Question#2 of 2- Do you visit in Non-Winter

**noski** · 01-30-2006, 09:56 AM

For those who live outside the Valley, do you visit here in non winter? Why or why not?

**smootharc** · 01-30-2006, 10:21 AM

...visit year round. Outdoor amenities galore....in a darn pretty place....with nice people....and no big box blight....well, that about does it for us. Avoid mud and bug season, but they total a small % of year.

**ski_resort_observer** · 01-30-2006, 10:41 AM

In the summer I come to relax, no traffic lights, no big shopping mecca's, the swimming holes, the mellow vibe. Isn't that in the brochure?

The fall colors, of course, I KNOW that's in your brochure. Not everyone agrees, however, like the fella I talked to one time in early Oct., said he was from Scarsdale, NY. "Let me get this straight, your telling me that the valley is booked up cause people come there to watch the leaves turn color and fall to the ground". Apparently he was coming for a business conference. I did explain that the falling to the ground was not as near important as the leaves turning color. I think he ended the conversation with "this is unreal" and hungup.

**Tin Woodsman** · 01-30-2006, 04:08 PM

Yes, but I wish there was another golf option in the Valley.

**smootharc** · 01-30-2006, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Tin Woodsman

Yes, but I wish there was another golf option in the Valley.

I am assuming you wish the additional option due to greens fees at SB course. Not cheap in one sense, yet it's a bona fide New England mountain course masterwork. Absolutely, and known in golf circles as such.

Lower greens fees of some years back were matched by scrufty maintenance and the old girl "showing her age". This has been radically turned around with major infrastructure improvements, with still more on the way (tee box replacements next, as I understand it), and an ace maintenance director. Those things cost $$$, but make for a spiffy new suit on those great old bones.

In the overall scheme of the golf course fees, SB is up there, but still way below lots and lots of the more elite/prestigious places....where things have gotten positively ridiculous. Lesser fees....I'd be all for it. I think they need to sell a 10 pack or something, at say 25% off. But remember....chasing the round white devil ball at SB is doing so at very hallowed ground. Just be thankful Intrawest hasn't gotten a hold of it...you'd need a second mortgage to tee it up.

Perhaps, though, you want another course because SB reduces grown men, this one included, to tears due to it's unrelentless demand for precision. It's a humbling round for this guy. I leave my driver in my car to beat myself with at the end of the flaggelation....

**noski** · 01-30-2006, 04:43 PM

Smootharc is right- the course is outstanding, beautiful and a real gem in the Sugarbush crown. Here's a suggestion- skiMRV.com should get a foursome together, enter a foursome into the 8th MRV Chamber Tournament, split the cost of $270 and get cart, range balls, prizes, on course food and bbq at end, liquid refreshments on course, and all the fun you want to have. Shotgun Scramble 1:30pm on Sunday June 25. Then you can play the course with buds and have a TON of fun!

**ski_resort_observer** · 01-30-2006, 04:48 PM

I bet alot of people call or stop by wondering where the campgrounds in the valley are. It seems unusual the valley has no nice private campground. A US Forest Serve or State Campground would be nice. The closest option, the Duxbury General Store campground isn't all that nice although that huge sprawling miniture golf course is just up the road.

If ya think the SB golf course is expensive check out the prices at the Vermont National just north of Waterbury or the Country Club of Vermont in South Burlington. The SB course being designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr isn't bad either.

Another course was in the works in Moretown a few years back. A farmer wasn't making any money at farming so he thought building a fancy golf course might bring in the bucks. If I remember he faced alot of local opposition about traffic and problems with Act 250. My circle of friends favor the course over by Brandon and the Lake Morey course over by Fairlee. Abit of a drive for sure.

**Tin Woodsman** · 01-30-2006, 06:41 PM

Truth be told, the greens fee didn't bother me in and of itself. I just really didn't like the course, no matter who designed it. With a few exceptions (the holes across West Hill Rd.), I found it next to impossible to get a flat lie on my drives. I hated all of the blind shots. It just seemed like a "gimicky" course to me. But that's just one man's opinion.

Truth be told, I'd rather spend the extra dollars for a round at VT National or CCV as they are more enjoyable to me. Granted, this impression is from playing the SB course just once two summers ago, so perhaps I should give it another shot. Still, I'm a pretty decent golfer (10-15ish handicap depending on time of year) and I don't really enjoy losing 6 balls in a single round.

**Schusseur** · 01-30-2006, 09:00 PM

I definitely visit in the non ski season. In my opinion, one of the best things about the valley is the whole Mad River Path concept. I just love the accessability and beauty of biking/running/fishing all along the path. The Mad Dash is great fun, and something I look forward to every year.

When out there on a warm weekend morning, I run into lots of familiar faces and it's nice to see just how many people are really using it.

The more the path can be connected between the valley towns, the more compelling it becomes as a resource. Connecting people to the Mad River is one of the best ideas I see going. I hope one day soon we'll see it entirely linked up.

Also, I think they've done a really nice job of turning the Lareau swimming hole into a nice, green 'beach'(for lack of a better word).

**smootharc** · 01-31-2006, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by Tin Woodsman

I just really didn't like the course, no matter who designed it. With a few exceptions (the holes across West Hill Rd.), I found it next to impossible to get a flat lie on my drives. I hated all of the blind shots. It just seemed like a "gimicky" course to me. But that's just one man's opinion.

Granted, this impression is from playing the SB course just once two summers ago, so perhaps I should give it another shot.

Do give it another shot, Tin. Target golf it is....blind shots there are....and that, coupled with undulating terrain (and some spiffin views) add up to, in mountain course circles, a classic. Golf Digest rates it a top 5 public course in VT. And a buddy of mine for years worked for a golf trade magazine, closely with the editor and owner (a true golf hound), and when I mentioned we were getting a place in the valley he told me he'd call right back and hung up. 10 minutes later he called back and said his buddy had raved about the course, played there many times, and loved it.

Perhaps the terrain is MRG like - thin, twisty, tough, and you're gonna be humbled by it. But the alternative is the boulevard-ish, ultra-polished, K-mart like courses designed to go easy on the paying customer. Nike is coming out with a GPS enabled ball locator, so, my friend, you've lost your last ball. Me too, though it won't keep me from losing my marbles.....

The uneven tee boxes, a bona fide gripe and unfair "penalty", are to be replaced as I understand it.

P.S. I told a fib above...Nike doesn't have any GPS enabled ball locator. Sorry.

**skibum1321** · 01-31-2006, 07:58 AM

I visit year-round. I love the hiking in the summer and the swimming holes are always a good time. App Gap to Lincoln Gap is a great day hike that will leave your feet burning. As for biking, I've never been in the valley - the closest I've been to are the trails in Waterbury.
I never have actually stayed over in the valley, though. It's always a day trip when I'm up in Burlington for the weekend.

**l21logan99** · 02-28-2006, 09:34 PM

This place is dull in summer, other then foliage in the winter youmight as well visit the middle of the atlantic then MRV

**Plowboy** · 03-01-2006, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by l21logan99

This place is dull in summer, other then foliage in the winter youmight as well visit the middle of the atlantic then MRV

Go for it dude. Don't forget to write us and let us know how it was.

**skibum1321** · 03-01-2006, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by l21logan99

This place is dull in summer, other then foliage in the winter youmight as well visit the middle of the atlantic then MRV

You're absolutely right - the valley has no good biking or hiking. And there are most certainly no good swimming holes to go to. Have a good time in the Mid-A.

**noski** · 03-01-2006, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by l21logan99

This place is dull in summer, other then foliage in the winter youmight as well visit the middle of the atlantic then MRV

I am wondering if l21logan99 is teen who lives here....? That is a possibility. There are local, and long-time concerns over the lack of organized, supervised, safe activities for local teens. The rural/remote nature of our geography makes it hard to move kids around and keep them on "the right track".