Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Paul Jones on July 21, 2022, 11:35:58 AM
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Has anyone played Rutland CC recently? Last entries I have found were from 2007 on this site. Looks like a Stiles and Van Kleek design that is now Semi-Private. Golf Magazine has it ranked as 2nd best course in Vermont.
How is the conditioning? Has the design changed over the years? Seems like it was well regarded many years ago.
Here is their website - Semi-Private Golf Club - Rutland Country Club & Baxter's Restaurant (https://www.rutlandcountryclub.com/)
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Played it in 2018 and loved it. Very cool place. I read today that they are doing some work with architect Jeff Stein, including standard things like tree removal and regaining edges. But also including "small modifications" to greens on the basis that they were not designed to play at the speeds they now run.
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Well nuts. I passed through Rutland last week. I did think to stop at Dorsett Field Club, but should have thought to stop there as well.
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Well nuts. I passed through Rutland last week. I did think to stop at Dorsett Field Club, but should have thought to stop there as well.
Not to side rail my own thread... how was Dorset Field Club ?
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Paul, it looked great, although the great maintenance almost took away from the rustic feel of those kinds of old courses.
As to Rutland, I don't know much about SVK, but the bunkers may have been simplified from original? If they were, they had those blob shapes by the earliest aerial on historic aerials.com, which is from 1957. There are a few things on the Google aerial that suggest some original bunkers are still there (placement too close to tees, etc.) I am sure someone here will dig into the design history at some point and answer my questions!
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The homepage lists Stiles & Van Kleek, but if you click on Course Tour, it says George Low.
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After Yale, Rutland may be the best routing and course on difficult New England property. Love the course and the people.
It feels like Jersey about 5 minutes out side the entrance, so it is not a sexy place in Vermont. That said, the same thing has been written about Pine Valley GC!!
(https://www.top100golfcourses.com/img/courses/Rutland-Country-Club-Golf_3981.jpg)
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The homepage lists Stiles & Van Kleek, but if you click on Course Tour, it says George Low.
I saw that, did George Low did the original and Stiles & Van Kleek come afterwards or vice versa?
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https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/rutland
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Rutland is on my shortest list.
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https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/rutland (https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/rutland)
From the link above... George Low did the original 9 holes, then Wayne Stiles was brought in and left the original 3 holes, changed the other 6 and added the additional 9 holes.
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https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/rutland (https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/rutland)
From the link above... George Low did the original 9 holes, then Wayne Stiles was brought in and left the original 3 holes, changed the other 6 and added the additional 9 holes.
I believe that is accurate. Van Kleek was never involved so I have been told. I haven't played Rutland CC in many years but last time I played it was fairly overgrown especially with mostly dead pine trees although someone did tell me quite a few have been removed although probably not enough :) [size=78%] [/size]
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https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49943.msg1132365.html#msg1132365 (https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49943.msg1132365.html#msg1132365)
Damn, I had forgotten about this masterpiece. Henry is going to college within striking distance and I am definitely going back.
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Having just played Rutland, I echo the many positive comments about both the vibe and the course. If you like short par-4s, this is the place for you, as its got both quantity (5) and quality (9, 10 and 17). And, even the longer par-4s aren't that long, but that means you won't use driver nearly as often here as at most other courses. Still, you don't see 140 slope ratings on too many 5,761-yard courses. The uneven lies, deep bunkers and severely sloped greens can leave you cursing, scratching your head or both.
As previously mentioned, Jeff Stein is doing some restoration work to try and restore the course as closely as possible to the original Stiles and Van Kleek design. While I don't have a basis for comparison, trees encroaching on playing corridors is currently either a minor or non-issue.
At least five holes - 3, 8, 11, 12 and 15 - have sideboards/embankments on one side of the green that direct the ball toward (and sometimes well beyond) the hole. I can't think of another course where this feature is used so extensively.
Rutland was challenging, fun and a trip in the Wayback Machine to see how courses were designed 100+ years ago.
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I played it once about thirty years ago. I enjoyed myself quite a bit but my two sharpest memories are of a humongously long par three with a green much wider than deep and my embarrassment at blading a wedge that thwacked into the maintenance shed while some workers were having lunch. They came out to have a look at the miscreant.
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Rutland is amazing...it was an oft-played stop for us Middlebury golfers way back when, as it's only about 35 minutes from campus.
I often think of it as a "mini-Taconic," similar in quality but perhaps without the 3 or 4 ball-busting long holes at TGC.
Also, I think we still get confused with Stiles & Van Kleek...this was the firm name, but Stiles generally worked in the Northeast (with some exceptions), and Van Kleek generally worked the Southeast. I'm sure they worked together on a few as well, but most (if not all) of the New England courses would be Stiles.
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I just watched a video of the train ride from NYC to Rutland, VT is the least traveled Amtrak route remaining.
But based on the pictures of the course maybe more folks should be taking a weekend trip up there to play some golf?
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You could do pretty well with Rutland, Green Mountain National, and Neshobe GC. Especially in the Fall...the leaves would be jaw-droppingly pretty.
Rutland is a bit of a tough town itself these days, but Killington isn't far, and there are many nice small towns along route 7. I think one can still fly to Rutland to/from Boston on Cape Air, 8-seater planes...they connect seamlessly to Jet Blue and American.
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Just played it at the end of last season, hopefully this helps:
1. go
2. conditioning was great, especially - well - all things considered
3. the difference between the Low and Stiles holes is noticeable, but not insulting.
4. I do NOT recommend the train there. I've been on that train three times and all three times had 2+ hour delays because of having to move for freights
5. see #1
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Road Trip!
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Rutland is one of my favorite courses in New England. The greens and terrific terrain are what I remember from my round. I hope they don’t mess with the greens doing the resto.
Chris
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Hi all! It was exciting to see some of you talking about Rutland! It is an outstanding golf course and one of Stiles best efforts in the region. Tom gave it a 6 in his newest Summer edition of the Confidential Guide, but I would push to argue for another look and see that it is a solid 7. Since I am working and advocating for the Club, I will argue away!
If you are within 100 miles of Rutland, to start, there isn't much comparable golf at Rutland's level...even Hooper a nine hole course designed by Stiles received a 7. With Rutland you have 18 varied and unique holes with rugged character throughout. Golfers cross the beautiful east creek multiple times during the round and can experience a thrilling tee shot on the 7th hole with a diagonal carry over the creek. The fact the course is on the shorter side, is made up for some sharp changes in elevation on a few approach shots and the constant undulation of the fairways, some more severe than others. With a great set of greens, a good mix of short holes and a few long ones like the par 5, 13th, Rutland more than holds its own to any golf course in the region. In addition rutland is a walkable golf course and one I could see myself playing everyday.
We have a wonderful 1927 plan of Stiles original design, with tons of detail, including wide fairways and much less trees between holes. My plan with the club is focused on restoring the fairway bunker strategies and building them to the proper scale. We will also be expanding greens and looking at some which simply do not function at todays green speeds.
The 5th hole, Par 3 , 223yards, for example has a fortress of a green built atop a steep plateau which averages a slope of 5-6% from front to back across the entire green! This is an iconic hole at Rutland and one which everyone loves to play because of the challenge. In my conversations with members and club leaders I have advocated to slow this green down so it would be more enjoyable for the majority of golfers and also allow the pin to be moved around. I believe a green pitched at 4% with small pockets of 2.5 - 3% slopes makes this hole so much more enjoyable and consistent with the rest of the golf course and still honors the design intent.
Holes 17 and 18 also suffer from monotonously steep putting surfaces which I also believe should be altered in the same sympathetic fashion. 1: to relieve to the green staff who are not able to moves pins during certain times of the year and 2 : for golfers who have been dying to see some different approaches to these fun green sites.
The greens at Rutland are not big but we want them to play as big as possible by recapturing the edges and getting some short grass up the banks on holes 3,8,11,12,13,14.
Lastly, we just completed a tree removal and fairway bunker restoration on the 18th hole. Before the work, there were 4 large spruces practically growing in the fairway! We have received overwhelming support for this work and it has greatly improved the hole and brought drama back to the finishing tee shot. Instead of punching out, golfers are invited to challenge the right side in the expanded fairway, with a better angle but slightly longer approach. Stiles had a bunker drawn about 300 yards but I imagine that would have been for the second shot. There is a maintenance road which crosses there now, so we shifted the bunker back to a range which was relevant to the tee shot of todays golfer.
No matter if you think Rutland is a 6 or 7 or 8 it is a must play in New England and we hope to continue to make the case with new irrigation plans and a restored Wayne Stiles golf course in the coming seasons. I look forward to hearing more people make the trip!!
Follow this link to see a few photos of the work, my plan for 18, and some aerials from 1962: [size=78%]https://photos.app.goo.gl/tH31W8LJQzc6WALT8 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/tH31W8LJQzc6WALT8)[/size]
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XZGwkTvAZTS4_htlIKeza0BJhvp6bBDr3T1svFI5fI2ObzV7cGafLlCDBU0ZdhNiAl8gxV9sZZAOueYqqiqnNCaahMSpn9uWJn8o-dJ-jGC-HLQcJ8WZxpOSuIEH6KdWY4zAy011Zo4sKZn5rH0hXhD-2b9iwXwrJ34eB21PY7j7RCnkRPLubSI_hunNs6vjK5wi91l0QOscsn8iCv8hqrZXdqCT7xODQGpHbPLliD4Ky8YaKKtnTQNjmB6UDRtDYTzJDvwQ4Fro0Q5rh3ITlIerk_ipoTct8pE0VK6j2GAzX4kaFdIpOwhn-2J1XCJCfLdNxuBrut-CNBUFzM1yQrik2g5mCRcNjC76suf3ia56rWNwPOhmHieFHNjaTMTROJIZfHPN62Q6IF5NsgJUDQr9P87VLKhsEx8vqNzdfYznJg8vY_nOZhPkR9dd4o7tAlheDgWMmpBvU3pTmVjadHNNQFNIGi3-Xmr-ibMkjxtQSKp-GoqloHiVg7NfKX8oi13PiDpDnTOqZiI9GkyeawX4AVlWYGVNVfVHAD5sMxwLD1iLa6qMPVLgBEk8V_4EMxw8qZPBC15JnXRJ4jz7A_Z83OovhV6DOl1Lew5fBGiaVWevYECHixk3wqEJ42hKvLvJxY7fQwjXtGmFyLiptd_gvrlF0UPshOZWtdWsn5a5JM6eOPj5Wri8Ug5srVllzzQa1fLSpjiXY_6267yKazsvcsnxs_pUl23bwaPkdwDQi1XZnJcL4RoQ-eu25Q=w800-h500-no?authuser=0)
Here is a look from the tee on 18. You are looking at grass liners in the bunkers, before the sand was installed.
There are a few more photos in the link from my previous post.
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Jeffrey,
I got to play Rutland about 2 weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Side note, really cool logo also. I played Glens Falls, Rutland, Dorset Fields and CC of Troy and walk away impressed with all 4 courses.
I would recommend driving an hour or two to play any of those courses.
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I think Brad’s description as a “Mini Taconic” is apt. It’s a compelling set of holes without the difficulty of some of the par fours coming in. There are some fun tee shots and most especially 17 from the top. Jeff Stein is doing a terrific job.
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You could do pretty well with Rutland, Green Mountain National, and Neshobe GC. Especially in the Fall...the leaves would be jaw-droppingly pretty.
Rutland is a bit of a tough town itself these days, but Killington isn't far, and there are many nice small towns along route 7. I think one can still fly to Rutland to/from Boston on Cape Air, 8-seater planes...they connect seamlessly to Jet Blue and American.
They've had a lot of problems with opiods and other drugs in that area of Vermont.
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Here is an updated photo from my last visit in September. The newly restored bunker on the right is a ball magnet! And nice job by the crew getting the sod grown-in through a hot and dry August.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AL9nZEXh5ku6moroB61Mf44eO8DQ6ZLGNIPbpfZjajnH1qo7bPKTY1tLdQvKQS-pfy4Uw5FJBZYwnLQ2SSC6LBHfriDAtLUlKMlAve_XrCzL6B24ujce_D3YGvnD2c4XhMfZ6qKE-DydlfG3oTOF3Cxm7Ipk=w1000-h750-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AL9nZEXtZMZUAp_4CayFY75eQmAR_JVQmP5_2Gqnqztxeh26mGcB45mC-Yb46oTGQLP5c3VCfeoKINCsi6cMs22N1tHvqxB7MxgFqD2vuWwyf_lJwq-kbLwnHkKymNevhoydqbaUbgb_sDgjIASxvY3AgDgD=w400-h900-no?authuser=0)