Ballyhack would be awesome. I played in a Golfer’s Journal Event a couple years ago. April 5th would be a great date for an invitation. The unaccompanied guest fee was slightly out of range.
if you wanna play around Roanoke holler at me but Ballyhack is no longer an option for me locally, used to be once or twice a year but its insane now.
I’d say you missed out on the following all within stopping distance
The Old Farm
The Virginian
Pete Dye River Course
Greenbrier Old white TPC
Cascasdes course
you missed a few nationally recognized tracks in that region, but being that they are top end exclusive places I can see why they would not make a list
2 Likes
I live in the “southwestern most tail” of Virginia @jandywlu mentions. He couldn’t be more wrong! You will find some outstanding golf along the I-77 and I-81 corridor. Assuming you will be travelling north on I-77 through Fancy Gap toward Wytheville to take I-77 toward West Virginia.
Olde Mill is located close to I-77 in the Fancy Gap area. Olde Mill is phenomenal mountain golf and a truly unique experience. The locals aren’t overly welcoming and they don’t hide that fact. https://oldemill.net/
Draper Valley Golf Club is located at the convergence of I-77 and I-81 in Wythe County. Draper is an outstanding layout and always in great condition. Draper is the host course of the Southest Virginia Amateur that has been played since the 70’s. https://www.drapervalleygolf.com/
Wytheville Golf Club is a private club in the town of Wytheville. Great layout. The course hasn’t been altered much (if at all) since it opened in the early 1930’s. Fun, relaxed atmosphere with CJ’s restaurant located just down the street. Great food! WGC will allow unaccompanied guest play for folks passing through.
Closer to the West Virginia line, Fincastle Golf Club is a great layout and very fun course to play. Great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Host course of the Appalachian Amateur that has been played for 50 or 60 years. https://fincastlebluefieldva.com/
A few others that would be a bit out of the way would be Great Oaks Country Club in Floyd, VA, Blue Ridge Country Club in Galax, VA (my home club), Glenrochie Country Club in Abingdon, VA and Holston Hill Country Club in Marion, VA.
WGC is probably my favorite of the group followed very closely by Fincastle. Olde Mill and Draper are interchangeable. Both are great but the experience would be better at WGC or Fincastle.
2 Likes
I’m glad you mentioned Draper, I have a 4 rounds with cart there, but its got to be M-F so I need to plan a time to get down there.
1 Like
Draper is so good. Olde Mill has a slightly better course but shitty people. Draper doesn’t have quite as good a course but great people. Still a great golf course though.
Wytheville GC is low-key outstanding. The people are great as well. The whole community seems to be involved in that golf course in some way or another. Which shows in the high school golf program winning state titles almost every year. They don’t have a website but they have some great photos on Facebook from what my wife has shown me. I play it a few times every year. My home club has reciprocal playing privileges.
Fincastle has reemerged in this area. It was once a private club that folded and was bought by the City of Bluefield. One of the best “muni’s” you will ever play considering it was once an exclusive country club.
2 Likes
Fincastle just redid all their bunkers not too long ago too. I need to get up there as well, both dudes Im playing with sat had their HS state tourney at Fincastle.
a short par 5 like Draper has to start is the way golf was meant to be
2 Likes
Olde Mill seems like the best option for golf only. My wife and I should have a great time. Then we can leave the nice folks to themselves. Lol
Actually I’m thinking about the Pete Dye River Course.
3 Likes
So I typically ride down to Olde Mill every memorial day, play 36 in under 7 hours and head home. Place is wide open empty. This is the opening tee shot
I’d say OM is the better deal. more scenic imo too.
PDRC is the better layout and harder course.
7 Likes
River Course has its scenic views also. Plus they lowered their prices. You will get caught in a pot punker and cursing Pete’s name “how did he know I would hit it there”.
I’ll chime in and say that the Glade Springs resort near Beckley, WV has 2 really good courses and right off I-77, if you’re going that way.
Also, I haven’t seen anyone mention Cross Creek CC, which is in Mt Airy. Kris Spence did a mini Reno there in 2005 and did a really good job with it.
Agree with the other courses. Interestingly, @Sixcat, my home club has a reciprocal with WGC, but I haven’t heard anything about it. I guess I’ll have to get up there.
2 Likes
Cross Creek is really good. Completely forgot about it.
@rvanculin I see you’re in the Bristol area. I work for an engineering firm based in Abingdon. Play Glenrochie and Clear Creek quite a bit. Need to get down and play GC of Bristol. Heard really good things.
2 Likes
If we’re talking SWVA/WV courses does anyone have thoughts on pipestem? My dad raves about about it but he’s only played it a handful of times in the 90s.
100% agree. If I had 10 rounds between Olde Mill, Draper, and River Course, I’d go 7 OM, 2 Draper, 1 River.
I’m a member at Glenrochie, too, haha. Small world. I figured you were because I don’t any other clubs that have a reciprocal with Wytheville.
2 Likes
I live in Galax. We have a small satellite office here and another in Big Stone Gap. Sorry for the confusion. Wasn’t clear in my original message. I’m a member at Blue Ridge Country Club. We have reciprocal privileges with Wytheville, Cross Creek, Great Oaks, Pilot Knob and Cedarbrook.
I play Glenrochie on the company dime.
1 Like
Thank you for all the feedback and options. I’m leaning towards Olde Mill. After reading everything and looking into both. It seems OM is unique and more picturesque. Might be a better and more enjoyable round for my wife.
@KnockitintheCup I don’t know when you’re trip is scheduled. Wanted to give you a heads-up, I was at Olde Mill yesterday morning. They punched the greens last Friday.
1 Like
We punched yesterday and today. Seeing the weekend temps at 53 made me very happy they did it.
We’re punching ours today and tomorrow. Definitely that time of year.
1 Like