Waxing Nostalgic: Hogan’s Pub at Sugarbush

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Posted on 10/30/2025 by David M. Dion

Waxing Nostalgic: Hogan’s Pub at Sugarbush

As with many golf courses golf enthusiasts often referred to Hogan’s Pub as the 19th Hole. However, Hogan’s Pub was also arguably one of the very best Vermont venues for having a draft beer or two while jabbing with your buddies over sliced tee shots, or muffed chips and missed putts.

I say “was” because now it’s gone. As you probably know a fire on September 25th consumed the clubhouse and pub. Reportedly, it’s a total loss and must be demolished. Ho-Hum.

Hogan’s Pub was uniquely different from many of the popular albeit stuffy golf course clubhouse pubs. Instead, Hogan’s offered a casual, faintly clubby atmosphere, and with an always friendly staff, great food, and among the very best mountain and valley view’s Vermont has to offer. At Hogan’s no one cares about your net worth or what kind of car you drive. Instead, it’s all about how many pars and birdies you made. And who’s buying the round!

I’d guess the building was originally constructed in the late 19th or early 20th century, and in the Vermont farmhouse vernacular style. That is to say it was primarily built to be functional, and over time additions were made to adapt to changing needs. And given the many thousands of sugar maples around the structure and in the region we’re likely to find a cellar hole or two for a sugarhouse somewhere nearby. So that’s why they call it Sugarbush!

The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the early 1960’s. The first day I played there was in 1985.  Standing on the first tee on a weekday afternoon there was surprisingly no one else in sight. Then someone walked up to the tee and asked to join me for the round. He introduced himself as Mike Foster. Soon I learned he was the Club Superintendent. Not a bad golf partner on your first day playing the course. Of course, after the round I bought him a beer at Hogan’s because it’s always a good idea to be generous with the Club Super!

Mike Busk was the Club Professional at the time.  I would later refer to him as Mike Brusk, a reference to his brusque, stiff, Bermudian persona.  As just one example I once asked for a ruling on a tee shot I hit to within a few feet of the 150-yard marker. It was plainly obvious where the ball landed but the ball plugged and disappeared into what we referred to as, “the marsh on 18”. That’s because the fairway was always sopping wet back then. “Lost ball, penalty stroke, re-tee” was his smug, emotionless reply. Possibly a bit of nominative determinism in there somewhere? Anyway, I didn’t buy him a beer at Hogan’s that day.

Back in late June of 1998 I was playing a round with my weekly Friday foursome. It had been raining all day. In fact, it had been raining all month. But we didn’t care. We were four 70+ hour a week working stiffs and Friday afternoon was what amounted to our weekend off from work.

I remember the rain was steady and at times driving for all of the front 9 holes. This prompted a sacrilegious suggestion to call it a day and spend some quality time at the 19th hole. After a beer or two one of my brilliant golf partners said it looked like the rain was letting up. Well, we were already soaked at this point so “onward to the back nine!”.

Next thing I remember we were standing on the elevated 11th tee and looking over the swollen pond below us. The rain was picking up again and the water was actually lapping against the footbridge over the dam and to the green. Wading ankle deep across the bridge our already soaked golf shoes got more soaked, if that’s even possible.  Anyway, I am fairly certain we were the last foursome to play the 11th hole with a pond there.

Well, the rain only got worse, so we retreated to the 19th once again. Drenched, and laughing at the absurdity of what we had just done. And at least modestly miffed at the weather that got in the way of finishing the round.

As with every round of golf at Sugarbush the 19th was a must. That’s because one could always count on Hogan’s Pub for its casual atmosphere, great food, artisanal beers on tap, and friendly staff. The venue also offered one of the most beautiful views in all of Vermont. Although the beautiful views are still there neither the pond on 11 nor Hogan’s Pub remain.

But I’m hopeful. May the next incarnation of Hogan’s Pub be just as welcoming and inviting, and hopefully while paying homage to the once iconic Vermont farmhouse turned clubhouse and pub.