LEFT: The stunning view from the first tee
at Caverns Country Club in Luray.
ABOVE: Lose your ball in the cave opening
on the opening hole? Don’t go digging for
it. Just take free relief and move on.
➽ Caverns Country Club, Luray. Located
30 minutes west of The Schoolhouse
Nine is Caverns Country Club, an 18-hole
gem that features spectacular views of the
Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah
River. Built in 1976, it’s also home to
the “Cave Hole,” the par-5 1st. Yes, there
is a literal chance that your opening drive
could end up in Luray Caverns. A hole
leading to an unexcavated cavern sits in
the middle of the fairway. Don’t worry, if
you lose a ball down the hole, don’t scramble
after it. After consultation with the
USGA, it was determined that players
would receive a free drop if a ball went into
the cave. A unique feature, for sure.
known for the fortress-like stonework
fronting the green and the moat-inspired
water feature adding further protection.
NINE-HOLE FUN
We’ve already discussed the merits of the
Schoolhouse Nine, but what about other
interesting nine-hole layouts in the state?
Or for that matter, six-hole short courses?
Some private clubs like Cedar Point in
Suffolk and Farmington in Charlottesville
feature nine-hole courses adjacent to
their 18-hole championship courses. In
the case of Farmington, Bill Coore and
Ben Crenshaw turned Farmington’s old
East nine into a 10-hole course featuring
a mix of short- to medium-length holes
and a tricky, uphill 75-yard bridge hole.
As part of its new design, Birdwood Golf
Club will add a six-hole short course for
added value and family fun for Boar’s Head
Resort guests.
➽ Rock Harbor Golf Course, Winchester.
We chronicled the story of how
Denny Perry carved two 18-hole layouts
(Rock and Boulder) out of an old Winchester
quarry in the September-October
2019 issue of Virginia Golfer. Each
course features six sets of tees on each
hole, along with nine hole locations, ensuring
a different experience each time you
play the course. One hole to note: the
medium-length par-3 13th on the Boulder
Course, which features a “castle green,”
The second hole at Birdwood’s new six-hole
short course, scheduled to open this fall.
CHRIS LANG (3)
32 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY/A UGUST 2020
vsga.org