[Matthew Runde]

I'm moving to Richmond to attend grad school.  While I won't have much (if any) time for other things, I'd like to know if there are any interesting courses near there.

[Dale_McCallon]

Matthew,

I don't live in Richmond but am there for business 2 or 3 times a year.  I'm sure some of the locals can give you some more info.

But from what I've seen and heard, Kinloch is the cream of the crop.  I've never played it, but it is almost universally praised on here.  I know Country Club of Virginia (2 courses I think) has a Flynn pedigree but apparently has been altered quite a bit.

On the public side, I think your best bet is to hop on I-64 and head towards Williamsburg.  Royal New Kent is not too far from Richmond, and then as you get to Williamsburg there are lots of options.  Golden Horseshoe gets lots of kudos.  Kingsmill has 3 or 4 courses.  I played the course by C Strange (Woodlands??) and it was an ok resort course.  Played the River Course by Dye and the staff treated me like crap so that probably altered my view of the course.

In Richmond, Providence is a Lester George that is inexpensive and a fun course.  Belmont is a Tillinghast course owned by the city which if renovated could be great, but is usually in pretty rough shape.  Federal Club is a Palmer that just went public..I wasn't too impressed by it.  Hunting Hawk is east of Richmond off I-64 that I liked my one time around, but played w/some non golfing types scrambling and dringking.

\Independence is  a Fazio public that gestspanned on here, and while I wouldn't call is special, it is worth a play every now and then.

Where are you going to grad school?

[BCrosby]

If Charlottesville counts, I played Farmington CC a couple of times last weekend and enjoyed it enormously. A Golden Age course that was laid on some very intersting terrain. Great fun.

One thing to note. FCC calls for a number of tee shots to fw's that cross ridges and then fall away down to a green. On those holes you will not see where your ball rolls out. Where the hole also involves a slight turn, it is great stuff. You had better be able to shape your drive or hit a spot with pin-piont accuracy. I loved it.

A feature you don't see much of on modern courses. Why that is the case baffles me.   

Bob

[Steve D]

Matthew,

I live in Richmond and can pretty much echo the statements made by Dale. 

Some other notables are Pendleton (I have not played this one), Mattopani Springs just north of Richmond and Spring Creek which is about 45 minutes west of Richmond towards Charlottesville.  There is a new Nicklaus design that opened this summer called Westham Golf Club.  It is only 9 holes for now.  The Foundry is a private club that I have not played, but hear is very nice as well.  Also out near Royal New Kent is a new course called Viniterra that is supposed to be worth checking out, but I have not made it to yet.

There are a lot of courses within an hour of Richmond.  You will have plenty of options.

Steve

[Bruce Wellmon]

What is/was that other Mike Strantz course near Royal New Kent? Stonehouse?

[Roger Wolfe]

I don't know about any classic architecture, but there are some great modern courses in the area.

Royal New Kent (20 miles east) is one of Strantz's first designs and is something else.
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44888.0/

Mattaponi Springs (20 miles north) is a Lohmann on an incredible piece of property.
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,18709.0/


Jefferson Lakeside is a classic Ross in the heart of downtown Richmond.  I know Kris Spence has
done a master plan for them, but have never played it.  I know it hasn't been significantly altered
since DR built it in the thirties.  http://jeffersonlakeside.com/

Have fun!

[Matthew Runde]

Very helpful suggestions.  Thanks, all.

Dale, I'll be attending the Brandcenter at VCU.  I'll be studying creative technology in advertising, and finding ways to get deep into debt!

[Wade Whitehead]

Interesting Architecture "In" Richmond: Kinloch
Just east of Richmond: Royal New Kent
Just west: Spring Creek
Just north: Mattaponi Springs
Just south: Independence (a clear fourth on this list, but well worth it if you're a VSGA member and like to walk)

For emphasis: Kinloch is head and shoulders above everything else.

WW

[Criss Titschinger]

I'll be attending the Brandcenter at VCU.

I remembered CC of Virginia being very close to UR. I started my college experience there, but then transfered. Didn't take up golf until after I left.

[Kevin Lynch]

What is/was that other Mike Strantz course near Royal New Kent? Stonehouse?

Yes, Stonehouse is another 10 miles or so east along Rt 64 past RNK.  However, when I was there in late July, I was surprised how the conditioning at Stonehouse had suffered, especially in comparison to other courses under the same Golf Course management umbrella (such as RNK / Kiskiack).  Nonetheless, given the small number of courses Mike Strantz created before he was taken away, it's definitely worth seeing.

[Rob_Waldron]

If you have a chance to play Kinloch, do it!
Mattaponi is interesting but verify conditions before playing.
The Federal CLub has been going through finanical difficulties and has opened to daily fee play. I would recommend it just for the conditioning.
The two Stanz courses Royal New Kent and Stonehouse have always been two of my favorites.
As indicated Westham GC which is a Nicklaus / Tom Clark collaboration has some very interesting holes. Only 9-holes are open at this point but what is there is well worth playing particularly for the bargain price.
Spring Creek is about 30-45 minutes west and well worth the trip. The UVA Men's golf team uses the course for their qualifying.
HUnting Hawk is a Bill Love design that is enjoyabel to play.

[Mike Tanner]

I've not played all the courses mentioned so far, but heartily endorse Kinloch if you ever get an invitation there. The two Strantz courses, Royal New Kent and Stonehouse, are definitely worth visiting—you might not like them, but you'll never forget them. The Tillinghast course at Belmont is a faded beauty, long-past-its-prime, classic-era course, but the bones are still there to see. You should also play the Golden Horseshoe/Gold (R.T. Jones Sr.) and the River Course (Pete Dye) in Williamsburg—take out another student loan there. And if you want to travel a little further down I-64 and across the James River to northern Suffolk, there's a Tom Doak course, one of his earliest, at Riverfront.

[Cory Lewis]

I played Hunting Hawk Monday for the first time and was pleasantly surprised!  Great Value, good condition, fun course to play.  I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a good public course in the immediate Richmond area.

[Sam Sikes]

Wholeheartedly agree with Hunting Hawk.  Perfect daily fee golf course in my mind.  I believe it does pretty well too!! 

Imagine this:  A golf course, in 2000  that was built as a business....to make money...as a GOLF COURSE.  Very refreshing when compared to how many golf courses were built as an amenities to sell homes, a model that just doesn't work.

I might actually go out there this weekend.

[jim_lewis]

I lived in Richmond for two years in the mid-eighties and was briefly a member at the Hermitage CC. At the time the club had 27 holes, and I know they added a fourth nine several years ago. I have not played the course in about 23 years. Does anyone have an opinion of the 2 courses based on recent play?

[TEPaul]

The most interesting ARCHITECTURE around Richmond Virginia I know of is Lester George, or his AKA TV persona, Lester Green!

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()