Killington, Vermont
Gene Bates’ Green Mountain National delivers a memorable resort-public round shaped by natural elevation, bold contours, and breathtaking scenery. While it’s not on national Top 100 lists, it’s a highlight of Vermont golf with strong value, playable design, and relentless shot variety set against the Green Mountains.
Gene Bates designed Green Mountain National as a modern mountain course, embracing the natural topography, unique glacial rocks, and thick Vermont forests. The routing winds through pronounced elevation changes, with holes that rise and fall dramatically, offering tee shots from bluff perches and challenging your sense of distance on nearly every approach. Fairways and greens are sculpted but accessible, with generous landing zones offset by well-placed bunkers and natural hazards. The course’s balance of strategic options and breathtaking views makes for an authentic northern New England golf experience.
Gene Bates is known for embracing the natural features of a property; here, his philosophy results in a course that blends seamlessly with the dramatic slopes and forests of the Green Mountains.
The opening hole sets the tone for the round: a reachable par 5 that cascades gently downhill, inviting you to grip it and rip it. The route is framed by woods and a distant mountain backdrop, building anticipation from the very first swing.
Keep your tee shot in the fairway—aggressive players can reach in two, but your second must clear subtle cross bunkers and avoid a tangle of trees left.
Miss left off the tee and risk tree trouble; approach shots that stray long or offline can disappear into thick rough or hidden hazards.
Strong overall conditioning, smooth greens, and well-kept bunkers even in peak season.
Generally good, especially midweek and non-holiday mornings; peak periods can be busy.
Relaxed, scenic, and friendly—classic Vermont mountain spirit without the pretense.
Standard golf attire expected; collared shirts recommended.
The ball flies farther at elevation—get a feel for your distances at the range before heading to the first tee.
The round can be physically demanding with hills and mountain air; be ready to fuel up and hydrate.
Morning rounds can be brisk, and weather in the Green Mountains changes fast—dress for possibility, not just the forecast.
Green Mountain National Golf Course opens for play, designed by Gene Bates.
Course hosts first annual Matt Harnett Memorial Tournament.
Green Mountain hosts Killington Junior Golf Championship (AJGA event).
Ranked #4 public course in Vermont on several state lists.
Publishes updated peak season green fees and maintains strong conditioning.
From the very first tee, the course unfolds through tree-lined corridors with the looming presence of Vermont’s rugged peaks. The routing flows with the land, weaving between rock outcrops and through tranquil forest glades—a setting so quiet that a crisp mountain breeze is all you’ll hear.
Each approach shot at Green Mountain National is a mathematical puzzle shaped by the dramatic elevation changes. Managing uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies becomes part of the fun—and the challenge—as club selection changes with every hole.
Green Mountain National isn’t just a golf course—it’s a cornerstone of Killington’s evolution from ski-only town to year-round mountain getaway. Golfers and families flock to the area every summer, with the course often hosting charity events and regional tournaments.
The par-5s tempt you to go big, but with trees pinching into landing areas and fast, undulating greens awaiting, even the longest hitters need touch—and sometimes a bit of mountain luck.
At over 1,600 feet, the course plays notably shorter than the scorecard length thanks to elevation.
Large glacial boulders are left in play on several holes, creating unique visual obstacles.
The course hosts one of Vermont's best-known AJGA junior championships.
The property transforms into Nordic trails in winter, adding to Killington's four-season appeal.
Wildlife sightings—especially deer and the occasional fox—are a part of the round.
Classic golden-age routing with loyal local following
Sister mountain course with dramatic holes
Modern resort design, great for pairing rounds
Old-school Vermont challenge; access possible via host or resort package
Scenic New England mountain course, farther out but worth the drive
Make Killington your home base for quick access to both Green Mountain National and a mix of classic and resort Vermont courses.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay shares a memorable sense of place, making it a compelling counterpart to Green Mountain National Golf Course.
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in The Golf Club at Devils Tower's own setting.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. True North Golf Club shares a memorable sense of place, making it a compelling counterpart to Green Mountain National Golf Course.
Community Sentiment
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