Region 1 – Roanoke Far West

Ashley Plantation Country Club 

Ashley Plantation Country Club is near Daleville, Virginia. Virginia Golf Course Reviews had a July 2022 visit and discovered a gem of Virginia golf. Ashley Plantation Country Club is one of only two clubs in Virginia with a Par 6 (No 5, 721 yards from the tips) and an island hole (No 10, 160 yards). Wes Swope (now deceased) and his staff run an exceptional golf course – from the maintenance crew to the cafe and the pro shop, they are all professionals and enjoy creating great experiences for those who come to play golf. The greens are among the best we’ve played. The design variety of this course is one of the finest, and you’ll be challenged to think about every shot you make. The course is located less than 10 minutes from I-81 near Daleville with easy access.

Ballyhack Golf Course
Ballyhack Golf Club has earned a spot near the top of golf courses in Virginia. We had another review team hosted on Thursday, July 15. As reported by our team – It’s beautiful, takes advantage of views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stay in the fairway, and you’ll stay out of trouble! The greens are perfect – fast and undulating. And…the staff: Matt, Ian and Bill are amazing to work with.

No doubt, Ballyhack Golf Club is one of the top courses in Virginia. The five tee boxes allow you to choose the level of challenge. Greg and I had a great time with Jason, a resent Bridgewater College grad and our host for the round. We also had our personalized forecaddie! Be prepared for a great experience at Ballyhack. While we were disappointed by the shortened round due to thunderstorms moving through the area, the opportunity to visit this Lester L George designed gem was worth our time.

Cliff View Golf Club
Jen Mann, General Manager at Cliff View Golf Club & Inn, hosted our review team Monday, Nov 1 for a tour of the property and a round on the golf course. This golf course is a gem tucked away between two high end courses within 20-30 minutes, right along the Jackson River. The course offers a well equipped nine-room inn for ‘stay & play’ options – not just for golf, but fly-fishing, biking and hiking on the property. It’s a delightfully fun course to play with challenges and views that make you eager to get to the next hole to see what’s there. While the course needs work, Jen and her team have plans to make the upgrades as resources are available. We highly recommend this course – for the fun of golf and great views!

Some courses are great, some are technical, but some are just fun to play. Cliff View Golf Club & Inn is one of the fun courses to play. It’s a family run business dating back to 1945 that is making improvements as fast as possible. General Manager, Jen Mann, is the force leading the improvements and our host for the day of our visit, Friday, Oct 15. The Brewhouse bar & restaurant and the 19th Hole Grill opened in July, 2020. The golf course design by Frank Sponagle, Jr., and opened in 1996 will have you talking about some of the unique holes long after you’ve played them. If particulate note: Hole Nos. 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15 & 18. It’s worth the trip to Covington, VA to check out this gem.

The Homestead – Old Course & The Cascades
Our visit in Sept 2023 to the two courses at The Omni Homestead Resort – The Old Course and The Cascades Course was spectacular. Though they are pricy, these are two nationally ranked courses that should be on your bucket list. The Omni is investing millions in renovations and upgrades at The Homestead to make an even better experience. The Old Course: Built in 1892, with six holes, the first tee remains as the oldest first tee in continuous use in America. It’s unique design of 6 par 3s, 6 par 4s and 6 par 5s is unusual, but presents a great experience. From the tips it only plays 6,099 yards – not easy – but it’s walkable. The iconic hotel structure is visible from several tee boxes on this course, especially on Hole 14 tee. Favorite Holes: Par 4 8, Par 3 9, Par 5 13 and Par 4 17.

The Cascades Course: Built in 1923, this is undoubtedly one of the finest mountain courses in the country. It’s national treasure. Sam Snead was once the head pro at The Cascades. From the tips the course is 6,909 yards, And, plays longer, but it’s also walkable, even more than The Old Course. Challenging holes: Par 4, No 2 – side hill; Par 5, No 5 – a winding uphill, downhill fairway; Par 4, No 7 – elevated tee and elevated green with a big valley between; finishing holes: 16-18; two par 5s and a par 3 to finish the round. All for an excellent experience. Make sure you learn to know the starter, Lee Perry, he’s got a lot of great stories.

The Waterfront Country Club
Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited with Aaron Dooley at The Waterfront Country Club near Moneta in August – September of 2022. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Having recently gone through renovations, you’ll notice the improvements along the way. The Zoysia grass fairways gives you a great lie for every shot. Aesthetically, the rolling fairways and undulating greens give enough challenge to golfers at any level. Water comes into play on six holes, creating some risk/reward opportunities. The Par 3, Hole 17 is a very cool downhill shot to a green protected by water in the front and the Waterfront logo on a hill in the back.

Region 2 – Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville, Piedmont

Boonsboro Golf Club
Virginia Golf Course Reviews was hosted by Director of Golf, Aaron Marks at Boonsboro Country Club, Tuesday, Oct 13. Not only do the staff make you feel welcome, their members are amazing. This Fred Findlay designed course has 18 uniquely created holes to make your golf experience something very special. From the welcome in the pro shop to the experience in the bar following the round – a top drawer rating. The greens rolled so true, the bunkers well-kept and placed to create some challenges along the way. Good course management keeps you out of trouble and scoring well. Beth says, “A round played at Boonsboro is a day well spent.”

Our team of reviewers went to Boonsboro Country Club for another review. Boonsboro gives the player a variety of very nice variety of holes and bunkers to work around. A beautiful piece of property. Thanks to Aaron Marks, Director of Golf, for hosting us today.

Our reviewers were hosted by Brooke Stuart at Sly Fox Golf Club in Middletown Monday, July 26. Playing from the blue tees (about 6200 yards) they found plenty of challenge – carries from the tee, a few blind shots and, being somewhat unfamiliar with the course, shots that ended up where they didn’t expect. The course has plenty of variety – length and shape of holes, and undulating, well-kept greens. The 19th hole is a great place to end the round! The owner is slowly re-creating a gem on the I-66 corridor.

The Virginia Golf Course Reviews team members were at Sly Fox Golf Club on Monday, June 21. Enjoyed the opportunity to play a new course, get acquainted with the staff. New owners purchased the course several years ago and are making some very nice improvements, but beware of the blind shots.

Colonial Hills Golf Club
Last June, 2023, Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited Colonial Hills Golf Club. It’s a gem! The new ownership has plans for modernizing – new driving range in construction, upgrading the clubhouse to get started. At the time of our visit, there was still some work to do on the cart paths, hole signs and a few spots in the fairways and approaches to the greens, you’d be hard-pressed to find greens that rolled better than these do. Kevin Wilmouth, PGA Professional, will make sure you have a great experience. Our favorite part of the course? The five-hole stretch on the back nine starting with Hole 13 – two par 3s, a par 4 and two par 5s – Get through this section with even par and you are lucky. The most beautiful hole on the course? Hole 14, a long Par 3 over water, with mountain views beyond the green. Par is good here! As a public course with a mission to remain affordable – make time to play Colonial Hills, it’s worth it.

Falling River Country Club
There’s a lot to love at Falling River Country Club – great service and a fun, challenging course that tests your short game. The rural ambiance, gently rolling hills and undulating greens give you all you need to have for a great golf experience. While the clubhouse and practice facilities are unpretentious, the course is well-conditioned, fairways in superb condition and the greens roll very nicely. A unique feature of Falling River CC: 9 consecutive par 4s from hole 5 – 13, varying lengths and designs! How great is that. They could claim two signature holes: the par 3, 3rd hole is directly downhill, guarded by water in front and a large roll off the back; the par 5, 18th is a risk-reward hole where a long 2nd shot could have you putting for eagle! If you miss – in the water! Our guys at Virginia Golf Course Reviews highly recommend this course following a visit in July 2022.

Ivy Hill Golf Club
Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited  Ivy Hill Golf Club in August 2022, a rolling hills course with significant elevation changes throughout. With five sets of tees, there is challenge at every level. Enjoy amazing views from tee and green. The first six holes weave through a housing development. Then Hole 7 is a drivable par 4, the first of two such holes on the course. From there – you can enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Every sand trap is manicured, even after rainfall! The greens are well-groomed and in great shape. Three of the Par 3s were long (177, 177, 162), even from the Gold tees and the drivable Par 4s (225, 260) are fun and have risk/reward opportunities. Looking for a fun-filled round? We recommend this course for your summer enjoyment!

London Downs Golf Course
Virginia Golf Course Reviews made a visit August 2022 to London Downs Golf Course. This semi-private course designed by Russell Breeden opened in 1991 to be ‘friendly’ and ‘easy’ to play. We found the staff friendly, but the challenge of this course isn’t necessarily easy! But it’s fun! Though relatively flat, the front nine is tight, with homes near the fairways and water in play on most of these holes. The back nine is more links style with many doglegs and one island green. This course is highly recommended.

Poplar Grove
Virginia Golf Course Reviews was hosted by Jacob Mast at Poplar Grove Golf Club on Tuesday, October 5. A few observations from the reviewers: Poplar Grove has first-class customer service. The course is challenging, but not difficult. The views were amazing. The greens are in pristine condition, rolling true and hold approach shots. The five tee boxes offer a course length for every level of golfer.

The endless beauty of the views make the course suitable for weddings and other celebrations. Poplar Grove offers a fantastic golf experience with nearly perfect fairways and greens.

Virginia Golf Course Reviews had a great time at Poplar Grove Golf Club Tuesday, June 8! Beautiful setting, exceptional improvements to make each hole unique. Jacob Mast, golf pro, runs a great operation!

Region 3 – Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, Lexington

Blue Ridge Shadows
Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club, Wednesday, October 13. We love this place just outside of Front Royal. Our host, Brian Jones, Director of Golf, knows how to make things run smoothly. While the course had lots of play, the pace of play was excellent. Greens and fairways were in great condition. And, the variety of hole design is excellent. The front nine is a little more open than the back – so, well placed shots as you move toward the back nine are really important. For first time players, the yardage book will be a big help as you navigate the course.

Our reviewers made the trip to Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club on Sunday. Brian Jones, Director of Golf, and Dennis, the starter, were most helpful in giving us an overview of what to expect on the course – elevation changes, blind shots, other players, etc. Blue Ridge Shadows is a really good course, a gem in Northern Virginia – great layout, great views, greens rolled true, the bunkers were in good shape, and the hospitality was above reproach. The tee markers were exceptionally well marked with maps of each hole as you approached the white tees (see photo). Stop in and give Brian a visit.

We had a team of reviewers visit Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club Tuesday, June 8. Some of the best greens we’ve experienced so far! Thank you Brian Jones for hosting us.

Bryce Resort
Bryce Resort is a unique mountain golf course; and will give you a great experience. Lead by Paul Lepler, the Bryce staff will treat you like gold and help you have a great time. The greens and fairways are in great shape – the bunkers were exceptionally well taken care of. There’s a big difference in Nine’s – the front is more open, the back is a little tight – but, it’s what you like in a golf course. No hole is like another. The one downside of the course – the driving range is 1.5 miles from the clubhouse. So, plan ahead. The uniqueness of this course is the 18-20 birdhouses (pictured) managed and cared for by resort residents, including the landscaping around them. It’s a nice touch!

Our team of Virginia Golf Course Reviews team members visited Bryce Resort. They had a wonderful time on this beautiful mountain resort course. The course was in great condition and the work around the bonkers was nicely done. Paul Lepler, Director of Golf, was a great host.

Caverns Country Club
We visited CCC in August 2022 Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains and on the banks of the Shenandoah River, Caverns Country Club is a hidden gem of the northern Shenandoah Valley. With amazing views and holes featuring caves, this course will give you the challenges of a mountain golf course with a more open concept. With many blind shots from the tee and into the greens this is sure to spark the imagination of all levels of golfers. The course provides plenty of opportunities to score with challenging tee shots and fair greens.

With about 20,000 rounds last year this is a hidden destination for a golf experience. The unique element is the first hole tee shot. Keep your tee shot to the right side of the fairway or you’ll land in a cavern hole in the left middle of the fairway. The clubhouse, which is an older facility, certainly has charm and creates a rustic environment. You’ll enjoy this scenic experience. 

Lakeview Golf Course
Virginia Golf Course Reviews team visited Lakeview Golf Club. They played 27 holes in less than 4 hours in this beautiful course in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. A very walkable course with three distinct nine-hole formats, giving the player different challenges on each one.

Lexington Golf & Country Club
Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited Lexington Golf & Country Club on Tuesday, October 19. This Ellis Maples and Ed Seay design is challenging, taking advantage of the elevation changes of the property and weaving the course between the criss-crossing nature of Woods Creek. Director of Golf, Scott Frazier, was a great host. We highly recommend this course to anyone looking for a great outing.

Massanutten Resort – Woodstone Meadows Course
Massanutten Resort invited Virginia Golf Course Reviews back for a review of Woodstone Meadows Golf Course in November 2023. We thoroughly enjoyed the setting. The course was in great shape. The greens rolled so easily – and a little quick – and the bunkers were easy to hit from.

The practice facilities – driving range, putting and chipping areas are fabulous. Woodstone Meadows gets about 38,000 rounds of play – and the tee boxes showed it. On the day of our visit, there were 138 on players on the tee sheet. This course is a Par 65 short course with 9 Par 3s, 5 Par 4s and 2 Par 5s.

The original nine holes (8-16) were built in 1996. From the tips (blue tees) the course plays 5,065 yards; and from the yellow tees (not on the scorecard) it plays about 3,840 yards. This course, though short, should be on your ‘must play’ list. It’s fun, challenging and rewarding. The greens are NOT easy. You must land on the same level of the flag on the green to score well.

Favorite holes: Hole 5 is one of the most fun holes. A Par 4, 400 yard hole that has trouble all along the left, protected by a long fairway bunker and a creek. Keep it on the right side, and your approach (across the creek) to the green gives you an easy shot at birdie. Hole 17, Par 4, 361 – is straight away toward the green with trouble on the left. Keep your drive to right middle of the fairway for an easy approach to the green. Give the clubhouse a call – you’ll have fun!

Massanutten Resort – Mountain Greens Course
Massanutten Resort‘s Mountain Greens Golf Course is truly a mountain course. Virginia Golf Course Reviews did an initial review in November 2023 with the leaves falling! It was beautiful, but make sure you take extra balls in the fall – or just about anytime. Most of the fairways will slope away from the mountain, some more than others. Opened in the early 70s, this course has gone through at least one renovation to improve the sloped fairways, but you still must play the course as it’s designed – rarely should you use driver off the tee. As our proshop staff said, “Massanutten Resort is a resort with two golf courses, not a golf resort.”

The resort also has a water park, ski slopes, bike trails along with 2200 timeshares, 1100 homes (most of which have been converted to VRBOs or AirBnB facilities. There are also several really good eateries – namely Fareways Restaurant at the Mountain Greens Proshop. There is trouble awaiting on nearly every hole. Keep the ball in the fairway, using caution off the tee, and you’ll have an opportunity to score. If you blast away, you’ll likely loose your cool and your ball. There are great views from nearly every tee or green, along with wildlife throughout – especially deer, groundhogs and foxes. Make sure to pick up the yardage book before heading out to play – you’ll be glad you did. Favorite hole? No 7 – listed as the No 1 handicap. It’s a dogleg left 427 Yard, Par 4. Long hitters might actually blow through the dogleg. The approach to the green is over water. So, take enough club to make sure you get across the creek. Most challenging hole – No 4, 401 yard, Par 4 with an hour-glass shaped fairway with trouble on the left and right through the narrow part of the fairway. The approach to the green – trouble on the left with a creek, and protected on the right with several bunkers! Par is a gift! Prepare for beauty, challenge and lots of risk/reward opportunities.

Sly Fox Golf Club
Our team from Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited Sly Fox Golf Club Sunday, April 14 for a review session. “Its Slopey ” was the introductory description provided by the staff – and proved to be pretty accurate of the fairways and greens. Most of the holes have serious undulations or slopes. The greens and fairways have very few flat spots. Choosing your tee box carefully.

Our team was alerted that the “back nine gets a little tricky, but you’re gonna love it.” The views on the back nine offered some jaw dropping sites. The stretch between holes 10 green, 11 and 12 in particular offered the best views on the course. Hole 10 with its rolling left-slope and elevated green could be the signature hole. The 11th with its drop across the water to a large green could also be a signature hole! Hole 12 is just a great hole design. A fun, challenging hole.

Four tee boxes offer plenty of challenge for all levels of handicappers, those playing from the forward tees get a break from some of the difficult angles presented from the back tees. The two middle tees vary, sometimes near each other and sometimes 75-100 yards apart. All the Par 3s are just fun to play.

The course is well cared for – but, be warned, there are few flat lies in the fairway or the greens. There is a limited menu in the grill. Hot dogs are recommended and six taps and a wide selection of canned craft beer is waiting for you at the end (or beginning) of your round. Very affordable!

Shenvalee Golf Resort
Shenvalee has the destination hub concept down. They have all the amenities to make a golf destination happen – clubhouse, restaurant, bar, hotel, views, grills for guests, and the opportunity to network. The variety provided by the three nine-hole configurations, gives golfers options for at least two days worth of golf. In addition, the proximity to Caverns Country Club, Packsaddle, Heritage Oaks and Lakeview make Shenvalee a place to come back to after spending several days in the Valley. This is a special place with the Robert Trent Jones hitting the first tee shot in 1927.

Shenvalee has three distinctly different sets of 9s. Before hitting the links, we hit a few balls off the range – conveniently located next to the No 1 tee of the Creek Course. Overall, the course was in excellent shape. Tee boxes were well marked. Fairways are wide and as you get to the green – they get more narrow and challenging, leading to large accommodating greens. The sand traps/bunkers are well kept, clean and the sand was plentiful, soft and took some getting used to, but we love the way Shenvalle takes care of the bunkers – especially around the greens. Hole 6 (Par 4 over the water) tempts you to go for the green over water!  

The Miller Course is a unique experience, and not an easy walking nine, although we saw some. The distance between holes can be 150 – 300 yards (between Holes 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 7-8. But, I love the design of this nine – the views, blind shots (while we don’t particularly like them, we didn’t mind them). The bunkers guarding Miller Hole 7 in front and back of the green are well-placed; giving the green a much narrower feel. The Miller nine is a challenge from the first tee to the last – from a reachable par 5 (No 1) in two to a driveable par 4 (No 9) this course has everything to challenge the golfer. Hole 6 is my favorite Par 4 ever! It’s length and slight uphill makes it a challenge to get par.

The Olde Course – the original 9 – is the shortest of the three nines, and the hardest due to the size of the green’s – they are just slightly smaller. The fairways are a little tighter as well. It’s a fairly easy walking nine, except for hole 8, it’s a good uphill walk to the green. This is a fun, short nine.  

The variety of lengths of the holes on all three nines was challenging and I ended up using all the clubs in my bag – finding sand occasionally really helps that as well!

Spotswood Country Club
Mike King at Spotswood Country Club hosted Virginia Golf Course Reviews, on November 16. Our reviewers loved playing this course. It has a little of everything: fast greens, blind shots, slopped fairways, undulating greens, tree trouble off the fairway – all require careful planning for each shot. The course isn’t very long, but there’s plenty of challenges. You’ll want to put this course on your list of ‘must play’ in the Shenandoah Valley. And, if you do, tell Mike we sent you!

Our reviewers visited Spotswood Country Club, Harrisonburg, on Tuesday, November 11. Mike King, GM and Director of Golf, was our host. He creates a very friendly atmosphere. The course was in excellent condition from tee to fairway to bunker to green. How do we know? We played through all of them. The well-placed bunkers and challenging pin placements make you choose shots carefully. There are few level spots on this course. With greens running fast, be careful where you land on the green. The bunkers are exceptionally well cared for. The views on several holes are stunning – and, of course ,there’s the occasional blind shot, notably Holes 1, 5, and 6. There are good practice facilities with plans to improve them. Placed on a busy corner of Harrisonburg, you can easily forget the hustle and bustle of city life spending an afternoon at Spotswood.

The Club at Ironwood
Our team of reviewers made our 2nd visit to The Club At Ironwood on December 7. Erik Hooke’s team was exceptional and welcomed us on a cool day. This William F. Gordon design was in really good shape. Ironwood is about a 7-iron from I-81, with easy access, convenient and a must play if you’ve got a little time to experience the rolling fairways and undulating greens. One of the distinctive features of this course – mountain views from most tees and greens. And, no hole is like any other. While it’s not a particularly long course, you can expect a challenge from any of the tee boxes you choose to play from. There are plenty of surprises on the course with at least 7 holes with blind shots. My favorite holes – 1 (Par 4), 7 (Par 4), and 10 (Par 3). We highly recommend this course.

Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited The Club At Ironwood, Staunton, and was hosted by Eric Hooke, Director of Golf, and his staff. The Club at Ironwood designed by William F. Gordon in 1967 takes advantage of the beautiful views of the Shenandoah Valley. The par 71 course has 5 tee boxes, offering golfers of all levels an opportunity to score. Both longer and shorter drives are rewarded if well placed in the fairway. Every hole is unique, uphill or downhill, sidehill left or right. It’s not a long course – but, it’s worth putting on your schedule. Don’t rush off after your round – check out the cheesesteak hoagie in the bar! It’ll match the quality of the course.

Region 4 – Charlottesville, Fredericksburg

Birdwood Golf Club
Our reviewers visited the newly renovated Davis Love design at Birdwood Golf Course, Charlottesville, VA, last Friday. Everything from the clubhouse atmosphere and pro shop staff to how the course was cared for was excellent. Thank you Martin and Melissa for hosting our team and to Richard, the starter for giving a few highlights about the course. This course is challenging, yet fun to play.

The Virginia Golf Course Reviews team members were hosted by Martin Winters at the new Davis Love designed Birdwood Golf Course, Charlottesville, Thursday, June 9. Love’s new design deserves a place in Virginia top tier of courses. Challenges and views abound from any tee box.

Hobbs Hole Golf Course

Our Virginia Golf Course Reviews team visited Hobbs Hole Golf Course (Tappahannock, VA) for review sessions June & August of 2023. We enjoyed Jeffrey Timmons’ course design and the tweaks to the course the last few years. Hobbs Hole is very playable and an easy walking course. The undulations of the fairways and greens, and the placement of the bunkers create challenges for the best of players. It was fun to play and with no two holes the same – it was interesting as well. No two holes are the same! Pace of play is expected to be under 3 1/2 hours, or the locals get upset!

Holes of note: Hole 7, Par 3, 195 yd (Signature Hole); Hole 8, Par 4, 446 yd – fairway undulations, bunker placement; Holes 8 & 9 are great finishing holes for the front nine. On the back: Hole 13, Par 4, 421 yd & Hole 14, Par 5, 555 yard; Hole 17, Par 3, 169 yd.

There are distance marker discs in the middle of the fairway. Colored stakes in the rough or birdhouses at 150 or 100 yards) would also be helpful. The restaurant, Prince St. Cafe, is one of the best we’ve experienced. We enjoyed two menu items worth a trip to Tappahannock, even if you don’t play golf: Eggs Rappahannock and Eggs Avocado with Smoked Salmon. You just have to go and find out!

Old Trail
Pat and Jerry were hosted by Dave Moga’s exceptional staff at Old Trail Golf Club in Crozet. The Zoysia grass fairways make for a great lie every time you keep the ball in play on the fairway! You’ll want to treat yourself to a round of golf with the folks at Old Trail.

Our reviewers found Old Trail Golf Club in great shape and a beautiful spot in Virginia to enjoy a round of golf. A shout out to David Moga, Golf Pro, and his staff for hosting us. The course was in really good shape, with mountain views and challenges for every level of golfer on every hole.

Our team of reviewers enjoyed a visit to Old Trail Golf Club, Crozet, VA, Monday, July 19. Hosted by David Moga’s team, we enjoyed the challenges of Old Trail – length, forced carries, zoysia grass and the way the course treated us. We enjoyed the variety of design on each hole, with the wide fairways. If you miss the fairway, you are truly penalized by the grasses beyond the rough. Ok…confession: we missed a fairway or two!

The Club at Glenmore
The Virginia Golf Course Reviews team enjoyed a round at The Club at Glenmore on Saturday, September 11. To say the least, they thoroughly enjoyed the course, the amenities and challenges. In addition, Frank Holly, Director of Golf, and his members were very engaging and welcoming. Every hole has a challenge! The members at The Club at Glenmore are fortunate to enjoy such a great course.

Virginia Golf Course Reviews was hosted by Jack Snyder at The Club at Glenmore on Wednesday, June 30, his last day before heading to Cutalong at Lake Anna. What a treat. This course has everything you want in a round of golf – challenge, variety, surprise and beauty. It was a little warm, but this course is a gem.

The Greene Hills Club
The team from Virginia Golf Course Reviews made a visit in November & December of 2023 to The Greene Hills Club. Greene Hills is an outstanding private golf club that allows VSGA VIP card holders to play Monday – Wednesday each week.

There are a number of blind shots and plenty of water, but not much that comes into play. Holes 4 & 5 both have blind landing areas. Hole 5 has significant elevation changes. Hole 6 is a beautiful Par 3 with water short and left. The best shot is center of the green. Hole 7, a slight dog-leg right has the unusual – a huge oak tree planted firmly in the middle of the fairway. Hole 15 is a whopping 466 yards, Par 4 and is the No 1 handicap hole on the course. Have fun with this!

The Greene Hills Club is a beautiful fun course that will challenge your mental and physical game from start to finish. It’s definitely worth the scenic drive at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Wintergreen – Stoney Creek

Geoff Redgrave hosted Virginia Golf Course Reviews at Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen Resort, October 23. They played Monocan and Tuckahoe courses and loved the varying lengths of the Par 4s and Par 5s. The views are breathtaking! The fairways are nice and wide, with the rough not terribly penalizing. You’ll want to come back soon to play again!

Wintergreen – Devil’s Knob
Devils Knob Golf Course Wintergreen,Virginia is a beast! This Ellis Maples designed course is difficult but so much fun to play. Narrow fairways off the tee are a real challenge. The strategically placed fairway and green-side bunkers require careful shot considerations at every turn. The design of this course requires every club in the bag. This is not a bomb and wedge course. The greens are quick and run true. The number of dogleg holes offer plenty of variety. Of particulate interest – the 545 yard, uphill, Par 5, No 7. Truly the Number 1 handicap hole in the area, not just at Devils Knob!

You’ll want to play this course again and again – it’s so breathtakingly inviting.

Region 5 – Northern Virginia

Bull Run Golf Club

Virginia Golf Course Reviews arrived at Bull Run Golf Club on a cool, breezy, and just slightly wet Monday (March 11) to review Rick Jacobson’s designed public golf course. It was early spring – but, this course played well in these early spring conditions. There were only a few areas of the course that were a little wet, otherwise the course drained really well. The greens were firm, rolling exceptionally well. As Mr. Jacobson describes, Bull Run is “a course where you can spray it a little and not be punished too severely.” Fairways are wide enough and forgiving. As you approach the green, there are often bail out options to play it safe. This course is walkable, even with the distance from the 9th green to the 10th tee box!

Some holes of note: Hole 1 – out of the gate, you have water! Hole 6 – a short Par 3 with bunkers protecting both sides of the green. Hole 8, a dogleg right down to the water. Big hitters have a chance to cut the corner. But, don’t get too greedy. Hole 9, a beautiful, over water, front nine closing hole. A favorite of ours. Hole 13, a slight dogleg right hole with a fairway bunker at the right spot to keep you from danger on the right! Hole 14, a long par 5 with a 240 yard carry from the tips to the fairway. Hole 16 – another favorite Par 3 over water! And, finally, hole 18 – a downhill par 5, with the green reachable in two, across the water – if you dare. We noted the curbing around the greens, to keep the carts on the path. Mike Tate, GM, has assembled a great team to manage the golf course. With a background in the hospitality industry, he is oriented to how people experience the whole place – special events, proshop, clubhouse and the golf course. Give Mike a call – set up your next round of golf!

Creighton Farms
Virginia Golf Course Reviews was hosted at Creighton Farms by Director of Golf, Robert Blumer. They can’t stop talking about their experience. Creighton Farms is a special Jack Nicklaus designed course, offering incredible experience. No two holes are the same. Bunkers are strategically located to make you think about every shot. From every aspect of the golf experience – this is one of the best! The course is challenging, but fun and fair. Practice facilities prepare you for the round like few courses do. Selecting the right tee box is important or this course will make it difficult. From tee to green and back up the fairway – beautiful views. The front nine is carved out of farmland – the back nine out of forest property.

Robert Blumer and the staff at Creighton Farms hosted Virginia Golf Course Reviews team members at Creighton Farms. This is one of the top private courses in Virginia. The Jack Nicklaus design is exceptional. The six tee box choices give any level golfer a challenge. The greens roll true, the bunkers are well placed presenting challenges off the tee and on approach shots to the green. Favorite holes: No 3, No 7, No 9, and Nos 12-14. Each hole is unique, appealing to the eye, and, of course, challenging. You wouldn’t expect anything less for a top-notch golf course. Creighton Farms is one of the best courses we’ve played this year!

Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club
Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club meets the definition of a great course – execute flawlessly, you get an outsized reward; hit a good shot, leaving some challenging work. but if you miss your target, you are penalized. Willy August Lutz and his team at Raspberry Falls have the right mix to create the best golfer experience.

Our favorite holes on this review session: Hole 9, Par 5 – 531 yards from the tips, 392 from the forward tees that zigzags past fairway bunkers, over a small stream to the green. The green is tucked to the right and protected by a left greenside bunker. Hole 10, Par 4 – 460 yards from the tips, 286 from the forward tees with water down the left side of the fairway, bunkers on the right, toward an intimidating approach shot to the green protected by a pot bunker!

If you’re looking for something Raspberry Falls needs to improve – maybe adding family tees for young players would be helpful. There’s not much hear to complain about. Raspberry Falls is an amazingly well-designed Gary Player course with the stacked sod bunkers to emulated Irish courses. Of the courses in the Raspberry Falls Golf Trail – don’t miss experiencing this course.

Region 6 – Williamsburg, Norfolk, Virginia Beach

Brickshire Golf Club
Brickshire Golf Club‘s Tom Clark design is a real CHALLENGE. Virginia Golf Course Reviews thoroughly loved playing this course. This is THE place to play. Brickshire is very demanding and a fun experience. Hole 18 is the most memorable golf hole by a long shot, nothing like it in the state! Gorgeous. Their website has a description of all 18 holes – check it out. 

Tom Clark designed four holes that emulate other golf holes from around the world: No 1 to emulate Augusta National’s Hole 3; No 7 to emulate Pinehurst No 2, Hole 11; Hole 9 to emulate Hole 14 at St. Andrews Old Course and No 11 to emulate Hole 10 at Riviera CC. The other 14 holes were equally unique and challenging.

Our favorite holes: No 7 – a gentle uphill design with a few bunkers to navigate; Hole 9 – a great closing hole for the front nine that leaves you wanting more as you make the turn; and Hole 18 – just a great finishing hole, beautiful in every way – shot making, accuracy and shot options to fit your game.

Colonial Heritage Golf Club
Colonial Heritage Golf Club is very accessible semi-private golf course in a gated community. This Arthur Hills signature course opened in 2006. An 18-hole, par 72, championship course, has 11 sets of tees – yes, 11 including the combo tees. You get a range of 3142 to 6889 yards to play with. The property amenities include a practice putting and chipping area, a driving range fitness area, pool, tennis and pickleball courts and a restaurant/bar with banquet and special event space for indoor (meetings) and outdoor events. Membership fees are very affordable. Daily fees for a gated community golf course are better than you might think!Colonial Heritage Club is one of the top, most difficult course designs our team has encountered. Missing a green on an approach, or rolling the ball through the green, leaves a very difficult shot back toward the hole. Fairways are noticeably tighter on the par 4’s the closer you get to the hole. Par fives have fairway bailouts near the green. On par 4’s, a great tee shot can be rewarded with a seemingly easy approach. But most of them require two excellent shots to play golf at par; one putts on these greens are rare unless you get close! Access to penalized areas like hills/woods/deep fairway bunkers are mostly made accessible with steps, paths, and stones. This course feels like it was carved out of land that could not have been used for any other purpose. What’s not to like? If you don’t long carries over ravines – don’t come; but you’ll mess an amazing challenge and beauty that is unmatched on most courses.

Ford’s Colony – Blue Heron Course
A team from Virginia Golf Course Reviews went to Ford’s Colony Country Club Blue Heron Course July 2022. What stood out to these reviewers were the Par 3s scenic value to the golf experience and the welcoming staff. With wide fairways, receptive greens and a variety of tees to accommodate every level of play – this course has everything you’d enjoy about a round of golf. We recommend this course for your next trip to Williamsburg.

Ford’s Colony – Blackheath Course
A team from Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited Ford’s Colony Country Club Blackheath Course July 2022. The rain didn’t keep them from experiencing a course that tests your limits or the course’s. From the 1st hole to the 18th, you can play more difficult shots that bring sand, water and trees into play, or you can take a more conservative approach and reduce the challenges the course presents. Each hole is unique and offers many risk-reward opportunities. Course conditions were very good, in spite of the rain. Greens were firm and rolled true. We highly recommend adding this course to your play list.

Ford’s Colony – Marsh Hawk Course
A team from Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited Ford’s Colony Country Club Marsh Hawk in July 2022. Marsh Hawk is the 3rd of three courses we reviewed. It has a little of everything – narrow fairways, well-placed bunkers, natural lakes, and elevation changes to create the challenge for each level of golfer. You’ll love their friendly staff – from the parking lot to the clubhouse to the starter, and the members they encountered – all were super helpful. The beauty and challenge of the first four holes, sets the stage for what you can expect to experience throughout the course. We recommend it. In fact, we’d like to come back when it’s not raining!

Golden Horseshoe – Gold Course
Virginia Golf Course Reviews team members were at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club – Gold Course November 13. Our host, Jeff Winters, Director of Golf. His 20+ years at one place is exceptional service to the courses in his care. The Gold Course (1963), designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and redone in 2017 by Rees Jones, is a masterpiece. Hard to believe you’re playing less than a couple hundred years from downtown Williamsburg! Each hole has its own personality, challenges and unique contribution to the golf experience – we thoroughly enjoyed what we found on Holes 2, 3, 4, 7, 12 & 16. But, honestly, EVERY hole was just a pleasure to step on the tee box to see what the next hole brought. The views from the tee to green and back added so much to the experience; and the par 3s and water holes were especially fun. You’ll want to add this course to your list of courses to visit – and, don’t wait!

Golden Horseshoe – Green Course
Our reviewers stopped in at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club – Green Course November 14. This 1991 Rees Jones design is a gem. Some really nice features about the Green Course: You could play each hole and never know someone was on an adjacent hole, you’ll love the par 3s – No 7, 9, 11 and 17. Then, stepping on No 18 tee – the awesome view of the clubhouse in the distance. The bumps along the side of most of the fairways really help keep your ball in play, unless you hit the back side of the bumps – then, you can expect at least one or two extra strokes on the hole. Jeff Winters, Director of Golf, informed us there are plans to address the cart path and drainage issues on the course, both in the fairways and in the bunkers – in fact, likely removing around 24 bunkers. Mr. Winters 20+ years at The Golden Horseshoe courses bodes well for the care and attention they get.

Royal New Kent Golf Cl ub
A Mike Stranz design is always quite unique. He used the topography that was there for the layout, creating a course where no two holes are the same or take the same shape. Royal New Kent is a shot makers course, it shows you the shot you need to make, now you need to execute. The fault will be in the shot, not the design. The variety of shapes of greens, their size, undulations, and protective bunkers makes approach shots critical for every hole.  

This course requires managing every shot, on every hole and gives the opportunity to use every club in the bag. Overall, one of the best courses we have ever played. Mike Stranz – nothing else really needs to be said! 

Stonehouse Golf Club
Stonehouse Golf Club opened in 1996 to accolades as “Best New Upscale Public Course in the Nation” by Golf Digest and “Top 10 New Courses You Can Play” by Golf Magazine, and more. Following the market drop of 2008 it started losing it’s status and closed for a brief period before being purchased in December 2018. Stonehouse LLC was formed with the major backing of J. Sanders Construction to bring the property back to its former glory. And, they have succeeded in bringing it back! The new owners honor the work of Mike Stranz. This is a gorgeous, fun and challenging property and needs to be back on your list of ‘must play.’There are plenty of ravines, fairway bunkers and visual distractions to bring you to your knees, but you’ll enjoy the challenge. The fairways seem to keep your ball in the fairway, even if you miss slightly to the left or right ON the fairway. Notice Hole 12. The ravines are breath-taking and are at times intimidating. The greens…wow…the greens. BIG, rolling and fair, with some false fronts and major undulations. Though built in a residential community, the course feels like it is just the golfer and nature. Playing the course, you don’t see another fairway and homes never come into play.One of the few downsides to this course – it’s not for walkers – distances from green to tee are often 100-200 or more yards.Stonehouse Grill, located behind the 18th green, has stunning views of the final hole. The Bang Bang Shrimp and crab cakes (flakey and seasoned just right) are a great choice. The wide open space in the restaurant/grill building would make an ideal place to host a tournament. There is plenty of room, good food and a variety of draft beers on tap.

The Club at Viniterra
The Club at Viniterra, designed by Rees Jones, hosted two reviewers from Virginia Golf Course Reviews in July 2022. The course is beautiful, in great shape with well-kept fairways and greens – rolling fast and true. The staff were exceptional and on a day where temps were in the mid-90s, they made sure every player stayed hydrated. From tee to green, this course delivers with variety of design, placement of bunkers, undulating greens (did we say fast?) And, comes highly recommended by our reviewers!

Region 8 – Richmond Area

Independence Golf Club
Virginia Golf Course Reviews experienced a very warm welcome at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, VA on Tues, May 25. Among the surprises we experienced – hybrid Lexus cars on the course as ‘beverage cars’, a garden for farm to table vegetables, golf carts equipped with Bluetooth and PXG signage planted in the middle of the fairway to mark the target point of your drive off the tee. Gil Breed and Drew Clements have set the stage for the golf course of the future – the quality of our experience was exceptional.

The  Golf Club  at Mattaponi Springs
The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs is a great golf experience you’ll want to add to your list of ‘must play’ courses. While we visited in spring, course conditions were superb. Greens were a little slow, but the fairways rolled very well. This is a course with lots of elevation changes from tee to green. Go to their website for a detailed hole-by-hole description. It’s great preparation.

Hole 11 is our favorite – a double fairway, with risk-reward opportunities on both fairways, to an elevated green, sloping back to front! Holes 13-17 are generally flat by comparison (with the Par 3, 14 being an exception).

While they could add yardage markers on the driving range and a few yardage notices around the course to avoid ravines, this is a great experience waiting for you. Mattaponi Spring’s superintendent, Kevin, is a highly qualified and experienced individual who is making all the right adjustments for playability, fairness and lines of site. His team has removed lots of trees, note Hole 9 on the right side to open the fairway and adding additional sod to soften the blow not so well hit tee shot.

Give John Thomas, GM, a call and tell him that  Virginia Golf Course Reviews sent you!