Ouimet’s Comeback
Francis Ouimet, who stunned the world at Brookline, scripted another legend at Ekwanok by winning the 1914 U.S. Amateur. It’s still the only U.S. Amateur ever played in Vermont—a fact woven deep into the club’s lore.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Ekwanok Country Club
Manchester, Vermont
Established
1899
Architect
Walter J. Travis & John Duncan Dunn (1899); Geoffrey Cornish & Bruce Hepner (renovations)
Access
Private
Par
Par 70
Length
4,750 – 6,553 yds
The verdict
The Green Mountain Benchmark
Ekwanok is Vermont’s premier golden-age course, marrying Walter Travis strategy and storied U.S. Amateur history with Green Mountain vistas. It’s an architectural pilgrimage—a national draw for those who appreciate vintage golf and enduring strategic test.
Course DNA
Difficulty
82
Scenery85
Conditioning81
Shot Variety77
Walkability70
Green Complexity80
Wow Factor87
Design Quality91
At a glance
Quick facts
Founded
1899
Major USGA Event
1914 U.S. Amateur (won by Francis Ouimet)
Signature Architect
Walter J. Travis, American golf legend
Recurring Ranking
Golf Digest Vermont No. 1, decades running
Primary Course Style
Golden-age mountain parkland
Notable Restoration
Bruce Hepner led gentle restoration
Upcoming USGA Event
2030 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur
The design
The architecture
Ekwanok’s architecture is a masterclass in golden-age American golf—strategic, subtle, and brilliantly routed through New England’s mountain foothills. Walter Travis and John Duncan Dunn crafted a layout where every angle matters: doglegs require placement and guile, greens demand approach precision, and the winds off the Green Mountains heighten the challenge. Later restoration by Bruce Hepner ensures the course remains true to Travis’s artistic intentions, with restored bunkers and widened corridors amplifying strategic shotmaking. There’s no pretension here—just pure, timeless golf in a magnificent natural setting.
Walter Travis—an early titan of American golf—brought his legendary eye for strategy and subtlety to bear here, while later stewards like Bruce Hepner have carefully protected and revived his design vision.
Defining features
- Classic strategic Travis/Dunn routing
- Varied terrain—rolling, with mountain scenery
- Small, slope-defended and bunker-guarded greens
- Elegant, restored bunkering and fairway shaping
- Subtle use of natural elevation in both shot and visual challenge
- Width-for-angle design: position rewarded, not just length
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 7
Fuller’s Folly
PAR
5
YARDAGE
597
At almost 600 yards, this par 5 is both a marathon and a test of discipline: the fairway winds past hazards, and the green sits ready to punish a rash second shot. The rising approach and subtle slopes make it memorable from start to finish.
Play it smart
It’s all about staging—two solid positional shots put you in the ideal scoring zone for a playable approach.
Where it bites
Stray too far left or get greedy and short-side yourself, and you’ll pay with a double—or more.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approaching small, firm greens from uneven lies
Accept a longer club and favor the fat side—getting up and down from off these targets is rarely easy.
Playing the long par-3s (#6, #13)
Wind-check and yardage calculation are critical—don’t chase the flag, just play for the safe quadrant.
Second shot on par 5s with trouble in layup zone
Don’t get greedy—choose your layup yardage carefully to give yourself the best angle to challenging pins.
Dogleg tee shots with tree lines
Shape your shot for position, not distance. Overcooking it can block your path or leave a blind approach.
Final three-hole closing run (#16–18)
Focus on strategy and composure—a conservative play and two-putt are often worth more than heroics.
Heavy rough or lost-angle recovery
Re-center in the fairway when in trouble—these greens won’t accept short-sided, aggressive recoveries.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Perfectly groomed, classically understated surfaces; greens firm and true, with classic Travis contours.
Pace
Steady and measured; member play is prioritized, and rounds may slow on first visits due to hidden shot lines.
Vibe
Historic, refined, and quiet—heavy on tradition with a distinctly old-world charm.
Dress code
Standard private-club formality: collared shirts, tailored shorts or slacks, soft-spike shoes.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Sharpen Your Iron Play
Practice trajectory and distance control—precise approaches are the key to scoring.
02
Study the Greens
Brush up on reading subtle breaks and rapid downhill putts; Travis’s greens offer intrigue on every hole.
03
Embrace Classic Etiquette
Prepare for a more traditional round; respect long-standing member customs and heritage.
04
Cardio for the Walk
The terrain is beautiful but rolling—get ready for a moderate but steady workout.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1899
Ekwanok Country Club opens, designed by Walter J. Travis and John Duncan Dunn.
- 1914
Hosts the U.S. Amateur; Francis Ouimet wins in dramatic fashion.
- 1928
Robert Todd Lincoln Memorial Cup tournament inaugurated.
- 1962
U.S. Seniors Golf Association holds its first invitational at Ekwanok.
- 2030
Slated host of the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, its second USGA national championship.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Golf’s Hidden Giant
After its early national moment, Ekwanok intentionally stepped away from the golf spotlight, preserving its golden-age character for generations. Today, walking its fairways is like stepping back into the earliest era of American golf design.
Bunker to Glory
The club’s recent restoration, led by Bruce Hepner, uncovered and revived original Travis-Dunn bunkering and fairway edges, putting the historic bones of the course back on display for architectural pilgrims.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Ekwanok was the longest golf course in the U.S. when it opened in 1899, measuring 6,034 yards.
2
Francis Ouimet’s U.S. Amateur win at Ekwanok in 1914 remains Vermont’s sole USGA men’s national championship.
3
Ekwanok’s classic Travis/Dunn bunkers were uncovered and restored in the 2010s, renewing the golden-age design drama.
4
Golf Digest has ranked Ekwanok either No. 1 or in the top 5 in Vermont for nearly five decades.
5
Golf Magazine once named one Ekwanok hole among the world’s top 500.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Southern Vermont golf pilgrimage
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
The Golf Club at Equinox
Resort / Private
Beautiful local companion—more Travis, public access at certain times.
Okemo Valley Golf Club
Public / Resort
Accessible championship layout with reliable tee times.
Stratton Mountain Golf Course
Resort
Scenic mountain resort with multiple nines and fun elevation changes.
Mount Anthony Country Club
Public / Semi-Private
Enjoyable parkland course with panoramic Bennington views.
Manchester, VT—stay near Main Street for golf, food, and shopping.
Course DNA
If You Like Ekwanok Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Sutton Bay
Agar, South DakotaWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Sutton Bay's own setting.
Strong DNA Match8.9
Ocean Forest Golf Club
St. Simons Island, GeorgiaWhy it matches: If Ekwanok Country Club is your kind of course, Ocean Forest Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match8.5
The Broadmoor Golf Club East Course
Colorado Springs, ColoradoWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. The Broadmoor Golf Club East Course a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Ekwanok Country Club.
Community Sentiment
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