Fox Run Golf Club, Vermont
The signature par three eighth hole at Fox Run in Ludlow, Vermont.
A recent journey to New England provided the opportunity to play golf in a few new states. The first of these we will highlight, and the thirtieth of our series, is Vermont. The Green Mountain State is the sixth smallest by area in the United States and the second least populous. It’s the birthplace the thirtieth president, Calvin Coolidge, and this year’s Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley. Vermont is probably best known for its maple syrup throughout the rest of the country, but you might be surprised to know it’s the second least flat state within the federation. I can attest the region is as hilly as advertised.
Upon arriving at Portland International Jetport, I set out westward in the early morning through the seacoast regions of Maine and New Hampshire. I was absolutely blown away by the area’s topographically diverse countryside. Had I passed by a few weeks later—like the publication date of this post—the colors of the fall foliage would have been on full display. Even still, I was far north enough that about one in every ten trees had already donned their autumn hues.
Every single list I could find online proclaims Ekwanok Country Club, an 1899 Walter Travis design, the best golf course in Vermont. Other big name private facilities include the Country Club of Vermont, Rutland Country Club, and Dorset Field Club, the last of which is the oldest continuously operating course in the United States. You can feel the deep roots of golf history in this place. The best public tracks appear to be Jay Peak, Fox Run, Equinox, and Green Mountain National. These places are situated every which way in Vermont, which is a testimony to the state’s love of the game, its relatively even distribution of its population, and, again, its geographic diversity. Most courses in the state proudly lean into their mountain golf identity.
Fox Run, called Okemo Valley Golf Club for over two decades before returning to its original name a few years ago, is situated a mile north of Ludlow, a charming little town in the valley. Though golf has been played on the property since 1969, the layout as we know it was designed by Steve Durkeewas and opened in 2000. Fox Run was recently ranked 198th on GolfWeek’s top 200 resort courses in America. Around that spot on the list, I’ve played Firestone’s Fazio layout and Kiva Dunes, and Fox Run holds up well in comparison. The golf facility, located across the street from Okemo Mountain Resort, ranked second on their annual list of best public tracks in Vermont, too. Any way you slice it, Fox Run is among the state’s elite.
Fox Run is a flat out fun loop that was an excellent introduction to New England golf. The course utilizes tall native grass, a neat aesthetic touch, to create a faux heathland look. The flagsticks sport a bold red top and a shaft wrapped in alternate blue and white stripes to add to the visual appeal. It feels as though you’ve stepped onto the green at a USGA championship. Even though it’s modern by golf standards, Fox Run carries the quiet charm of a time long gone. Maybe that feeling stems from my inexperience with golf in New England, or perhaps it has something to do with playing a mere 6500 yards from the tips.
At 187 yards, the eighth is Fox Run’s signature hole. The dramatic, downhill par three offers an incredible vista of Okemo Mountain, dotted with massive mansions. There was a slight breeze in my face that Friday morning, and even though I played the number I still ended up fifteen feet short. We need not discuss the ensuing three putt. If you’re coming to Fox Run expecting anything less than wild, undulating greens, you’re in the wrong place.
The eighth is the hole everyone talks about from their round at Fox Run, but don’t overlook a particularly strong duo of par fours. The fifth is a 395-yard downhill par four bisected by a creek. The longer you hit it, the further left you need to position your golf ball in the fairway. For a left handed fader like me, this is a dream tee shot. The green slopes from back to front, and if you’re over the green on your second shot like I was, an up-and-down is nearly impossible, especially if the pin is in the back. The sixteenth may run parallel to the fifth, but the antepenultimate hole couldn’t play more different. If well struck, a drive here has the potential to go fifty yards further than it should. Don’t be too intimidated by its 472 yard distance, as it effectively plays about twenty percent shorter once all factors are considered.
Several golf holes at Fox Run lack the character embodied by the course’s finest offerings. The layout doesn’t really get interesting until the third green, which is Fox Run’s attempt at a Biarritz complex. The par threes are also a mixed bag, the fourth and the fourteenth being the clear weakest. While on the topic, I’d be remiss to not mention the seventeenth, a two hundred carry over water from the tips to a two-tiered green that slopes right to left. It’s a good golf hole. As a side note, the biggest toad I’ve ever seen lives near the bridge just shy of the green.
Against the advice of the affable folks in the clubhouse, I walked Fox Run’s entire routing. I don’t know that I’d recommend the same for all golfers. Carrying your bag on the back nine is especially a strenuous task. The early September green fee is one hundred and forty dollars, and I’m not sure it’s worth the high price tag. I’ve always known golf is an expensive hobby, but the cost of the investment is beginning to feel downright excessive. So by 2025 standards, maybe the supply meets the demand. Once again, this could be my ignorance of the region.
As far as hidden gems in New England go, Fox Run should be near or at the top of your list. The awe-inspiring landscapes and exceptionally fun golf make for a memorable outing. Moreover, you get to experience Vermont in all its magnificence.