When many of us think of Virginia ’ s remarkable golf history , our minds wander immediately to a short list of impressive venues — the Country Club of Virginia , the Homestead , Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and Wiliamsburg ’ s Golden Horseshoe — that have richly dominated the Commonwealth ’ s golfing past . That stream of consciousness is well-justified .
However , the map of Virginia is dotted with many other clubs and courses that deserve a place at the table when discussing excellent golf . Often in small towns , each brings its own often colorful histories , pantheons of talented players and memorable events . Together , they are the heart of golfing life for thousands of Virginia golfers .
This is a story about just one of those quiet , understated but excellent clubs that , along with the better-known heavy hitters , rounds out Virginia ’ s golf history .
Danville Carves Niche in Virginia Golf History by Kevin Casey
Bobby Mitchell was one of Danville ' s finest golfers . He leaps for joy here after besting Jack Nicklaus in the 1972 MONY Tournament of Champions .
DANVILLE GOLF CLUB Danville GC is two miles from where U . S . Route 29 crosses into North Carolina , far from Virginia golf ’ s critical mass . In a community of almost 40,000 today , Danville GC was one of the first courses in the area , dating back to 1916 .
But it wasn ’ t until 1919 , when Donald Ross designed the first nine holes of today ’ s course , that things started to pop . The most prolific golf course designer of the “ Golden Era of Golf Architecture ,” Ross is perhaps most famous for his iconic work at Pinehurst Golf Resort , 120 miles to the south . Ross ’ s Danville GC design was true to his brand , with wide fairways and impressively undulating greens .
By 1931 , the club added its second nine , in keeping with Ross ’ earlier design . Built through a thick forest , the new back side proved to be as tight off the tee as the front side was generous . The course was renovated by well-known Middle Atlantic architect Gene Hamm in 1964 and has weathered the test of time and technology .
A 2018 transition from bentgrass to Champion Bermuda greens and recent input by Ross renovation specialist Chris Spence are strengthening the Ross look and feel , a backto-the-future approach that leaves the track stronger and more challenging than ever .
The course now stretches out to 6,380 yards , carries a 71.1 course rating and a 132 slope . Harry Lea , past VSGA president , long-time Danville GC member and veteran of the amateur wars , describes the course ’ s length as deceptive , “ Danville ’ s sneaky difficult . It feels like most of the tee shots are uphill , with approaches into greens that accept only well struck shots .”
LIKE BEARS TO HONEY In the 1920s Danville GC attracted steadily growing attention from golfers throughout the East Coast . In 1923 , Francis Ouimet , former U . S . Open champion and one of the nation ’ s best-known players , dropped by one afternoon and drew a large gallery . Ty Cobb , soon after the end of his unparalleled baseball career , played Danville GC on a 1929 trip to learn more about the tobacco industry .
Danville GC ’ s attraction steadily grew . One of the era ’ s most famous golfers , Scotsman Bobby Cruickshank , captured his sixth Virginia State Open in 1939 at the club . At the time a professional at Richmond ’ s Country Club of Virginia , Cruickshank — a Virginia Golf Hall of Famer — had earlier managed several top-ten finishes in golf ’ s major championships .
In 1950 , the club hired a former PGA Tour player , Al Smith , as its head professional . A popular golfer on tour , Smith was the catalyst for rounds at Danville GC by the likes of all-time great Sam Snead , South African Bobby Locke , and Snead ’ s Tour running buddies Johnny Palmer , Clayton Heafner and Johhny Bulla .
Not just a good host , Smith played a more important role . An excellent golfer ( Snead once told Harry Lea that Smith was “ the best sand player on tour ”), he was a role
JEFF ROBBINS / AP
8 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M AY / J UNE 2022
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