Right from the start, Steel challenges your shot making ability with a downhill second shot on the first hole to an angled green that drops off quickly. You’d better have the eye of a deer hunter to bag a par on this 509 beauty.
The first of Primland’s five par-3s greets you at the second tee and, like four others, this one requires navigating a valley to reach the green. Holes 3 through 5 are eye candy and sweet treats for golfers who like to bite off more than they can chew. These holes must be tackled boldly or in stages because the elevated greens and narrow fairways are all any golfer can handle. The fifth fairway looks impossible to miss but many golfers do – and now you can add my name to that group.
All through your round at Primland you are treated to wonderful mountain vistas that include glimpses of the mighty Dan River Gorge, known in these parts as “The Grand Canyon of Virginia.”
The final four holes on the Highland’s front side are just as spectacular as the first five but, as we made the turn for the back nine, we quickly realized the best was yet to come.
Because it was autumn when we played, we were treated to some breathtaking forest backdrops and most of the back holes were flanked by rich fall colors that just enhanced our already impressive thoughts about Highland.
I’d like to call the 16th hole “Sweet 16” because this is one of the most stunning among the collection of beauties Steel has made here. You quickly realize why the call golf a thinking man’s game when you stand on the 16th tee. And think hard and long before plotting your course around a doglegged fairway that sets up a shot to a well guarded green that is sloped. This is a risk/reward hole but the risks are high – but then again so is the reward.
The round complete, Sandy was waiting at the quaint snack shack for our review. Before he could say anything, I asked: “Do we have time tomorrow before we leave to play this course again.
Sandy just smiled. He knew we had just experienced a mountain high at Primland.
For more information on golf and accommodation at Primland, go to www.primland.com or call 276 222 3827.
Marc Atchison is the former Travel and Golf Editor of Canada’s largest daily newspaper The Toronto Star. More of Marc’s stories are also available on www.tnnworld.com.
