It was a local staple. For decades, the Catamount Country Club Williston VT stood as more than just a place to whack a dimpled ball into a hole. It was a social hub, a wedding venue, and a weirdly comforting piece of the Chittenden County landscape. But if you drive by the site on Mountain View Road today, you aren't going to see golfers. You're going to see a massive transformation that speaks volumes about how Vermont is changing.
People still search for tee times. Honestly, it’s a bit heartbreaking to see the "permanently closed" tag on digital maps when you remember the vibrance of the place.
The story of Catamount isn't just about a business failing. It didn't "fail" in the traditional sense. It’s a story about land value, the housing crisis, and the shifting priorities of a town that grew up too fast. Williston used to be farm country. Then it was big-box store country. Now? It’s desperately trying to be "housing for the workforce" country.
What Actually Happened to Catamount Country Club?
Let’s get the facts straight. The club officially ceased its golf operations a few years back, and the transition wasn't an overnight whim. The property, spanning roughly 150 acres of prime real estate, was owned by the Snyder family. If you know anything about Vermont development, the name Snyder carries weight. They’ve been behind some of the biggest residential projects in the area for generations.
The decision to shutter the greens came down to a simple, albeit harsh, economic reality. Running a mid-tier golf course in a state with a four-month peak season is brutal. Combine that with an exploding demand for suburban housing in Williston, and the math just stops working for golf.
The Shift from Fairways to Front Porches
The town of Williston has been under immense pressure to increase density. We’re talking about a town that sits right next to Burlington and Essex, acting as the commercial lung of the region. When the Catamount Country Club Williston VT site became available for "reimagining," it wasn't just another subdivision. It was a massive opportunity.
The project, often referred to in planning documents as "Catamount Village" or related Snyder-led developments, aimed to turn those rolling fairways into a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and multi-family units.
It wasn't all sunshine and roses. Locals fought it. People who bought houses overlooking the 4th hole suddenly found themselves looking at a construction site. That’s the Vermont way, right? We want more housing, just not in our literal backyard.
The Golf Experience People Miss
Why did people love Catamount? It wasn't because it was Pebble Beach.
It was accessible.
You didn't need a $50,000 membership to play here. It was a par-70 (or thereabouts, depending on which configuration you played over the years) that didn't punish you too severely for a slice. It was "public-friendly." You could show up in a polo shirt you bought at the Williston Walmart and feel perfectly at home.
The course layout was interesting because it utilized the natural elevation changes of the area. You had these wide-open views of the Green Mountains that made even a triple-bogey feel slightly less depressing.
- The Pro Shop: Small, cramped, but filled with guys who actually knew your name.
- The Events: It was the go-to spot for local non-profit scrambles. If you worked for a business in Chittenden County, you probably spent at least one Friday afternoon drinking lukewarm beer in a cart at Catamount for a "charity tournament."
- The Location: You could finish a round and be at the 99 Restaurant or Vermont Teddy Bear in five minutes.
That convenience is what made it a staple of the Williston community. When it closed, it left a hole in the "affordable golf" market that courses like Vermont National (too expensive) or Links at Lang Farm (too short/different vibe) couldn't quite fill in the same way.
Environmental and Zoning Hurdles
You can't just pave over a golf course in Vermont. It’s not how we do things here. The Catamount Country Club Williston VT redevelopment had to navigate a labyrinth of Act 250 permits and local Williston Development Review Board (DRB) meetings.
One of the biggest concerns was traffic. Mountain View Road isn't exactly a highway. Adding hundreds of new residents to an area that already struggles with the "Williston Crawl" near Taft Corners was a major sticking point.
Then there’s the dirt.
Golf courses use a lot of chemicals. Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides—you name it. Converting that land into residential space requires significant environmental testing to ensure the ground is actually safe for kids to play on. The developers had to prove that the "legacy" of the golf course maintenance wouldn't impact the health of the new residents.
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The "Open Space" Trade-off
Williston is famous (or infamous) for its strict zoning. To get the density they wanted, the developers had to give something back. This usually means a significant portion of the old Catamount land remains "open space" or is dedicated to public trails.
This is the silver lining. Even though the golf is gone, the land isn't entirely under asphalt. The integration of walking paths and preserved wetlands has become a hallmark of how Vermont handles these large-scale "PUD" (Planned Unit Development) projects.
Where to Golf Now?
If you're still looking for that Catamount vibe, you have to look elsewhere. But honestly, the options are shrinking.
- The Links at Lang Farm (Essex): It’s a par-3/executive course mostly. Great for a quick round, but it lacks the "big course" feel that Catamount had.
- Williston Golf Club: This is the big survivor. It’s right in the village, it’s historic, and it’s beautiful. But because Catamount closed, Williston Golf Club is busier than ever. Good luck getting a prime Saturday morning tee time without booking weeks out.
- Cedar Knoll (Hinesburg): This is probably the closest spiritual successor. It’s got that rural, unpretentious feel. It’s a bit of a drive, but the views are arguably better.
- Rocky Ridge (St. George): Rugged. If you liked the elevation changes at Catamount, you’ll find plenty of them here.
The Economic Reality of Williston Real Estate
Let's talk money. A golf course is a "low-intensity" use of land. In a town where an acre of developable land can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, keeping that land as a fairway is a luxury that many owners can no longer afford.
The Catamount Country Club Williston VT property was worth exponentially more as a housing development than it ever was as a recreation spot. As property taxes in Williston continue to climb—driven by the need for schools and services—the pressure to "monetize" large parcels is relentless.
It’s a bit of a catch-22. We want to preserve the character of our towns, but we also want our kids to be able to afford a starter home. Catamount is the physical manifestation of that conflict.
Misconceptions About the Closure
One thing people get wrong is thinking the club "went bankrupt."
It didn't.
It was a strategic exit. The owners saw the writing on the wall. The "Golf Boom" of the 1990s and early 2000s has cooled off significantly. Millennials and Gen Z aren't taking up the game at the same rates as Boomers, and they certainly aren't joining traditional clubs.
When you look at the demographics, the pivot to housing was the only logical business move. If you own 150 acres in the heart of Vermont's economic engine, you don't keep it as a golf course forever. You build.
What’s There Today?
If you visit the site now, you'll see the "Finney Crossing" and "Catamount Village" style developments taking shape or already completed nearby. It’s a neighborhood now. There are streetlights where there used to be sand traps. There are sidewalks where there used to be cart paths.
It’s weirdly quiet.
The clack of a driver has been replaced by the hum of electric lawnmowers and the sound of kids playing in driveways. For some, it’s a loss of a community treasure. For others, it’s the only way they were able to find a house within 20 minutes of their job in Burlington.
Actionable Steps for Former Catamount Fans
If you’re still mourning the loss of the club or trying to navigate the new landscape of Williston, here is what you should actually do:
- Check the Williston Town Website for Trail Maps: Much of the "preserved" land in these new developments is actually open to the public. You can still walk some of the old terrain; you just won't need a putter.
- Support Williston Golf Club: If we want to keep the remaining green spaces in town, we have to use them. The town-center course is a gem, but it relies on local support to stay viable against the same development pressures that took Catamount.
- Look into Cedar Knoll or Rocky Ridge Memberships: If you’re a former Catamount regular, these two courses offer the most similar "vibe" and price point. They are the last bastions of "blue-collar" golf in the immediate area.
- Attend DRB Meetings: If you live in Williston and care about how the rest of the Catamount land (or similar parcels) is used, show up to the town meetings. The plans for these spaces are often adjusted based on neighbor feedback.
The Catamount Country Club Williston VT is gone, and it’s not coming back. No amount of nostalgia will regrow those fairways. But by understanding why it happened—and supporting the recreational spaces we have left—we can at least keep the spirit of the town alive. Williston is growing up. It’s denser, busier, and more expensive. Catamount was just the first major casualty of that evolution.
It's basically the end of an era, but the start of a much-needed residential one. Sorta bittersweet, honestly.
Stay updated on local zoning by following the Williston Observer. They cover the granular details of the ongoing construction that most big outlets miss. If you're looking for a new "home" course, go hit a bucket of balls at the Williston driving range and talk to the locals. They’ll tell you where everyone migrated to.