STEPHEN ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY |
Birdwood Golf at Boar ’ s Head Resort , as part of a major renovation conducted by the famed resort and the University of Virginia , reopened last summer following a complete , two-year modernization of the course . Designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Davis Love III , the remodel included a virtual full re-routing of the original design as well as the incorporation of additional land into the plan . The new layout is a totally fresh and a completely different look from the old course . In addition to the renovated design , this exciting project includes an updated 6.5 acre short-game practice facility , a challenging new putting course ( the largest in Virginia ), and a 6-hole par-3 course that opened this April . Furthermore , a $ 7 million , 15,000 square foot golf performance center has been constructed for the UVA men ’ s and women ’ s golf teams and houses offices , locker rooms , hitting bays with Trackman facilities , a putting green , and a conditioning and practice center to not only recruit , but also develop , the finest student-athletes .
Situated on land formerly called Birdwood Farm , the closing holes are framed by a picturesque house that is over 200 years old and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The course , a par-71 test
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of just over 7,100 yards from the tips with a slope rating of 136 , has opened to rave reviews from golfers and expert course raters alike ; Golf magazine recently rated Birdwood as the seventh best course in the state .
One of the best designs at Birdwood is the short 16th hole that plays from 349 yards to 170 yards . Love was ingeniously brilliant in creating this hole because it is really several different — yet equally superb — holes all rolled into one , depending upon which tee you are playing . While this hole is a par 4 on the scorecard , in a multi-day competition the tournament committee could easily even change the par on the hole to bring about greater variety of play and excitement to an event .
From the championship tee — playing across the full breadth of the penalty area of water and wetlands — the design is a classic cape hole . From the next tee up at 319 yards , the hole becomes a potentially drivable par 4 for the longest hitters ; depending on the level of competition , the same prospect exists from the blue and white tees and furthermore at 241 yards , the white tee could also be played as a very demanding par 3 , or a slightly less formidable challenge from the shorter tees .
Regardless of the tee played , Love gives the golfer options for play and thereby tests the golfer ’ s shot-making and decision-making . Even after a successful tee
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Cavalier : 349 yards
Black : 319 yards
Blue : 282 yards
PAR 4 YARDAGES
White : 241 yards
Sage : 205 yards
Orange : 170 yards
shot that avoids the penalty area and several strategic fairway bunkers , the golfer is faced with a short , yet formidable , approach to a small , well-bunkered sloping green with a distinct false front . Love has created a truly outstanding hole at the 16th and Birdwood promises to be a great venue for golf as well as future state , regional , and collegiate competitions including the 2021 VSGA Senior Amateur this August .
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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