The Old Dominion is home to some of the best golf courses in the country. According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, there are 220 public golf courses in the Commonwealth, and many have garnered accolades and media attention. (And so has one in West Virginia.) Our staff picks a few resort favorites and a privately owned, publicly accessible course in our own backyard.
Cover photo by Aaron Watson Photography; courtesy of Old Trail
The Greenbrier Resort — The Old White TPC
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
The Greenbrier has been the home of world-class golf for more than a century. The resort’s first 18-hole golf course opened in 1914. The Old White TPC (7,287 yards, par-70) was named after the Old White Hotel, which stood on the current grounds from 1858 to 1922. It was designed by Seth Raynor and the father of American golf-course architecture, Charles Blair Macdonald. After suffering severe flood damage, the course was completely restored to its former glory and reopened in 2017. Old White is Ranked No. 2 TPC by Golf Digest. The resort also has another 18-hole golf course, The Meadows (6,795 yards, par-71). In addition, there are two nine-hole courses: The Greenbrier Course and The Ashford Short Course. tpc.com/oldwhite
Primland Resort — Highland Golf Course
The Meadows of Dan, VA
Perched atop a mountain, Primland’s 18-hole course (7,053 yards, par-72) offers majestic views of the Meadows of Dan, Virginia over 12,000 acres. Designed by renowned golf-course architect Donald Steele, this course was ranked by Golf Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play.” It is also ranked 4th in Virginia on Golf Course Guru’s Best in State list. Primland Resort focuses on the natural environment. That’s why its Audubon-certified course of bentgrass putting greens has been skillfully blended into the natural mountain landscape. The course offers a challenging but rewarding round for golfers of all skill levels. primland.com/activities/golf
The Tides Inn — Golden Eagle Golf Course
Irvington, Virginia
The Tides Inn, a Chesapeake Bay Resort situated in the Northern Neck on a private peninsula, offers more than just water activities and sailing. Opened for play in 1976, the resort’s 18-hole Golden Eagle Golf Course (7,025 yards, par-72) is carved out of a wooded landscape around a 50-acre lake. Designed by George W. Cobb, the golf course features Bermuda fairways, bentgrass greens, a number of elevation changes and well-placed bunkers for all skill levels. Golfers will face challenging water hazards on No. 5, No. 9 and No. 18 holes. The Golden Eagle Golf Club also has a driving range. tidesinn.com/golden-eagle-golf-club
The Omni Homestead Resort — The Cascades and The Old Course
Hot Springs, Virginia
Both 18-hole courses at The Homestead offer superlative golf and amazing mountain scenery. The Old Course (6,099 yards, par-72) boasts the oldest first tee in continuous play, dating back to the course’s opening in 1892. The historic course’s numerous fairway contours make for interesting approach shots onto small, well-manicured greens. The resort’s other course, The Cascade Course (6,873 yards, par-70), is regarded as one of the finest mountain golf courses in the country. Set against a backdrop of the Allegheny Mountains, this is the course where legendary golfer Sam Snead got his start. The Cascade’s historic fairways offer varied terrain that make each hole unique and challenging. omnihotels.com/hotels/homestead-virginia/golf
Old Trail Golf Club
Crozet, Virginia
Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains just west of Charlottesville, Old Trail Golf Club is a privately owned, public golf club with a lot to offer. The club’s 18-hole championship course (6,667 yards, par-72) was recognized by Golf Advisor as a Golfers’ Choice among the best of Virginia’s public-access golf courses. The course features bentgrass greens and zoysia fairways. It also includes four sets of tees for golfers of all abilities. Practice facilities and the Kandi Comer Golf Academy are also onsite, offering players of all skill levels and ages a variety of instruction options. oldtrailgolf.com