Located among the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia truly is The Mountain State. It is also the perfect setting for challenging, scenic golf. Thousands of golfers already know about the myriad incredible courses West Virginia boasts. Like many of its neighbors, West Virginia golf courses take advantage of the beautiful landscape and incorporate mountain views, elevation changes, and plenty of foliage into each of its premier course layouts. With over 100 great courses to choose from, there is enough golf in West Virginia to keep you satisfied for years.
To get you started, here are five West Virginia golf courses you need to play.
The Pete Dye Club (Best Private Course)
One of Pete Dye’s most treasured designs, The Pete Dye Club in Bridgeport is a work of genius. The course features numerous water hazards and has an exquisite layout.
Number one is a great opening hole and showcases some of the major themes found on the rest of the course. With water on the right and over ten bunkers to the left, the fairway on one rolls and turns as it descends on a well protected green. Earth mounds on the right of the green offer a unique challenge on this mid length par 4.
Clearing the meandering creek on the par 4 10th shouldn’t be a problem, but two bunkers on the right of the fairway could cause trouble. The hole looks wide open but is deceptively challenging.
Eighteen is a great finishing hole and features a stubborn creek that runs the length of the hole on the lefthand side. The hole is a slight dogleg left and turns back toward the creek making the hole exceptionally demanding.
From the championship tees, this regulation par 72 plays at more than 7300 yards.
While this would be an amazing track to be able to play on a regular basis, unfortunately it is private and only open to member and their guests.
The Old White—Greenbrier (Best Public Course)
Part of the Greenbrier Resort four course system, The Old White is a stunning course with an impressive legacy. The course has hosted PGA tour events and has been restored after flooding knocked it out of commission in the last decade.
The first hole showcases a tight, tree lined fairway that is typical of this majestic track. A babbling brook also traverses behind the trees to the right and most likely won’t come in to play, but does add to the idyllic setting nicely.
A couple of stingy bunkers guard the green on 11 and have a tendency to suck up short approaches. The putting surface tilts ever so slightly to the back and makes shots and puts run away from you.
Eighteen is a perfect finishing hole as it plays toward the clubhouse and overlooks a tall, foreboding mountain. While the fairway is wide and sprawling on the final hole, several green side bunkers make it a challenge.
From the blacks the course measures 7287 yards and is a par 70.
A round at The Old White is not cheap. If your not a guest at the resort, 18 holes walking can get as high as $350 with a twilight rate of $250.
The Palmer Course at Stonewall Resort (Most Scenic)
One of the best Arnold Palmer courses there is, The Palmer Course at Stonewall Resort is perhaps the most scenic course in West Virginia.
Hole 1 is a par four featuring tall trees to the left and a ravine and creek that bisect the fairway. As you approach the green two uniquely shaped bunkers, one on either side, dare you to miss left or right.
Number 2 is a par 3 with a pond to the front and left of the green. A swath of trees form a crown around the quick green that slopes decidedly to the right.
The round finishes with the long par 5 18th that tumbles from left to right. At the end of the hole the green reverts back to the left and is tucked in neatly behind bunkers to the left and right.
The course is 7127 yards from the Palmer tees and is a regulation par 72.
For those who are not staying at the resort a twilight rate can be had for $70 after 2 pm and $60 after 4 pm. If you want to play in the morning, though, the price is $95 Monday-Thursday and $109 Friday-Sunday.
Canaan Valley Golf Course (Most Challenging)
While many of the above are courses are quite difficult in their own right, another one of the most challenging courses in the state is Canaan Valley Golf Course.
The course features over 60 strategically placed bunkers and eight daunting water hazards. At times the course looks and feels wide open, but mature trees are dotted throughout the course and add an additional layer of difficulty.
The course isn’t all that long, measuring just under 7000 yards from the tips and is a regulation par 72.
Rates are reasonable too, with a midweek round costing $46 for 18 walking. On the weekend it is $56 for the same.
The Raven Golf Club (Best Deal)
The Raven Golf Club is premium golf at a discount. The course as all the bells and whistles of a great West Virginia course including fresh mountain air, well groomed, sprawling fairways, and plenty of trees, bunkers, and water hazards to spice up your round.
The course, which is part of Snowshoe Resort, measures 7045 from the tips and is a par 72.
During peak season on the weekends it does cost $89 to play this championship level track. But in the fall, you can get on for $35 for 18 walking.
Golf West Virginia
While the mountain state doesn’t get the same notoriety for its golf courses as some of the other states in the region, it does have some amazing scenery and great golf courses to match it. You can’t go wrong by playing any one of these fine golf courses. Happy golfing.
Did we miss a course? Share your West Virginia golf experience in the comments section below.
