Labor of Love
Comes to Fruition
goals, while incorporating plenty of the
“wow” factor for everyone involved.
“My impression is that it’s an incredible
transformation,” said Martin Winters,
Birdwood’s longtime PGA Director
of Golf. “Davis took something that was
really good to begin with and made it
really great.
“The routing is incredible and the course
is much more open than the old Birdwood.
Everything you see has changed.”
Five holes remain in the same corridors,
while five more are in the former corridors,
and eight brand new holes were created on
new property that was untouched before
the Love team discovered breathtaking
vistas on the “back forty.”
Birdwood’s fairways are now Zeon Zoysia
(more weather and traffic tolerant),
while the new tee boxes are Northridge
Bermuda, and the greens are V8 bentgrass,
the same as The Greenbrier’s Old White
course. The rough is a fescue, Bluegrass
mix surrounded by native areas of Irish
Links Mix, fine fescues and natural grasses
such as Broom’s Edge, which will eventually
define and frame the holes from
the golfer’s eye.
That’s only the beginning for the new
Birdwood. More upgrades include:
• A change from asphalt to concrete
cart paths
• More footbridges around lakes and
creeks
• Triple the amount of irrigation
• Brand new bunkering
• Everything is now walk-mowed
• Brand new tee boxes, including
six sets of tees for golfers of every
level, ranging from 3,800 yards to
more than 7,000
• Tripled the number of holes that
are on the course’s lakes to bring
more water into play
• More elongated greens so golfers
can get a two- to three-club difference
on approach shots
• An improved driving range
“It’s not really a renovation,
it’s a brand new golf course.”
—Davis Love III
green in the Commonwealth, it is fashioned
after similar greens at Pinehurst
and Bandon Dunes, but with small fescue
islands that break up the massive space
and designed to match the slopes of the
surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
“We envision folks coming out for dinner
and drinks, hanging out and having a
friendly putting competition,” Winters
said. “Also, corporate groups can conduct
team building while coming out to music,
a bar, and just having fun.”
Winters noted that the club can host
its junior program and First Tee events
on the putting course.
Same holds true for Birdwood’s new,
six-hole, par-3 course, which is located
in the vicinity of former holes 4 and 5.
A Home for All
In addition, the Love team expanded the
old putting green behind the back patio
to nearly an acre-sized putting course
that can host various competitions, while
providing golfers an area to warm up for
their round. Perhaps the largest putting
Davis Love III, center, and his
team discuss plans during the
construction phase at Birdwood.
BOARS HEAD RESORT
24 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY/A UGUST 2020
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