GreatHoles
by DAVID PARTRIDGE
T
he VSGA has fashioned an outstanding lineup
of courses for its 2018 championship schedule.
(See the full schedule on Page 9 of this planning
guide). Among the premier designs featured in
this year’s competitive lineup is The Federal Club
in Glen Allen, which will host the VSGA Amateur
Championship June 26–30.
Long recognized as one of the elite layouts in the Common-
wealth, The Federal Club is an Arnold Palmer Signature Course
that stretches to nearly 7,100 yards and with a rating of 74.1 and a
slope of 145, and it will provide an excellent test for the state’s finest
amateurs. While The Federal Club is indeed a demanding course
with a number of forced carries, deep bunkers, and fast, undulating
greens, Mr. Palmer created six sets of tees so that players of all skill
levels can enjoy their experience at his signature design.
One of the best holes at The Federal Club is the fifth, a slightly
downhill par-3 that measures 202 yards from the championship
tee. The large green is well guarded by two flanking bunkers and
another in the rear; while the putting surface is generous, it is
cleverly divided by numerous strategic slopes that make a solid,
accurate strike with precise distance control a must to create a
good birdie opportunity.
While the green incorporates many tactical undulations that place
a premium on both ball-striking and putting, the slopes are also not so
severe that a player can’t recover from a slightly errant shot that still
finds the putting surface. Indeed, Mr. Palmer has created a green—
8
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 8
as he did with most of
his designs—that sup-
ports a multitude of
quality hole locations
YARDAGES
to offer the golfer an
ever-changing variety of
BLACK:
GOLD:
playing conditions while
202 yards
147 yards
maintaining a consis-
tent golfing challenge.
BLUE:
RED:
Since opening in
171 yards
118/108 yards
2007, The Federal Club
WHITE:
JUNIOR:
has been a strong sup-
171 yards
102 yards
porter of the VS GA
and the club will be a
superb venue for this
year’s Amateur Championship. Apart from regularly hosting VSGA
One-Day events, TFC has also been the venue for the VSGA Senior
Four-Ball, the VSGA Four-Ball, and the VSGA Four-Ball Match Play
Championship. The Federal Club also annually hosts The Signature,
an excellent invitational event that draws a fine field of amateurs,
seniors, and super seniors every April to play this great course.
PAR 3
A five-time VSGA Player of the Year and a multi-time winner of
the VSGA Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur, David
Partridge is the author of this series. David lives in the
Richmond area and works as a mortgage banker.
vsga.org
No. 5
THE FEDERAL CLUB