[Tim Gavrich]

The French Lick thread reminded me...is anyone familiar with Dye's work out around Blacksburg?  I've never played it, but it's only about 90 minutes from W&L and looks pretty neat.  And at 7600 yards, should be a good test of the long iron and fairway wood game.

Thanks.

--Tim

[Jamey Bryan]

Tim:

I've never played the course, but have a number of friends who have and who speak very highly of it.

Be forewarned, however, Blacksburg (Hokieville) is hazardous to the health of all citizens of civilized countries.  Even small exposure has been known to ruin the social life of men from Lexington or Charlottesville, who are accustomed to a more refined air.

My advice, should you go, would be to play quickly and flee!

Jamey

[Matt Varney]

Tim,

I remember this golf course years ago as a real estate development where the homes set up above the golf course up in the hills.  Virginia Tech got involved in some capacity because they needed a really nice course for their golf teams.

Pete Dye was brought in to do a complete renovation on this course and it is awesome.  If you like Pete Dye designed courses tough as nails and long from the tips (well over 7,500 yards) this track is for you then.  The course plays rolling nice fairways almost all of them on river bottom land along the river valley and it has great contours, large waste areas, pot bunkering and some really nice green complexes that make you think hitting approach shots.

We are working with Pete Dye on a course in the mountains of Tennessee.  On his very first site visit to get dirty walking the course routing he was wearing a Virginia Tech Pete Dye River Course baseball cap.  I asked him about the course and he said it was a fun project and he really liked the golf course.  Check the website >> www.rivercoursegolf.com

I think its like $70 to play on the weekends.

Matt

[CJ Carder]

Be forewarned, however, Blacksburg (Hokieville) is hazardous to the health of all citizens of civilized countries.  Even small exposure has been known to ruin the social life of men from Lexington or Charlottesville, who are accustomed to a more refined air.

My advice, should you go, would be to play quickly and flee!

Jamey

Jamey - UVA grad / fan perhaps?   

Tim - I agree with Jamey.  Watch out for the women, sheep if you go - they tend to bite, hard.   

[Jamey Bryan]

CJ:

Yep, Commerce '76 Lawn resident.  4 years of Mr. Jefferson's village.

It was a privledge.

Jamey

[Rich Brittingham]

Jamey,
Statements like that only support the stereotypes of UVA, a wonderful university, with alumni that jump at every opportunity to make sure you know it!

Rich - Virginia Tech Class of '03

[Wade Whitehead]

I've played the Pete Dye River Course many times.  It's certainly a better golf course since his restoration.

The New River is literally in view at all times.  The course plays along a riverside plateau beneath a hillside (on which, as mentioned, homes have been built).  The opposing riverbank is too steep for development, save for a railroad track that has been there for some time.

There are a number of very good holes on the course.  Number 3 my be the best par five in southwest Virginia.  And the closing stretch is hard as nails.  Seventeen and Eighteen present an incredible closing challenge.

The back tees are a little ridiculous, as they tip to nearly 8000 yards.  Of course, they aren't used in that manner (which didn't stop a friend and me from playing it all the way back last year just to see).  It appears that Dye intended for every hole to be difficult if needed.  As suggested, the golf course requires excellent mid and long iron/hybrid play, with the occasional fairway wood thrown in.

I'm guessing the course will host an NCAA Championship at some point in the near future.  I've also heard it mentioned as a US Public Links candidate.

Tim, it's definitely worth the drive from Lexington.

WW

[Ray Cross]

Tim,
By all means, you should see/play the River Course.  I enjoyed many rounds there in the mid-late '90s when visiting Roanoke. Some really neat holes along the river...not sure about the housing since housing was almost non-existant then.

Does the Lexington CC still exist?  Man, that's where I first palyed golf on a regular basis. If you are ever there, see if Grover still runs the place.

Have enjoyed you posts and photos.

Thanks

Ray

[Carl Rogers]

I played 1 round there in August of 07 while on our anniversary.

Site is spectacular.  Reasonably priced and easy access during week.  The permanent clubhouse was not built when I played it.

WARNING!!! Do not go near this area of the country during the fall of the year on the weekend of a Hokie football home game.

The course can be set up to be severe if not brutal.

However, if I was an experienced highly traveled golfer familiar with all of Mr. Dye's work, my critique for this course might be that as design work goes it has all been seen before.

[Jamey Bryan]

Rich:

Not really meaning to highjack the thread, but if I read your post correctly, I must plead guilty.  That being said, Tech is a wonderful University which has made incredible strides over the past 20 or so years.  Even so, I wouldn't want my sister to date a Hokie.......

Jamey

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