JON HOOD |
Fawn Lake Country Club is an ardent supporter of the VSGA as well as the local golf community in the greater Fredericksburg area . Located in Spotsylvania Courthouse and completed in 1995 , Fawn Lake is an Arnold Palmer signature course that opened to rave reviews and has been considered among Virginia ’ s finest courses for nearly three decades . Built on property immediately bordering the site of the Battle of the Wilderness , Fawn Lake was cut from densely wooded , beautifully rolling terrain that was ideal for a golf course . The Battle of the Wilderness was one of the largest , most significant , and bloodiest battles in the Civil War . Taking place in May 1864 , it marked the first stage of a major Union offensive toward Richmond , ordered by the newly named Union general-in-chief Ulysses S . Grant , and is considered by many noted historians as the beginning of the end for the Confederacy .
Ten years ago , Jon Hurst , ( the 2022 VSGA Senior Golfer of the Year ), Jon ’ s mom , Mandy , and Steve Lovelace , the owner of Fredericksburg Golf Center , decided to resurrect the Fredericksburg Amateur and through their hard work — together with the generous support of
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Fawn Lake that now serves as the permanent venue for the event — the tournament has become a major success . The tournament honors the memory of Jon ’ s former wife , Julie , who following a long , courageous battle , passed away from cancer . To date , the event has raised nearly $ 50,000 for Hospice Support Care , Inc . that serves the city of Fredericksburg as well as the surrounding counties .
One of the many outstanding holes at Fawn Lake Country Club is the beautiful 15th , a mid-length par-3 that is strikingly framed by the kinds of thick hardwood trees that gave the Battle of the Wilderness its name . The tee shot is played across a tranquil pond to a two-tiered green that is protected by a massive bunker on the right for golfers who bail out away from the water .
The putting surface at the 15th is over 40 yards deep , which allows for a variety of club selections from the tee as well as a vast array of excellent hole locations . The rear portion of the green is a shallow back shelf that requires precise distance control while the more generous front section of the green brings the water more into play on this outstanding hole .
Despite its name , the Fredericksburg Amateur is not limited to competitive
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Gray : 169 yards
Blue : 145 yards
PAR 3 YARDAGES
White / Green : 129 yards
Gold : 109 yards
golfers from the Fredericksburg area and indeed the tournament draws fine players from throughout the commonwealth . In an effort to achieve still greater success and draw an even larger field , the event moves from summer to spring in 2023 and will be held April 15-16 . If you are looking for a great tournament to play in while also supporting a very worthy cause , the Fredericksburg Amateur is an excellent choice you should consider for your tournament schedule this year .
A five-time VSGA Player of the Year , David Partridge was elected to the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame in 2020 . He lives in the Richmond area and works as a mortgage banker .
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