GreatHoles
No.11
A
INDEPENDENCE
GOLF CLUB
by DAVID PARTRIDGE
longtime host of the State Open of Virginia, Inde-
pendence Golf Club in Midlothian hosted the 14th
Senior Open of Virginia presented by Indepen-
dence in September, marking the first time the
club had hosted the championship. The area’s
finest golf professionals and amateurs aged 50 and over com-
peted for the trophy.
Independence opened in 2001 and was laid out by legendary
architect Tom Fazio, who has designed or renovated more of Golf
Digest’s Top 100 Courses in the United States than any other
architect. Lester George successfully renovated Independence
in 2014, slightly softening the challenging layout, which not only
made the course more playable but also reduced the average
round time by nearly 30 minutes. Independence subsequently
installed Champion Ultradwarf Bermudagrass greens and has
the distinction of being the northernmost course in the U.S.
with these putting surfaces. Ultradwarfs are now the fastest
growing variety of putting green grasses in warm season and
transitional locations.
Originally the brainchild of the VSGA, Giff Breed and his brother,
Alan, purchased Independence in 2013 and they are transforming
the facility into an experiential entertainment center. While golf
remains the heartbeat of Independence, including the Robins Elite
Academy for juniors and a Mentor Short Course, the operation
includes a superb tavern with great food and wine, a concert series,
an art studio, ropes course, foot golf, a drone course, fishing, and
coming later this year, a synthetic sliding course.
The 11th hole at Independence is a charming par-3 that fits beau-
tifully within the course routing and the property. Played slightly
uphill to the smallest green on the course, the putting surface is
protected by three perfectly positioned fronting bunkers. The
vsga.org
green falls off on all the
perimeters—especially
at the front and rear—
thus minimizing the
YARDAGES
effective landing area
for the tee shot and
making accurate club
Black:
Green:
selection and a preci-
110 yards
210 yards
sion approach a must
on this little gem.
Blue:
Red:
The putting surface
160 yards
85 yards
contains a number of
Grey:
strategic slopes and
140 yards
subtle spines that
make putting from any
distance on the fast,
undulating green a real threat for a three-putt. While a solid tee
shot will create a good birdie opportunity, par is always an excel-
lent score on this deceptively challenging short hole.
Apart from hosting numerous past VSGA championships, in
2020 Independence Golf Club will partner with Kinloch Golf Club
to host the United States Mid-Amateur Championship. Kinloch
will be the site of all of the match play for the event, as well as two
days of stroke-play qualifying. Independence will also host two
days of qualifying for the field of 264 golfers in what promises to
be a superb championship.
PAR 3
A five-time VSGA Player of the Year and a multi-time winner of
the VSGA Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur, David
Partridge is the author of this series. David lives in Richmond
area and works as a mortgage banker.
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