Offers plenty of reasons to play... and stay!
By Claudio DeMarchi
Just last month a friend and I embarked on a ten day tour that landed us in some of the finest mountain courses that one could ever want to play. Quickly upon entering enchanting West Virginia, you realize that the State looks like one huge golf course thanks to the natural green coat of thick forests and fertile rolling landscape. The State has more acres of State Park that rival anything on Earth for beauty.
For most Ontarians and Quebecers this excellent grouping of courses is within a day's drive and all offer value Stay & Play packages on courses designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones and Gary Player to name a few.
Traveling in the State is a piece of cake and a lot of fun. The State's outstanding courses are linked by a network of four-lane Eisenhower inspired interstate highways and plenty of roller coaster back roads. On the back roads and on the golf courses you will quickly realize the State's resemblance to an outdoor theme park where real "bambis" patrol fairways in herds and do not even flinch when giddy tourist like us stop to take their pictures. And don't forget that a visit to the Wildernest Inn could get you up close and personal with some of the friendliest black bears in the world. Bruno lives here! I will be back to visit him again this fall. In between our rounds and on our travels we passed through some beautiful cities, quaint towns with historical markers and some pretty serious shopping! So hang on, you are about get a sampling of some of the best that West Virginia has to offer and a trip that you will want to add to your bucket list!
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Our first stop was at Oglebay Resort in the NW corner of the State near Wheeling. The resort is home to 2 championship courses. The Robert Trent Jones designed Spiedel Golf Club that has been around since the 70's and played host to the LPGA Tour for 13 years. We however played the newer Arnold Palmer designed course that has been rated 4 ½ star by Golf Digest Places to Play. I love Arnie's work!
Next we were off to Lakeview Resort near Morgantown. Two tree lined stunners await you here. You will want to make sure that your "tree wood" is working. If not, oh well the breathtaking views of the country side and Cheat Lake will easily allow you to forget about your round. Lakeview is one of the most popular 'Stay & Play' resorts for traveling golfers. Make sure that you check out the Spa and Winery close by.
We are moving down I-79 to the Bridgeport area about 30 minutes south of Morgantown to the Pete Dye Club, probably my favorite mountain golf course in the world. Pete Dye has designed many courses around the world but there is only one that bears his name in its title. The course is built on the site of an old coal mine. You are greeted by a coal car at the entrance and vintage coal cars with coal still in them line the 10th fairway. Your journey from the 6th green to the 7th tee take you through a former mine shaft…watch out for the big black snake that may be hanging in the rafters. The Pete Dye Club is a private course but a limited amount of public play is permitted at the discretion of the golf director and neighboring hotels and resorts. Green fees will be in excess of $100 but worth every dime!
Another short jaunt down I-79 lands us at #89 of Golf Digests 100 Greatest Public Courses in America – Palmer Signature Course at Stonewall Resort. Stonewall is 7,100 yards of sheer delight. From the first shot to the last this course fulfills a golfer's dream of playing one of the truly challenging and memorable courses in America.
Our next stop takes us down to the southern portion of the State to 2 resorts that are now under the ownership of the Justice family of West Virginia to form the best 1-2 resort combination in the State. Glade Springs Resort is near Daniels (just east of where I-77 and I-64 meet) and is home to 3 courses; StoneHaven and Woodhaven that offer you some of the most spectacular vistas in golf but don't discount the older Cobb Course as it has hosted the West Virginia Open, U.S. Open Qualifiers and NCAA National Championships.
Thirty minutes or so east along I-64 we arrive at Sulphur Springs and the National Historic landmark – The Greenbrier. What can you say about a resort that offers over 250 years of golf history and is home to 3 exceptional golf courses. The Troika of courses: Old White, The Greenbrier and the Meadows are priceless works of golf architecture. The Greenbrier Course was the first in the world to hold the distinction of hosting both the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. In just a few weeks the Old White Course will play host to the PGA Tours best at the Greenbrier Classic.
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The Palmer Course at Oglebay |
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Our journey to the Raven at Snowshoe Resort had many twists and turns as we ventured northward through the center of the State, climbing hundreds of feet to the clubhouse in the center of West Virginia's ski country. The great Gary Player was the genius behind this design which features dramatic elevation changes. Some tee shots drop as much a 200 feet from the tee to the landing area below.
For those of us that need to get in touch with our wild side, a nature trip through West Virginia would not be complete without a stop at the Wildernest Inn near Petersburg and the challenges of Fisher Mountain Golf Club. A stay at the Wildernest will all but guarantee bear sightings and more deer than you can shake a stick at – I know that I have never been disappointed.
The final stop on our journey took us to the northeast corner of the State. The Woods Resort near Hedgeville is home to 2 courses. The Mountain View Course is the championship course that is carved through the forest with views courtesy of Third Hill Mountain. The Stony Lick Course is more of an executive style layout. Perhaps the best course in the area is the Robert Trent Jones Sr. course at Cacapon State Park minutes from the Woods. There are many State Park Golf Courses throughout the State that would be worthwhile stopping points.
Now it's time to head home but you can be sure that we will be back to this Wild and Wonderful State.
07/10
