brought into the U.S. because authorities believed they were “murder instruments.” At least that’s what a young woman named Nancy was telling two very interested golfers who dropped by to see the “first 9-hole golf course in America.”  Much has changed in the golf world since 1884 when this club first opened, but little has changed at Oakhurst.

The historic course reopened after years of neglect in 1994 when legendary architect Bob Cupp – thanks to the earlier urgings of Sam Snead - “excavated” the “first” course and brought it back to its original glory.  Cupp was so dedicated to preserving this piece of golf history that he didn’t even charge the course owner his usual design fee.

Now visitors who want to play this unique club, which is registered among America’s most treasured historic places, have to leave their Big Bertha drivers and all other modern-day equipment in the trunk of their cars and carry replicas of the primitive clubs used by the earliest golfers. So instead of a TaylorMade rescue club, the modern golfers are required to carry four clubs, two of which have unfamiliar names to us - mashie and niblick – around a lovely piece of property where sheep still graze in a meadow that is as special to America as St. Andrews is to Scotland. It costs $75 to play Oakhurst with the old clubs and balls supplied by the course, but you get to keep the balls and a few other goodies and Nancy will even pour you a glass of lemonade and throw in a ginger cookie before you leave.“This golf course has never seen modern equipment,” Nancy told her attentive audience in what was once the home of the man who first owned the Oakhurst property and which now serves as the clubhouse and free museum.

















One visit to enchanting West Virginia and a golfer quickly realizes that this state, which is not readily recognized as having an important connection with the game’s past, is a living history of the sport. And there are no better examples of that than Oakhurst or Greenbrier, the legendary resort complex that is home to three legendary courses, the most famous being Old White and the Greenbrier - the latter was the site of the 1979
Ryder Cup.

But West Virginia also has plenty of “modern” golf courses that are writing their own history. Not surprising since this state looks like one huge golf course thanks of its jaw dropping natural green coat accented with thick forests and fertile rolling landscape. Golfers will find that most offer valued packages that allow you to play courses designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus – just to name a few.

A great example of that is the Speidel Courses at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling where Canadians can play one amazing course designed by Arnold Palmer and another by Robert Trent Jones for a package price of $110 U.S. That includes accommodation in one of the resort’s modernly rustic rooms and a breakfast.

Many golfers travel north and south through the State of West Virginia on route to somewhere else.  Undoubtedly after reading on you will have many reasons to stop. The state’s outstanding courses are linked by a network of four-lane highways that crisscross West Virginia, passing handsome cities, quaint towns, lots of historical markers, some serious shopping areas and a series of national and state parks that rival anything on Earth for beauty.

There could be several starting points for what
we’ll call the Interstate Trail. For instance, you
could start at West Virginia’s best course, the
Pete Dye beauty in Bridgeport off I-79 or save
that for later in the trip and start the trail at the
southern tip of the state in Daniels, where two
fantastic courses, The Cobb and Stonehaven,
make up a great golf resort - Glade Springs. 

That’s where a friend and I started our “Interstate
Trail”, working our way back to the northern part
of the State along the Eisenhower-inspired routes,
as well as a few roller-coaster back roads. In
between games, we were introduced to a state
that can be best described as an outdoor theme
park, where real “bambis” patrol fairways in herds
and don’t even flinch when giddy tourists stop to
take their photographs.

So, start your golf carts, strap on your seat belts, and get ready for a helluva ride along a golf trail that is about to get a lot busier. Here are the courses we recommend you include on your West Virginia Interstate Trail:

GLADE SPRINGS RESORT: Golf doesn’t get much better than this – anywhere! Glade Springs caters to golfers with well-planned accommodation consisting of large plantation style residences where players share space and stories after playing two of
the most magnificent courses in the United States.

The Cobb is the older of the two Glade Springs courses and a Pinehurst No. 2 look-alike, which makes it a favorite with golfers of all ages and ability. This course can make a high handicapper happy or be toughened up to bring the best young golfers in the U.S. to their knees, which it did this year when it hosted the NCAA championships – the winner was kept to an even par total.

The Stonehaven layout is one of the best courses this golfer has ever played. The typography this beauty is wrapped around is simply breathtaking.  From start to finish, Stonehaven is a series of WOW! holes where beautiful vistas and sweeping fairways greet golfers at just about every tee. Here players get the chance to test their skill against some unique features, like black bunkers – made from a byproduct of coal known as “swag”. It has a gravel-like consistency that we found quite easy to escape. They write books about courses like Stonehaven, whose 16th hole may be the most visually beautiful of any in North America.

Afterwards golfers are treated to some fine cuisine at the resort’s Grill restaurant. Here’s a tip: try the beer battered crawfish and give your taste buds a real treat. Then retire to Bunkers, a recently added bar/lounge where golfers play pool or just sit at the bar and chat with locals and friendly staff who all seem to be named Kelly. Time is too short at Glade Springs, which provides a wonderful starting point for the Interstate Trail and a great introduction to West Virginia golf.


CONTINUED: West Virginia, America's Best Secret

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