Golf-South.net | 'West Virginia - America's Best Kept Secret'

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PIPESTEM: Basing yourself at Glade Springs also allows you to play some of the fine State Park courses West Virginia has as well. Nearby Pipestem is one of the best known among the state park courses and its $25 weekend green fees ($20 on weekdays) are especially appreciated by all golfers. The handsome course is nestled in the beautiful state park of the same name in Pipestem, not far off I-77.

This wide-open course is great value for the price and one golf group, according to head pro Bill Robertson (he’s held that job since 1969) has been coming here for over 30 years. That may be the best endorsement for this quality course highlighted by wide, sweeping fairways and some inspiring views, especially the one near the 17th hole. Many golfers beat a path to Pipestem – named after a plant used by Native Americans to make their pipes – and the course annually accommodates over 28,000 rounds. Golfers can rent cabins here that were designed with group travel in mind.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE PARKS: Few states offer the quality of golf courses in state parks as does West Virginia. Besides Pipestem, there’s nearby Twin Falls Resort in the park of the same name; Hawks Nest; Canaan Valley Resort; wonderful Cacapon Resort near Martinsburg and fabulous Stonewall Resort near Weston – one of the best golf resorts anywhere, in or out of a state park. Some of the state park courses require a bit of a drive off the Interstate Trail but most are well worth the drive.

Cacapon, for example, is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. gem with a 48-room lodge, conference centre, 31 cabins and lots for families to do. The 6,827-yard course in a four-star beauty (Golf Digest) and a must play when in West Virginia.

Twin Falls has that Pipestem feel and look, it and was designed by the legendary Geoffrey Cornish and George Cobb. Its 6,382 yards are some of the most beautiful and challenging real estate anywhere. Like all the other state parks here, this is great value for the money.

Hawks Nest and Canaan Valley Resort are joys to play as well but the best value in the golf world is Stonewall, where the Arnold Palmer Signature course ranks among the best. And it has plenty of awards to prove that – voted one of America’s “Best New Courses” by Golf Digest and a “Top 10 New Course” according to Golf Magazine.

When golfers die, it’s not heaven they want to go to, it’s Stonewall. Located in Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, the course is a remarkable achievement. God really made Stonewall; Palmer just stuck in the flags. The exciting challenge of this Palmer Signature course and the added attraction of deer dancing on the fairways and the breathtaking scenery surrounding Stonewall puts this high on the “must play before I die” list.

Stonewall is 7,149 yards of sheer delight. From the first shot to the last, this course fulfils a golfer’s dream of playing one of the truly memorable courses in America. The fact there’s an excellent 198-room lodge with state of the art everything right next door only gives golfers more reason to make Stonewall a destination instead of a stopover. Unlike the other state park courses, Stonewall is privately run and offers some great play and stay deals.

For more on West Virginia’s great network of state park golf courses, go to www.wvstateparks.com – for Stonewall, go to www.stonewallresort.com

GREENBRIER RESORT: What can you say about
a place that offers over 250 years of golf
history and is home to three of the most
beautiful courses in the U.S. The massive
resort complex in White Sulphur Springs is the
White House of golf and the troika of courses –
Old White, The Greenbrier and The Meadows -
are priceless works of golf architecture. And just
like priceless works, they don’t come cheap.
The greens fees at The Greenbrier, for instance,
cost over $300.

Old White is named after the original Old
White Hotel that stood on the estate from
1858 to 1922. It’s the toughest of the three
courses and offers some spectacular fairways
and greens. The Greenbrier course was the first
in the world to hold the distinction of hosting
both the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup.

RAVEN GOLF CLUB: If you get homesick while
traveling the Interstate Trail, may we suggest
you stop at the Raven club at Snowshoe
Mountain in the heart of West Virginia’s ski country – yes, Virginia, it does snow in the higher southern elevations and the skiing is wonderful. But in the warmer months, its golf that rules this mountain area and the Raven is king of West Virginia’s mountain courses. This layout is unique to West Virginia but looks like many courses built in rugged mountainous areas. The great Gary Player was the genius behind its dramatic design, which features exaggerated elevation changes that sees shots drop as much as 200 feet from tee to landing area. Some believe this to be the best course in West Virginia. This is one of the few courses that is not on the Interstate Trail but the back roads leading here are a treat and the course is well worth the extra drive.

PETE DYE GOLF CLUB: Many great courses are “designed by Pete Dye” but only one features his name in its title. This is what makes this course off I-79 even more special to play. Add to that the fact the course is built on top of an old coal mine, has vintage coal cars still filled with inventory sitting off the 10th fairway, features some subtle coal mounding, and part of its cart path takes golfers through an old mine shaft, and you get the idea why master designer Dye wanted his name attached to this club. The Dye Club is a private course but area hotels and resorts like Stonewall and nearby Lakeview Golf Resort can make arrangements to get you on. Beg them if you have to. It costs about $130 to play but it’s worth every dime.

LAKEVIEW GOLF RESORT AND SPA: This is a stopover resort that appeals to golf vacationers, with two stunning courses. However, more and more are making Lakeview, located at the junctions of I-79 and I68, a destination these days. The featured Lakeview course is one of those old classic, tree line designs where you’re most important club could be a buzz saw.

Breathtaking views of the surrounding lake and countryside from holes like elevated No. 7 – featuring a drop of 180 feet from tee to fairway - make the course a must play while in West Virginia. And if you play it smart and leave your driver in the bag, you’ll find this oldie but goodie a treat to play. Lakeview, which draws a lot of corporate traffic because of its excellent conference facilities and spa, also has another course, The Mountainview, which, like its Lakeview elder, will only get better with age. The greats of golf – Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have all played this resort and they all liked what they saw. Lakeview has been rated by Golf Digest as a 4-star challenge where large undulating greens, tight fairways and scenic views test your concentration.

CONTINUED: West Virginia, America's Best Secret

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