A group of fellows in White Sulphur Springs teed it up for
the first round at their very own golf club at roughly the same time Grover Cleveland
became the first Democrat in the White House since the Civil War. By 1884 the West
Virginia golf club had a name -
Oakhurst Links - and the distinction of being the first golf club established
in the United States.
While not every course can boast such a distinctive pedigree, in West Virginia every
golf venue can be proud of the qualities indigenous to mountain golf. For instance,
summers here are usually 10-15 degrees cooler and less humid than in lower regions.
Each season brings its own mélange of wildflowers, and fall unleashes a kaleidoscope
of brilliant hues.
Mountains provide grand views from varying perspectives: from atop a ridge overlooking
the surrounding countryside or down in a river valley with misty blue peaks filling
the horizon.
Best of all, there's no hassle in traveling to West Virginia for golf. Nearly half
of the U.S. population is within a day's drive. Major interstate highways crisscross
the state, leading to well-maintained secondary roads lacing through a pastoral
countryside. And ample airports with service to major metropolitan areas provide
quick links to West Virginia's. When should you come? Golf season in the Mountain
State generally runs April through October.
 A Little
History
The founders of White Sulphur Springs' Oakhurst Links Golf Club
laid out a simple nine-hole course in a pasture. Members played together every week,
and even held an annual tournament (also the first in the country). By 1910, the
course had reverted to pasture land, where it lay forgotten until avid golfer Lewis
Keller bought the Oakhurst Estate. In 1992 he engaged architect Bob Cupp to restore
the course. Today, golfers play Oakhurst using replica 1800s hickory clubs and gutta
percha balls, precursors to the modern-day, rubber-core golf ball.
As Oakhurst Links became dormant, another historic golf venue was in the making
nearby. The C&O Railroad bought White Sulphur Springs' famous Old White Hotel,
and by 1913 had built The Greenbrier Hotel and the resort's first golf course, the
Old White. The architect, Charles Blair Macdonald, would become one of the most
important people in the development of golf in the U.S. In 1924, architect Seth
Raynor laid out
The Greenbrier's second track, the Greenbrier Course, which was redesigned
by Jack Nicklaus for the 1979 Ryder Cup. In 1962, The Greenbrier opened its third
course and secured its status as one of the world's foremost golf resorts.
Perhaps the most poignant bit of golfing history in the Mountain State is the late,
great "Slammin' Sammy" Snead, who began his career at The Greenbrier in 1936 and
went on to become a legend on the PGA Tour. In his later years he served as the
resort's affable golf pro emeritus until his death in 2002. Snead shot his last
hole-in-one (his 37th) on Hole 18 of the Greenbrier Course in 1995, when he was
83.
 Laudatory
Links
There are more than 100 courses in West Virginia,
among them new venues that enhance the state's reputation as a golf destination.
When it opened in 2002, the Palmer Course at
Stonewall Resort was named to Golf Magazine's "Top 10 Courses You
Can Play." The Greenbrier's Greenbrier Course was one of Golf Digest's
"America's 100 Greatest Public Courses in 2004," and the resort ranked fifth in
the magazine's "Best Golf Resorts in North America."
Golf Digest awarded Wheeling's
Oglebay Resort courses 4 ½ stars (Palmer) and 4 stars (Jones). The Palmer
Course, opened in 2000, earned a 4.6 (of 5) average user rating in Golf Magazine's
online voting, drawing comments such as "unbelievable value and service" and "long
hitters and finesse players can both score well." Parkersburg's narrow, hilly Golf Club
of West Virginia (opened in 1961) received a 4.9 average user rating from
Golf Magazine voters, with comments such as "a beautiful, challenging course for
players of every level. Compares to courses that charge three times the fees."
On Golf Magazine's "Thrifty 50," which lists courses providing the most bang
for the buck,
Twisted Gun (a coal mine reclamation project in Wharncliffe) placed 17th,
and the Speidel Golf Club's Robert Trent Jones Sr. Course at Oglebay Resort placed
26th. Since its opening in 1993, the
Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain Resort has received many accolades,
including Top 100 lists by Golf Digest and Golf Week. Hole 13 was once chosen by
Golf Digest for its Top 18 holes in the U.S.
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State Parks: Well above the Par
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West Virginia State Park golf packages provide great golfing opportunity at
affordable rates. Visit
Golf With Us for a complete overview or download or view the
golf package brochure.
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WV Golf Packages
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PIPESTEM RESORT STATE PARK
18-hole championship course
9-hole Par 3 course
Route 20, Box 150
Pipestem, WV 25979
(304) 466-1800
Packages: McKeever Lodge and The Mountain Creek Lodge at Pipestem Resort
www.pipestemresort.com
Twin Falls Resort State Park
. 18-hole Championship Course
. Geoffrey Cornish/George Cobb, Sr. Design
. Three days of 18-hole green fees with additional play as available, Sunday afternoon
through Friday.
. Mullens, WV
. (340) 294-4000
. Packages: Twin Falls Lodge And cabin packages
www.twinfallsresort.com
Cacapon Resort State Park
. Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
. (304) 258-1022
. Packages: Cacapon Lodge
. Summer Golf Academy
. www.cacaponresort.com
Hawks Nest State Park
9-hole Mountain course
Ansted, WV
(304) 658-5212
Stay and Play package
www.hawksnestsp.com
Canaan Valley Resort
Stonewall Resort
Packaged partners:
Tygart Lake State Park & Bel Meadows Golf Course
Tygart Lake State Park & Tygart Lake Country Club
North Bend State Park & North Bend Golf Course
Chief Logan Lodge & Logan Country Club
Golf Specials
Golf Special: "Two Parks and Two Tees" stay and play discount.
Twin Falls
& Pipestem
resorts extend a 20% discount to golfers presenting an original greens fee receipt
from either park from the prior or same day play. This 20% discount will be on greens
fee and lodge room at the second park. Discount offer valid on golf from Sunday
noon through Friday and on lodging from Sunday through Thursday nights.
Not redeemable at the originating park and only one lodging discount per room. Call
either park for more details.
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