Wonderful Article!
tstoto
tstoto
tstoto
tstoto

. . .

Evaluate whether the overall experience at Cedar Knoll Country Club justifies the cost of playing. Consider factors such as course quality, amenities, and service. by tstoto

No weaknesses. All very good.

I'm not sure what people are looking for, but this course was great. I live in Burlington and have never ventured down past Rocky Ridge to play at Cedar Knoll. This course has 3 different 9 hole coures to choose from. We played North (very hilly, awesome views,) and South (much flatter and more wide open). I guess other reviewers want flat and boring. Or a place like Williston where a Ranger is up your a$$ every 2 minutes asking you to speed up your play. This course is all about variety. Additionaly, we've had a lot of rain in VT recently and this course was in great shape. Much better than Kwinny which was played the day after.

Customer Service

Everyone was very friendly when we called and made our tee time. Inside club house staff was fine as well. A number of members were hanging out in the bar and all asked us how the course was playing. The bar maid was friendly as well. No issues.

Similar Products Used:

I've played most courses in Chittenden and Washington Counties.

We played the very hilly West Course twice over two days. This is the longest 9-hole yardage of the three courses but were told it also has the least amount of trouble. Water only comes into play on one 540 yard par-5 5th hole - 300 yards from the tee. I agree and disagree with some of the previous reviewers. The 3 VERY elevated tees with wide open landing areas are fun for an amatuer, like myself, who can hit the ball a long way but can spray it around on occasion. Who wants to spend all day in the woods looking for your tee shot? On the days we played, the fairways were hard as were the greens. Whether you hit a bump and run or a elevated approach shot, the greens were hard to hold. This was a little frustrating only because it was very easy to waste a perfect tee shot with a less than perfect approach shot, a chip and then three-putting. As for the design, there were mostly straight ahead par-4s and 5s with two doglegs. The par-3s were on the longer side (156 and 170 yards from the whites) - one was straight uphill. Only the par-5s required some stategy. At 3,100 yards from the men's tees, it will take a few more times playing this layout before my scoring is similar to the shorter course I usually play. The 2,700 yard ladies layout, while long, can still be played by different skill level players because there are few bunkers or water hazards to negotiate. The practice facilities are great and the views spectacular!!!

Customer Service

Staff was friendly and remembered us from the previous day. Chatted for awhile. Played in the afternoon and didn't have to wait at all.

Similar Products Used:

Catamount Golf Club, Williston, VT. This is a shorter yardage, flat, links style layout.

I agree totally with the first poster..these folks must not out much and play decent courses. I'm not a golf snob, far from it and I don't need VT. National or CC of VT to enjoy myself, but this place is a joke for serious golfers and must make beginners question if they should stick with the game. The design looks like it was dreamt up by who actually "designed" it-a farmer who doesn't play the game. Some holes are so wide open that any tee shot that isn't topped is OK..on the other tight holes it's a crapshoot on whether your tee ball is a good one or not because there are always some goofy wavy humps in the fairway, some tree totally blocking the path to the green or as the first reviewer stated no logical or srategic place to lay up or play to. The greens are just goofy, you can have a 3 footer that double-breaks.

I'm not saying avoid this place at all costs, it's farly cheap and if it's not crowded well, your still hitting the white orb around on something that's better than a pasture, but these comments that say how challenging and testing this place is must be made by folks that don't know better.

Givin a choice for free golf here for the summer or paying every time, I'd play Williston or Rocky Ridge all summer long

as much as i hate this course, i must admit, it is a fun course to play from time to time. its a great scramble course and alone from the tips it is a challenge to score on. the conditions are usually good and you can tell they really take care to make it look and play as well as they can.

some greens are just to small and narrow to even make it fun to hit into to. you might as well layup and take your chances chipping on and saving par. layout on several holes is downright ridiculous.

who are these people that play this course and find it challenging, with a pro layout? this course may not be classified as a joke, but lets be honest here. the layout was done by a farmer and a parttime landscaper. sure its not easy to score there, but not because the course is designed as a Nicklaus or RTJ's course, it virtually has no design. there is no continuity to it and on certain holes you feel like youre on a wide open steer range. being able to score, or not, has never been a way to define a course's condition alone, but also layout and the thinking that went into it. as proven on holes such as #3,#6,#9,#10,#13,#17, one must wonder just what the heck the "designers" were thinking, if at all. for instance, on #10, after a long straight drive, you are not only faced with a decision to go for it in 2 on this par5, but whether you want to layup into a 300 foot dropoff gulch to have a better angle at the green because if you choose to go for it and even make the green, it will still not have a chance to hold on the "billygoat" green.as for the greens, even tho they have grown in over the years to putt nicely and even hold, they were put in with such undulation on most of the holes, that the average golfer is totally lost. were not talking carefully thought out breaks and setups, were just talking ridiculous hillside greens that penalize a great golf approach into them from anywhere. time wont permit, but play the last nine they put in, and you will really see what a joke the designers made of it.

Customer Service

dont look for too many smiles in that clubhouse. you ask for a beer and they look at you like youre the town drunk. nobody there ever took a dale carnigie course, i can tell you that.

Similar Products Used:

after playing here, you will be glad to get back to a "normal" course.

Can make it as tough as anyone would want it to be by pin selection and tee selection.

A dry summer can dry out the course to make it a little easier.

I have played most of the courses in Vt. and I believe this is the most interesting and challenging I have played. Almost all the greens are elevated and have to be approached with a soft shot from close up and an extra club from the fairway.

Customer Service

Excellent. With family owning the course and a number of family members working their. All family members play golf so they know what people like. A great course for family's.

Similar Products Used:

Great clubhouse with fine food and a deck that entails the whole front of the building that overlooks the course and the mountains.

I ate at a wedding on Friday 3/28 and got the worst food poisoning of my life. Cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills. Be very carful if your thinking of having your wedding/event there....several other relatives suffered the same fate.

Similar Products Used:

I ate at a wedding on Friday 3/28 and got the worst food poisoning of my life. Cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills. Be very carful if your thinking of having your wedding/event there....several ot

Very reasonable daily greens fees and cart rentals. Large fairways, open design, but still extremely challenging. 27 holes, tee times readily available. Excellent teaching pro Barry Churchill (802-324-Golf). Driving Range, putting green, lockers, clubhouse restuarant & bar w/large selection and reasonable prices. Many member and non-member tournaments.

Small pro shop.

This course is a must for anyone looking for the experience of mountain golf while at the same time staying budget concious. Cedar Knoll is a family owned and operated course and has one of the most challenging slope/ratings in Vermont. Just try to putt these greens or walk the course.

Price, lack of crowds, friendly staff, and the fact that the Ayer family NEVER stops working to improve the course. It seems like every year they do something to improve their product. They listen to the membership, and really care about the people playing there.

Some holes require a lot of carry off the tee, others good course management to maximize favorable approach shots. This is of course, nit picking.

Cedar Knoll is flat out the best deal in Northwestern Vermont. With 27 holes (South nine re-configured) to choose from there are virtually no crowds. From the Blues, this course will test the longest of the big hitters. When you play Cedar you hit evry club in the bag, every round. In the fall months the views are breathtaking. Overall the course is challenging, yet forgiving (for now). When the trees grow in in 10 years this will be one of the toughest courses around.

Customer Service

Incredible, arguably the best in Northern Vermont. The entire family is involved in one aspect or another of running the facility, and they make you feel like a part of it.

Similar Products Used:

Look for an exoanded and improved practice area coming soon. Talk is about adding a chipping green, practice bunkers, etc..