No . 17
KESWICK GOLF CLUB FULL CRY COURSE
By David Partridge
LOGAN WHITTON
T he VSGA Women ’ s Amateur will be conducted July 14-16 , and this year marks the 100th playing of this historic championship . To mark the occasion and commemorate the rich history of this event , the VSGA will honor all the past Amateur champions who have been such an integral part of the history of women ’ s golf in the Commonwealth .
The VSGA is delighted to bring this centennial championship to Keswick Golf Club and its outstanding Full Cry Course . There is no club in the Commonwealth that is a more passionate supporter of the VSGA than Keswick Golf Club — over just the past eight years , the Full Cry Course has hosted the Amateur , the Mid-Amateur , the Senior Amateur and now , the Women ’ s Amateur .
The Full Cry Course , one of the last designs of legendary architect Pete Dye , has won numerous honors , including Golf Digest ’ s Editor ’ s Choice Award as one of the “ Best Golf Resorts in the Americas ” on multiple occasions . The superb quality of the Full Cry Course — in combination with the luxurious Keswick Hall resort that has been designated as a Historic Hotel of America National Trust for Historic Preservation — makes Keswick the ideal venue for this memorable championship .
Full Cry — like so many of Dye ’ s designs ( the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass , the Ocean Course at Kiawah , Harbour Town
Black : 579 yards
Gold : 526 yards
PAR 5
YARDAGES
Green : 466 yards
Red : 429 yards
Golf Links , to name just a few )— is known for its highly climactic closing holes . Four spectacular designs make up the dramatic finish at Full Cry , including the par-5 , uphill 17th , where players , even after a solid drive , will face a blind second shot with multiple bunkers in play . Golfers must strike a solid second to position themselves well for their approach to this relatively small green ( one of only two putting surfaces at Full Cry that is less than 5,000 sq . ft .). The green has plenty of slope and movement , so proximity to the cup is a huge plus .
Always known for his innovative style ( he used a flatbed train car to serve as the bridge to the tee structure at 17 ), boundless energy , and the use of railroad ties and planks , Dye always designed his courses by “ walking the land ”. As he was nearing completion of number 17 , Pete had yet to settle on the final location of the teeing complex . To accomplish this , Pete was out with various members of his team and the staff of Keswick one day as dusk neared . Pete , then 89 years old , instructed everyone to stay put as he proceeded to crawl through all kinds of undergrowth and bushes for nearly 90 minutes ( it had long since become pitch black ). The other members of the entourage , who could only hear Pete rumbling around in the dark , suddenly heard him exclaim , “ I found it !” That is the dedication and genius of Pete Dye .
A six-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 serving clients throughout Virginia .
vsga . org M ARCH / A PRIL 2025 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 17