, and also doing good:

 

October 19 - Want to Play at the Exclusive Oyster Harbors Club, well here is your chance!!  15th annual Autumn Classic, Oyster Harbors Club, to benefit the Osterville Village Library, 11 a.m. registration, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, best ball of foursome, $225 entry fee per player, registration forms at www.ostervillevillagelibrary.org or by calling the Osterville Village Library at 508-420-5757.

 

        Please note that Oyster Harbors is slated for some modest reshaping by Tom Doak in the coming weeks.  It would be best, if you plan to play in this outing, to contact the course for an update on exactly when they intend to start the work.  I understand that play will continue as the workmen go about their business.

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