Top 10 Courses: Virginia

Here’s our list of the top 10 courses in Virginia, also known as the Old Dominion

1. THE OLDE FARM, Bristol 

Unfurled on a stretch of rolling farmland in the Appalachian foothills, this links-style design by Bobby Weed, always in superb condition, is a full test of both shotmaking and course management.

2. THE CASCADES, Hot Springs 

The grand dame of Virginia courses, celebrating its centennial this year, this strategic William Flynn design nestled in the Allegheny foothills remains the centerpiece of the famed Homestead Resort.

3. KINLOCH, Manakin-Sabot 

Numerous split fairways combine with a meandering stream and a back nine built around a 70-acre lake to bring decision-making to the fore on this ultra-private Lester George/Vinny Giles course just north of Richmond.  

4. ROBERT TRENT JONES G.C., Gainesville 

The site of the inaugural Presidents Cup (1994) reflects the gambits for which its eponymous designer is known—expansive fairways and generous greens protected by numerous flash bunkers—with the last 11 holes running along Lake Manassas.

5. BALLYHACK, Roanoke 

A true mountain course with constant and dramatic elevation change, its broad tilting fairways, menaced by rugged blowout bunkers, lead to greens that are among the largest in the world, notably the 18th at well over 20,000 square feet.

6. FARMINGTON, Charlottesville 

Set on a 1,000-acre plantation dating back to the American Revolution (including a clubhouse designed in part by Thomas Jefferson), this Fred Findlay design meanders through valleys and across a diversity of landforms, with the Blue Ridge Mountains always in view.   

7. COUNTRY CLUB OF VIRGINIA (JAMES RIVER), Richmond 

The site of the annual Dominion Energy event on the Champions Tour, the James River course, designed by William Flynn, is a traditional parkland layout weaving through tree-clad, rolling terrain, one of three 18s at this private Richmond-area club.  

8. TRUMP NATIONAL (CHAMPIONSHIP), Potomac Falls 

Water comes into play on each of the last 12 holes of this Tom Fazio/Arthur Hills layout that sits smack beside the Potomac. Designed expressly for championship play, it hosted a Senior PGA Championship won by Bernhard Langer.  

9. THE VIRGINIAN, Bristol 

A Fazio design in the foothills of the Appalachians, this is a member-friendly course with broad, forgiving fairways, but is also a strong enough test to have hosted the U.S. Senior Amateur (2003). 

10. GOLDEN HORSESHOE (GOLD), Williamsburg 

The famed Colonial Williamsburg Resort boasts 36 holes of golf led by this Robert Trent Jones design that was restored six years ago by his son Rees. Water is a frequent peril and the stars are the four par threes.

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