Central Connecticut golfers are blessed in that a wide variety of golf resorts are nearby.



For those planning an end-of-season golf trip with the boys or a foliage getaway with the Missus, a recent sojourn into Vermont showed how different two properties only 80 miles apart can be.

The Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes is as tranquil and traditional a spot as you’ll find. Less than an hour from Burlington, once the car’s engine is turned off, one’s first inclination is a relaxing, deep breath.

Regarding the resort, Basin Harbor Club takes a page out of “Dirty Dancing” — which in real life was shot at the Mountain Lakes Hotel in Pembroke, Va. There’s a talent show on Friday nights, most guests are regulars and well known to staff, and you’re expected to wear a jacket at dinner. If you yearn to sit lakeside in an Adirondack chair with a book in one hand and a daiquiri in another, this is the place.

On the golf front, the Basin Harbor Club is a no-frills layout that punishes no one. Built on farmland in 1927, it’s generally flat and always wide open. Like the resort, the service in the pro shop is warm; yet, unlike the restaurant, it’s not at all formal. Several nearby groups waved hello from adjacent fairways, two different groups waited a few minutes at their tee box to let a single golfer pass, and there were more husband-and-wife duos on the course than I’d seen at any other course.

For me, the best part about Basin Harbor Club’s course was its natural look. It was the first course in Vermont to be named an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary golf course, which is dedicated “to preserving natural resources and enhancing wildlife habitats.” There were birds galore and if you didn’t see a frog, rabbit, or some other animal on every hole, you weren’t looking.

Although just down the road — well, 76 miles according to Google Maps — the Woodstock Inn is an entirely different experience. Sitting right across the town green in beautiful Woodstock, this property is neither secluded nor rustic. Rather, it’s elegant and perfect for a few days of recharging and relaxing.

As nice as downtown Woodstock is — book shops and art galleries on every block with plenty of toy stores and gift huts shuffled in — the rooms at The Inn stole the show. Perfectly appointed with fireplaces, one is tempted to stay in the first night and just sleep.

The Woodstock Inn Golf Club experience begins in the parking lot. During our visit, a gentleman named Win grabbed our bags and gave us all the instructions we’d need. He was a charming, gracious host, which perfectly describes his club. The Woodstock course is a Robert Trent Jones design that has aged well. There are numerous fun holes, including the 151-yard fifth hole. Framed by a small mountain and trees, it calls for a forced carry over water to an oddly shaped green.

In addition to a classic Jones design, the Woodstock Inn Golf Club is in immaculate condition. This is not surprising, given that it’s semi-private. What often happens at private courses open to resort guests is that preferential treatment is given to members, who often treat guests rudely. This, I’m glad to report, did not happen at the Woodstock Inn. I was treated like royalty by staff from start to finish and the members were glad to see me, too.

Like this entire Vermont getaway, let’s call it a Win-win situation.

For information on the Basin Harbor Club, visit www.basinharbor.com; for information on the Woodstock Inn, visit www.woodstockinn.com.