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Dan Chapman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Richmond, VA recommendation
« on: May 14, 2008, 05:51:36 PM »
So it looks like I may be in Richmond next week with a chance to sneak out for a round.  I'm not very familiar with Richmond golf, so what public courses in the area would you recommend?  I've only played about 10 holes at Belmont and the par 3 course at Independence.

Thank you,
Dan
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Sam Sikes

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2008, 06:39:40 PM »
Dan,

If you have enough time go to Spring Creek.  it is about 4o mins west of richmond.  You will not be disappointed.

Hunting Hawk is also a fun golf course.  I prefer it to independence.

Sam
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Wade Whitehead

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2008, 07:31:38 PM »
In the Richmond area, I recommend Royal New Kent above all other public options, unless you're willing to drive to Spring Creek.  Both require a drive of at least 30 minutes out of town, however (RNK is to the east, while SC is to the west).  In town, I'd send you to Independence.  Hunting Hawk is a good track as well.

Of course, Kinloch is the ultimate experience.

Have fun.

WW
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Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2008, 07:54:19 PM »
Sam,
Tell me what you like about Spring Creek.

I haven't played Spring Creek, but I have played Royal New Kent and would like to hear more if it is comparable.

cheers
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Bill Gayne

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2008, 08:01:47 PM »
All courses mentioned are worthwhile plays. I would also add Mattoponi Springs which is north of town on I-95.
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Sam Sikes

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2008, 08:45:19 PM »
Spring Creek is in Absolutely phenomenal condition for a public course.

I don't know how long they can keep that deal going.  The numbers don't work in my opinion.

I just happen to think it is by far the best public option in the richmond area. 
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Jimmy Muratt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2008, 08:59:09 PM »
Sam is spot-on with the Spring Creek recommendation.   It's a very strategic course that presents you with many decisions throughout.  The greens and green surrounds are very interesting with a good variety of chipping areas and short game interest. 

It's one of the best conditioned new courses I've ever seen, public or private.  Their super was an assistant at Kinloch under Pete Wendt and it's obvious he learned a lot. 

It is part of a housing development but as of now there isn't much housing on the course, so it's a perfect time to play it.  Well worth the 45 minute drive from Richmond...

As also mentioned, the other two around Richmond that I'd recommend are Mattaponi Springs and Royal New Kent. 
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Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2008, 09:13:03 PM »
 I second Mattaponi Springs and Royal New Kent.  Too bad they are not in the same direction.  Both are very good.  RNK is fascinating and a ball to play. 
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Carl Nichols

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2008, 09:50:40 PM »
Quote from: Tommy Williamsen on May 14, 2008, 09:13:03 PM
I second Mattaponi Springs and Royal New Kent.  Too bad they are not in the same direction.  Both are very good.  RNK is fascinating and a ball to play. 

If you were planning a day or overnight trip from DC, would you head to Beechtree/Bulle Rock (north of Baltimore), or RNK and some other place in Richmond? 
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CJ Carder

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2008, 10:06:08 PM »
Quote from: Carl Nichols on May 14, 2008, 09:50:40 PM
Quote from: Tommy Williamsen on May 14, 2008, 09:13:03 PM
I second Mattaponi Springs and Royal New Kent.  Too bad they are not in the same direction.  Both are very good.  RNK is fascinating and a ball to play. 

If you were planning a day or overnight trip from DC, would you head to Beechtree/Bulle Rock (north of Baltimore), or RNK and some other place in Richmond? 

Come to Williamsburg and you could play any of RNK, Stonehouse (another Strantz), Golden Horseshoe Gold Course (RTJ), Kingsmill River Course (Dye), and quite a few others.
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Rob_Waldron

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2008, 08:57:37 AM »
We have a little two day trip next week to Spring Creek and Mattaponi Springs. Both are outstanding! Royal New Kent is a bit in the opposite direction however I have always considered it one of the best in VA. RNK is best combined with Stonehouse in an effort to get the full "Stranz Effect". Ed Carton designed Spring Creek as well as another course about 30 to 45 minutes south in Amherst, VA called Poplar Grove. He worked for Fazio which is very eveident in his work. The design and routing of Spring Creek can give Kinloch a run for its money however the service and conditioning at Kinloch are second to none. Hunting Hawk is located between Spring Creek and Mattaponi and can easily be combined for a good 36 hole day. 
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Greg Holland

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2008, 09:36:11 AM »
I have heard that Providence Golf Club (by Lester George) is a good public option in Richmond as well.
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Rich Brittingham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2008, 09:53:50 AM »
Just got back from a Williamsburg golf trip, played RNK, Stonehouse, Kiskiack and Golden Horseshoe (Gold).  I'd reccomend playing RNK and the Gold course as there are as dramatic a comparison between golf course architecture as you can find anywhere, and you'll love both of them.  The par 3's at the Gold course alone are worth the trip.
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Carl Rogers

Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2008, 09:54:50 AM »
Riverfront in Suffolk, VA is not that far from RNK.
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Lester George

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #14 on: May 16, 2008, 05:54:29 PM »
Dan,

Call me next week.

Lester
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CJ Carder

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #15 on: May 16, 2008, 11:40:55 PM »
Quote from: Rich Brittingham on May 15, 2008, 09:53:50 AM
Just got back from a Williamsburg golf trip, played RNK, Stonehouse, Kiskiack and Golden Horseshoe (Gold).  I'd reccomend playing RNK and the Gold course as there are as dramatic a comparison between golf course architecture as you can find anywhere, and you'll love both of them.  The par 3's at the Gold course alone are worth the trip.

Ahhh, you should've let me know you were coming - I could have saved you some money maybe at the 'Shoe.

Quote from: Carl Rogers on May 15, 2008, 09:54:50 AM
Riverfront in Suffolk, VA is not that far from RNK.

Riverfront is a solid hour from RNK, maybe more if you find the tunnel traffic or whatever else they throw at you on I-64.
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wsmorrison

Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #16 on: May 17, 2008, 07:14:44 AM »
The Flynn Invitational is at the Country Club of Virginia in late September of this year.  I am excited to see their James River Course.  Lester George completed a recent restoration/renovation of the course.

Not quite Richmond, but has anyone played Sewell's Point GC (formerly Norfolk CC) near Norfolk, VA?  It is listed as a Donald Ross course but it is a Flynn course beyond a shadow of doubt.  It appears that the club had two courses for a time, perhaps the NLE was a Ross.  While the Flynn course retains its routing and basic hole designs, it lost a lot of interrupted fairways and areas of what I think are undulating hollows in rough.



« Last Edit: May 17, 2008, 08:16:41 PM by Wayne Morrison »
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cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #17 on: May 17, 2008, 07:40:37 AM »
On the private side, Kinlock

On the Public side:

There are 2 Micheal Strantz courses there, the better of the 2 in Royal New Kent, the other is Stonehouse.

I thought MS was particularly creative and worked outside the envelope, so I made it a point to play his entire body of work, which is pretty easy to do and that body is just not that vast as he unfortunately died at a very young age.

If you are interested in doing this, google Micheal Strantz Golf trail and it you will find it.
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Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Bill Gayne

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #18 on: May 17, 2008, 01:54:33 PM »
Wayne,

It's been a while since I've played Sewells Point. It's a flat piece of land with a couple of ponds that come into play. I don't remember anything like in the drawing you posted with interrupted fairways. Grass runs tee to green and not much in the way of hazards of the tee. The maintenance is of similar quality to other military bases I've played in the area (Fort Eustis and Langley) which is to say is that it's about the level of most munis.  The course seems popular with local Navy retirees.
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Paul Sinclair

Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #19 on: May 18, 2008, 10:05:42 AM »
Dan,

Spring Creek and Royal New Kent are great choices NEAR Richmond (each about 45 minutes from town.) Hunting Hawk is a good choice IN Richmond (actually in Glen Allen, but Glen Allen is a part of the greater Richmond MSA.) Providence Golf Club is also a fun track at a good price on the southside of town.

Lester George is a local Richmond architect and has spread a large footprint on the golfing landscape here. He designed Kinloch and has renovated many courses in town (Country Club of Virginia, Providence, Salisbury - probably others I'm not thinking of right now.)  Lester's most recent major redesign (well beyond a renovation) was at the Club where I belong - Willow Oaks. It will be reopening sometime in June. If you have an hour to kill and want to run around the course, send me an email. I think it would be interesting for you to see while you are here.

Lester is also developing Ballyhack in the southwest part of Virginia near Roanoke. It is an amazing piece of land and is going to be quite a special place.
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Dan Chapman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #20 on: May 20, 2008, 01:02:36 PM »
All,
Thank you for the responses, they were very helpful.

Lester,
Check your e-mail when you get a chance.

Paul,
I appreciate that very generous offer.  I am not certain what my plans will be yet, but if I get the time I will shoot you an e-mail.
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Dan Chapman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Richmond, VA recommendation
« Reply #21 on: July 15, 2008, 06:11:58 PM »
Unfortunately I was never able to play on my last trip.  I will be back in the area next week and am hoping that I'll get a chance to play on either the 24th or 29th.  If so, anyone interested in getting together for a round somewhere on one of those days, maybe Spring Creek?
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