Augustine opened in 1996 and was recognized by Golf Digest as a 5th best public course to play. “The bones of this course are solid,” said Doug, and he’d like to get the course back in this same condition! There is opportunity for improvement as you’ll see in our notes, but Andy Sutherland, superintendent and Doug Walczak, Director of Golf, are doing as much as possible to make the necessary improvements to get the course back to the 1996 accolades. 

Birdwood Golf Course delivers a high-quality, strategically designed experience that balances challenge and playability. The course features exceptional conditions throughout, including immaculate bermuda tees, zoysia fairways that provide perfect lies, and fast, true bentgrass greens. Nearly every hole incorporates thoughtful risk/reward considerations, ensuring that golfers of all abilities remain engaged throughout their round.

Cutalong at Tributer Resort, near Lake Anna, with Tom Clark’s design just doesn’t get old. There’s something about seeing this course evolve over the last few years that lets you know Clark knew what he was doing with the natural contours of the land – and taking advantage of the unpredictable way the wind plays with the course.

Fawn Lake Country Club is a private golf course located in a gated community near Spotsylvania, VA. There is little that compares with this in the area. The course is a 30-year old Arnold Palmer design, featuring Zoysia fairways, large bent grass greens, and fescue rough. The course could favorably compete with the finer courses in the Charlottesville area, and the community would be unmatched.

Forest Greens Golf Club is an excellent value, public golf club near Quantico‬ ‭Military Base. We arrived on a perfect fall day with clear skies, no‬ wind, brilliant foliage and perfect playing conditions. The course was‬ in excellent shape, with greens, fairways and tees lush and well‬ maintained.‬

Our Virginia Golf Course Reviews team visited Hobbs Hole Golf Course (Tappahannock, VA) for review sessions June & August of 2023. We enjoyed Jeffrey Timmons’ course design and the tweaks to the course the last few years. Hobbs Hole is very playable and an easy walking course. The undulations of the fairways and greens, and the placement of the bunkers create challenges for the best of players. It was fun to play and with no two holes the same – it was interesting as well. No two holes are the same! Pace of play is expected to be under 3 1/2 hours, or the locals get upset!

The experience Keswick starts the moment you enter the pro shop. High quality shirts, hats and golf equipment awaits. The locker room has 3 separate locker rooms, not counting the sauna! Walk ahead to the grill, and grab a REAL meal before you golf, or just enjoy some ambience at the bar. Walk downstairs to back of the clubhouse and you can experience their robust practice facilities – 3 rows of practice tees under regular rotation to keep the facilities fresh, or work on your short game at chipping areas or practice bunkers.

Lake Monticello Golf Club offers everything a golfer would want in a home course: a variety of tee‬ boxes, reasonable fees, friendly staff, game improvement areas, restaurant and bar,‬ and challenging, scenic golf. Not only that, it’s well run, managed and the‬ superintendent, Jim Prucnal, does a fantastic job of preserving the course, even in dry‬ heat. In fact, his reputation around other superintendents is well known. Lake Monticello‬ is fortunate to have him.‬

General Manager, Eric Barnes, is a ‘walk around’ manager. The day we visited, he was moving between the front desk, the starter and the superintendent to make sure things were running smoothly. Recent updates on the course – Hole No 10 and bunkers around the course are in progress. 

Our team visited Meadowcreek Golf Course, a public municipal course owned by the City of Charlottesville. The first nine awas built in 1974 by Raymond Loving. An additional nine was later added by Bill Love of Ault, Clark & Assoc to create a Par 71 course. In March 2024, Troon Golf assumed management and has been in charge of maintenance since 2019. Troon is set to make some important adjustments that will benefit the course and its amenities.

Meadows Farms is a kick in the pants! This course, designed by Bill Ward, Jr., has unique, creative layouts and is well kept. Meadows Farms Golf Course used to be a farm and has a history of Civil War battlefield hospital and memorials to loyal staff and dedicated golf members throughout. While the Island, Longest Hole, and Waterfall are the 3 signature holes, and also serve as the name of 3 different 9-hole courses, there are 3 or 4 other holes that could claim “signature” or “unique status.” Not found in too many places – a warmup hole, a baseball outfield par 3, landscaped slats that protect bunkers, a unique set of mounts that separates two holes, and several greens that are constructed and tucked in around ponds and streams.

Old Trail Golf Club, Crozet, Virginia sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a few miles from access to Skyline Drive and The Blue Ridge Parkway. The Zoysia grass fairways make for a great lie every time you keep the ball in play on the fairway! You’ll want to treat yourself to a round of golf with the folks at Old Trail.

Somerset Farms Golf Club is part of the Meadows Farms Golf Course family of courses. They are making significant improvements over the next few years, starting with the greens. Everyday is an improvement. The fairways‬ are in good shape. Somerset is a solid public course. The front nine is not long, and not difficult. Off-line shots are recoverable. However, the fairways are close together and it’s possible to play from a neighboring fairway.

The team from Virginia Golf Course Reviews made a visit to The Greene Hills Club. Greene Hills is an outstanding private golf club that allows VSGA VIP card holders to play Monday – Wednesday each week.

Devils Knob Golf Course Wintergreen,Virginia is a beast! This Ellis Maples designed course is difficult but so much fun to play. Narrow fairways off the tee are a real challenge. The strategically placed fairway and green-side bunkers require careful shot considerations at every turn.

Geoff Redgrave hosted Virginia Golf Course Reviews at Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen Resort, October 23. They played Monocan and Tuckahoe courses and loved the varying lengths of the Par 4s and Par 5s.