Quechee Club named NEGCOA course of the year

The Quechee Club of Hartford, Vermont, was recently named course of the year by the New England Golf Course Owners Association.

Announced at NEGCOA’s annual meeting and conference earlier this month, the longstanding award recognizes four key areas of golf course operations: the exceptional quality of the course, the exceptional quality of ownership and management, outstanding contribution to the local community and to the game of golf.

As the first Vermont course to receive this recognition, Quechee Club was also one of four finalists to be considered for the National Jemsek Course of the Year awarded by the National Golf Course Owners Association.

“The Quechee Club deservedly won the NEGCOA’s Course of the Year Award,” incoming NEGCOA president Dave Frem said. “The overall quality of its golf and club experience is exceptional, and it is a fantastic partner in the community, both in fostering a welcoming environment for all and in support of local charitable endeavors. Yet, it doesn’t rest on its laurels. With a priority on planning for the future and creating grow-the-game initiatives for youths and adults, it is well-positioned to be a successful club for many years to come.”

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Quechee Club is home to two championship 18-hole courses. Golf operations are led by executive director of golf and recreation sports TJ Anthoine and the courses are maintained by a team led by property director Ken Lallier.

With record-breaking increases in golf course utilization and rounds played this year, the course conditions and facilities continue to remain a top priority for the club. A $3.1 million project focused on the replacement of the irrigation system shared by the golf courses and the ski hill is anticipated to be completed next year. The club also recently embarked on its largest project, a multi-year, campus-wide renovation that will include new storage buildings for golf and ski operations, the addition of electric carts, and affordable housing options for employees in the form of dormitory-style rooms.

“Quechee Club is a very special place to live and play golf,” club GM and COO Brian Kelley said. “And the people behind the club are really the heartbeat of this campus — our team of associates, our board of trustees, committees and more than 1,400 member residents and their families. They are the common thread weaved throughout our club’s most recent successes.”

Interest in golf has grown exponentially at Quechee Club, especially among younger demographics. The club’s Junior Golf School has increased from 350 registered students in 2016 to more than 1,000 in 2022, while the PGA Junior Team for players 13 and younger has grown 900 percent over the past five years.

The club opens the courses each year to Vermont Golf Association and New England PGA tournaments and hosts the annual Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) Classic Golf Tournament, which has contributed to raising millions of dollars for the organization.