Green Mountain National Golf Course
A Gene Bates mountain layout in the heart of the Green Mountains near Killington, regularly named the best public course in Vermont and a championship test at a daily fee price.
Photo: Green Mountain National Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Green Mountain National is the public course Vermont golfers are proudest of. Gene Bates, working with Steve Durkee, opened it in 1996 just outside Killington, and it has topped the state's public rankings almost ever since. A par 71 of about 6,589 yards, it is a true mountain course: holes climb and fall through the forest, the par 3s use the terrain for real drama, and the Green Mountains fill the horizon on nearly every shot.
What makes it special is that this is a championship quality routing open to anyone who can book a tee time. The conditioning is consistently strong, the design rewards thought over brute length, and the setting near one of New England's great ski towns makes it an easy anchor for a Vermont golf trip. For a traveling golfer, it is the round to build a Killington visit around.
Green Mountain National at a glance
- Opened
- 1996
- Designer
- Gene Bates
- Type
- Mountain parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,589 yards
- Green fee
- From about 70 dollars
Designer and details verified June 2026: Green Mountain National was designed by Gene Bates, with Steve Durkee, and opened in 1996, a par 71 of roughly 6,589 yards in the Green Mountains near Killington, Vermont, and is regularly named the top public course in the state. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 70 dollars in the shoulder season to roughly 110 to 150 dollars at peak summer and fall foliage, cart included; fees change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The land does the heavy lifting here. Bates routed the holes through the rolling slopes below the Killington peaks, so almost every shot is uphill, downhill or across a valley, and the player has to read the terrain as much as the yardage. Fairways are framed by Vermont forest, and a wayward tee shot is punished by trees rather than gentle rough, putting a premium on placement and a confident swing.
The par 3s are the signature: several drop from high tees to greens set against the mountains, demanding precise carries and offering the best photographs of the round. The greens are large and contoured to match the bold setting, and the closing holes use elevation to finish with a flourish. Throughout, the views of the Green Mountains give the course a sense of place that flatter parkland layouts cannot match.
For traveling golfers, Green Mountain National is the headline public round of central Vermont: a championship caliber Gene Bates design, strong conditioning, and mountain scenery on every hole.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public; open to all daily fee golfers |
| Green fee | From about 70 dollars in the shoulder season to 110 to 150 dollars at peak, cart included, indicative 2026 |
| Booking | Book online or through the pro shop; one of Vermont's most popular public tee times, so book ahead |
| On the day | Carts recommended given the terrain; standard golf dress |
| Getting there | In Killington, central Vermont, about 90 minutes from Burlington and a short drive from Rutland |
| Best months | Roughly May to October; late September foliage is prime |
Access and fees verified June 2026; daily fee pricing changes by season and day, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Killington is one of New England's best known ski towns, so the area has plenty of lodging in summer, from slopeside hotels and condominiums to inns in nearby Rutland and the classic Vermont villages around it. Burlington, with the nearest major airport, is about 90 minutes north.
For a wider Vermont golf trip, Green Mountain National pairs with the high mountain golf at Stowe Mountain Club at Spruce Peak and the historic Walter Travis course at Equinox Resort Golf Club in Manchester.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Vermont golf trip
We arrange tee times at Green Mountain National, pair it with the best golf in the Green Mountains and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Green Mountain National questions
Who designed Green Mountain National Golf Course?
Green Mountain National was designed by Gene Bates, with Steve Durkee, and opened in 1996 in Killington, Vermont. It plays a par 71 of roughly 6,589 yards.
Is Green Mountain National open to the public?
Yes. Green Mountain National is a public daily fee course, booked online or through the pro shop. It is one of the most sought after public tee times in Vermont, so book ahead in summer and fall.
How much does it cost to play Green Mountain National?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 70 dollars in the shoulder season to roughly 110 to 150 dollars at peak summer and fall, cart included. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
Why is Green Mountain National so highly rated?
It is regularly named the best public course in Vermont. Gene Bates routed it through the Green Mountains near Killington with dramatic elevation, mountain views and strong par 3s, giving traveling golfers a championship test at a public price.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and ranking history verified June 2026; yardage and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.