Ashley Plantation Country Club

Ashley Plantation Country Club, Daleville, VA, is a hilly course. You’ll love the setting of this course near the Blude Ridge, but it’s not an easy walking course.

The design takes advantage of the Roanoke Valley views from almost every tee box. Each hole is unique, creating an opportunity to use every club in your bag. This is a ‘must play’ course. It’s affordable.

It’s only one of two courses in Virginia with a Par 6 – only 725 yards from the tips. The island green No 10, is just a little out of the way, but it’s challenging and a great opportunity for par! The views of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains are spectacular, including the view on Hole 14. They say, you can see what resembles a sleeping giant on top of the mountain to the west.

Ashley Plantation is a genuine country club with a pool, tennis courts (which will soon be turned into pickle ball courts). One of our favorite holes besides Hole 5, Par 6 (it’s a beauty) is the Island Hole No 10, Par 3.

When you go to Ashley Plantation, tell them we sent you!

Auburn Hills Golf Club

We had a very nice visit to Auburn Hills Golf Club (Riner, VA) fall of 2025. By any measure, it was a beautiful fall day in the mountains. The course amplified that beauty by its attractive rolling layout, its lush roughs, fairways and greens, its friendly and helpful staff, and fair but challenging course. Jeff Gandee, the director of golf, emphasized the latter when he declared their goal is to keep the course in excellent shape, and also remember that golfers come to enjoy themselves during a round of golf. It's the staff’s goal to help golfers enjoy their rounds. On the wall of the snack area is the course's motto "For an experience, like no other." They want you to enjoy your round and come back again and again.

Auburn Hill GC is locally owned and caters to students at both Radford and Virginia Tech as well as the local community. When asked about their plans for future enhancements, Jeff noted that ""if it aint broke, why fix it""? And after playing our round, we wholeheartedly agreed. Annual rounds have risen to 35K in 2024. Student memberships are available at exceptionally low prices: two middle Schools, two high schools, and college students regularly play there. Mr. Gandee has coached Auburn Hills High School to two recent championships.

One very unique feature for a golf course is the small leaf blowers on a few greens that are surrounded by trees. This allows you to be able to clear your green before you make your putt. Despite the high traffic levels, the course was in fabulous condition, and has openings for your next round of golf – be sure to tell them VGCR sent you!

Ballyhack Golf Course

Ballyhack Golf Club has earned a spot near the top of golf courses in Virginia. We had another review team hosted on Thursday, July 15. As reported by our team – It’s beautiful, takes advantage of views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stay in the fairway, and you’ll stay out of trouble! The greens are perfect – fast and undulating. And…the staff: Matt, Ian and Bill are amazing to work with.

No doubt, Ballyhack Golf Club is one of the top courses in Virginia. The five tee boxes allow you to choose the level of challenge. Greg and I had a great time with Jason, a resent Bridgewater College grad and our host for the round. We also had our personalized forecaddie! Be prepared for a great experience at Ballyhack. While we were disappointed by the shortened round due to thunderstorms moving through the area, the opportunity to visit this Lester L George designed gem was worth our time.

Blue Hills Golf Course

Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited Blue Hills Golf Club in Roanoke. We met GM & Director of Golf John Steffen - an energetic visionary for creating a great golf experience. Blue Hills has 48,000 - 50,000 rounds per year. Considering their diriving range equipped with TopTracer, plenty of hitting bays and two large practice putting areas, they have plenty of families showing up to teach their kids and young people showing up to sharpen their game. And, there's more to come.

Blue Hills has lot's of elevation changes and a cuple of blind tee shots. Walkable - only for those in great shape.

The greens (while just recently aerified), bunkers and fairways were in very good condition. While there were still holes on the greens from aerification, this investment pays off.

Favorite holes: Par 4, Hole 5 is slightly downhill to a berm in front of a pond. Just over the pond is the long, narrow green. It's a beauty. And, I'd take the par 5, No 18, in spite of the blind tee shot.

Blue Hills is one of few courses where the 9th hole doesn't lead back to the clubhouse, so they deliver food & beverage to you on the course. What a great treat!

If you go - tell them we sent you!

Botetourt Golf & Swim Club

Tucked away in a stunning landscape of mountains and valleys, Botetourt Golf & Swim Club, proposed to be renamed, Botetourt Golf Club, offers a breath of fresh air for players from all across the Roanoke Valley and beyond.

Botetourt Country Golf & Swim Club opened in 1962 as a 9-hole golf course. From famed golf course architect, Andrew Green, the front nine layout/design is uncertain, but likely by a local player or pro. The back nine is newer and rumored to have been influenced by Buddy Loving about ten years later. Today, it’s a public course and is on the VSGA VIP list. 

The Superintendent, Steven Hansen, has turned the course around dramatically. The only challenges they are facing are the environmental elements. They have some dead trees to cut down and clean up, but they are in the process of cleaning up the course.

Their opportunities come along with the new pickleball courts and the closing of the pool. 

The tee boxes, fairways, rough, bunkers and the greens were in exceptional condition. This course is absolutely beautiful! It is full of trees that have been there forever. A pond and a creek run through the course.

They offer a variety of memberships – yearly, monthly, weekly, and weekends. A very affordable course.

Be sure and tell them Virginia Golf Course Reviews sent you. 

Cliff View Golf Club

Cliff View is roughly halfway between two great courses – The Homestead and The Greenbrier Resorts. If you are looking for a modest priced golf experience, Cliff View has the perfect accommodations and golf experience to offer. It is a jewel on the road to discovery! The surrounding area provides activities such as hiking and biking trails, trout fishing, tubing/rafting on the Jackson River. These activities are within easy driving distance from the course. 

Cliff View is listed as the best kept secret in the Alleghany Highlands and we totally agree with that statement. If you are looking for a big name designer or perfectly manicured fairways, this is not your place. If you are looking for a great time on the golf course, Cliff View hits all the marks. Jen runs the course, cooks the food, maintains the Inn, and does not sleep. Jen wants you to customize your experience while at Cliff View. The Cliff View website has a tab called Digital Concierge. This will allow you to explore other activities in the area, fishing, floating, hiking, breweries, and many other things. An average golfer can score well here choosing the right tee box – then go home happy and look forward to returning for another round. 

Cliff View has been open since 1996. You can play tees that are 4515 to 6035 yards. It might be a little rough in some areas but I challenge you to find a better price or scenery. Cliff View is going to be a jewel in the future. You can play golf, eat delicious food, spend the night, and if you are lucky, catch live music. Give Cliff View a try. Have fun on the course.

Mariners Landing Country Club

Mariners Landing Country Club is on the shores of Smith Mountain Lake and in the midst of a thriving residential community. An 18-hole golf course designed by the late Robert Trent Jones Sr., this course is built into the hills, shore lines and woods of this lakefront setting, creating a setting and golf experience that challenges and entertains the golfer and anyone who dares try to conquer it. It’s many undulations and carries from tee to fairway to green with bunkers placed along the way to add visual and careful shot planning!

This is a gem you’ll want to add to your play list. Brad Harman & Jeff Scott have it going! They’re working hard to bring this course back to it’s glory days – and piece by piece they’re getting it done: improved irrigation, cleaned up cart paths & bunkers. Their methodical process to address these issues improve the golfer experience tremendously – and, that’s not to say they don’t do that now. Our favorite holes: Hole 2, Par 3; Hole 5, Par 3 (Signature Hole, a great view of Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding hills); Hole 10, Par 5; Hole 13, Par 4; Hole 16, Par 3; Hole 18, Par 4.

We experienced the hospitality of Bruno’s for both lunch and dinner. Bruno’s after the round was hopping! Full of golfers and non-golfer neighbors from the community. It was amazing.

Get this course on your schedule and tell Brad Harmon, we sent you!

Ole Monterey Golf Club

This course just temporarily closed - we’ll keep you posted. Our team visited Ole Monterey Golf Club  in August 2024. This par 71 track was designed by William Flynn and built in 1920. It is the second oldest club in the Roanoke Valley.

Ole Monterey’s historical significance?  It’s the home of William Fleming, former governor of Virginia and a physician/officer during the American Revolutionary War is located on this property. And, Sam Snead apparently still holds the course record at 61. He and Arnold Palmer have both played friendly matches on this course in the early 60s.

In 1960 the course was purchased by Cy Bahakel, a Jewish golfer who wasn’t allowed to play at the other courses in the valley. It is still part of Cy N. Bahakel Enterprises.

We recommend Ole Monterey Golf Club focus on maintenance and upkeep for the foreseeable future. While it has good structural bones, it’s in much need of care. We heard prior to the review that this was the case, but until you really see it, you want to believe otherwise.

When you go – please tell the team Virginia Golf Course Reviews sent you! There are really good people running the place.

The Homestead – Old Course & The Cascades

Our visit in Sept 2023 to the two courses at The Omni Homestead Resort – The Old Course and The Cascades Course was spectacular. Though they are pricy, these are two nationally ranked courses that should be on your bucket list. The Omni is investing millions in renovations and upgrades at The Homestead to make an even better experience. The Old Course: Built in 1892, with six holes, the first tee remains as the oldest first tee in continuous use in America. It’s unique design of 6 par 3s, 6 par 4s and 6 par 5s is unusual, but presents a great experience. From the tips it only plays 6,099 yards – not easy – but it’s walkable. The iconic hotel structure is visible from several tee boxes on this course, especially on Hole 14 tee. Favorite Holes: Par 4 8, Par 3 9, Par 5 13 and Par 4 17.

The Cascades Course: Built in 1923, this is undoubtedly one of the finest mountain courses in the country. It’s national treasure. Sam Snead was once the head pro at The Cascades. From the tips the course is 6,909 yards, And, plays longer, but it’s also walkable, even more than The Old Course. Challenging holes: Par 4, No 2 – side hill; Par 5, No 5 – a winding uphill, downhill fairway; Par 4, No 7 – elevated tee and elevated green with a big valley between; finishing holes: 16-18; two par 5s and a par 3 to finish the round. All for an excellent experience. Make sure you learn to know the starter, Lee Perry, he’s got a lot of great stories.

The Waterfront Country Club

Virginia Golf Course Reviews visited with Aaron Dooley at The Waterfront Country Club near Moneta in August – September of 2022. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Having recently gone through renovations, you’ll notice the improvements along the way. The Zoysia grass fairways gives you a great lie for every shot. Aesthetically, the rolling fairways and undulating greens give enough challenge to golfers at any level. Water comes into play on six holes, creating some risk/reward opportunities. The Par 3, Hole 17 is a very cool downhill shot to a green protected by water in the front and the Waterfront logo on a hill in the back.