GreatHoles
HOLE NO.
9
The Federal Club By Josh Apple, PGA
T he Federal Club lies in the outskirts of Richmond, sitting in Glen Allen’ s Mountain Run Subdivision. The Arnold Palmer 18-hole facility has regularly hosted VSGA tournaments since it opened in 2007, including the 2018 VSGA Amateur Championship, won by Trey Smith. It’ s also the home of The Signature at The Federal Club, which will be held for the 18th time in May 2026. Beyond local competitive golf, the 7,073-yard design will host the Korn Ferry Tour Championship from Oct. 8-11, bringing a national spotlight to the commonwealth for the next four years to come. The University of Virginia’ s own Denny McCarthy won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in 2018, propelling him to a lengthy PGA Tour career.
DEMANDING TEE SHOT
Many modern par-5s offer a generous fairway, making for a bomber’ s paradise. However, the ninth hole at The Federal Club presents a daunting tee shot with a subtle dogleg right, beautifully framed by right and left bunkers as well as trees and fescue along both sides. With trouble seemingly everywhere, many players opt to hit a club other than driver off the tee, entirely changing the complexion of this par-5 of moderate length.
RISK / REWARD
Like most noteworthy par-5s, the ninth hole presents an exciting risk / reward opportunity if the player chooses to take on the difficult tee shot. The uniqueness of this risk is the challenge both on the tee shot as well on the approach. The green is well protected by a large body of water short and right, and bunkers to the left and long. Due to the water, the bail out area is left— but missing left does not leave an easy up-and-down regardless of skill level. Left of the greenside bunker awaits more trees, potentially leading to an obstructed view of the green. Even if there is an opening, a delicate shot would be required over the bunker to a green that is sloping away.
CHRIS LANG
14 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M AY / J UNE 2026