GreatHoles
No. 17WINTERGREEN
DEVILS KNOB GOLF COURSE
RESORT by DAVID PARTRIDGE
The 2020 VSGA Women’s State Team Matches were
played Sept. 1-3 at Devils Knob Golf Course at Wintergreen
Resort. As the highest course in Virginia
at an elevation of over 3,800 feet in the scenic Blue
Ridge Mountains, Devils Knob is an ideal place to
escape the summer heat, although there is always
heated competition in these intense matches.
Two outstanding clubs, the Country Club of Virginia and
Mount Vernon Country Club, have dominated this tournament
in recent years. The two teams have faced off against each other
in the match play finals of this event for the last eight years with
Mount Vernon winning five championships and CCV three.
The strength of these teams has been so compelling that one of
these clubs has won the state title 13 of the past 14 years. The
match play format of this event along with the dominance of
these two powerful teams has created a very strong, yet healthy
and respectful rivalry, that makes this a thrilling state championship.
(This year’s competition ended after this edition went
to press.)
Each of these clubs has now won 14 state titles and while
there are many other fine women’s teams capable of winning
the event, this year the competition promised to be particularly
passionate as CCV and Mount Vernon each strived to not only
surpass their rival, but also to tie Army Navy Country Club for
the most championships ever. Army Navy has a long tradition
of great women’s teams—at one point winning seven straight
titles—on the way to amassing 15 state championships, in an
event that dates back to 1947.
Devils Knob was laid out by Ellis Maples, a protégé of the
great Donald Ross, and whose superb designs include Grandfather
Golf & Country Club (always ranked among the finest
courses in North Carolina) and the Dogwood Course at the
Country Club of North Carolina that previously hosted the U.S.
Amateur and that
will be the venue
for the 2021 United
States Junior Amateur
Championship.
While most of
Maples’ creations
are concentrated,
yet highly prevalent,
in the Tarheel
State, he also
produced several
excellent courses
Blue
185 yards
White
179 yards
PAR 3
YARDAGES
Gold
177 yards
Red
114 yards
in Virginia including Devils Knob, Chatmoss Country Club, and
Olde Mill Golf Resort.
Maples’ brilliance is certainly on display at Devils Knob and
this is especially true on the 17th hole, an outstanding par 3
that combines beauty with excellent shot values. This dramatic
downhill gem is perfectly framed by large hardwood trees and
a green that is largely surrounded by deep bunkers, ideally
sculpted to fit the topography and to defend the deep, narrow
putting surface. Throw in a significant false front that leads
down to a small pond, and the result is a spectacular par 3 to
challenge the golfer.
Wintergreen is an avid supporter of the VSGA and the resort’s
two courses have hosted numerous state championships over
the years. Wintergreen was a superb host for the Women’s State
Team Matches in what was an outstanding and highly competitive
championship this year.
A five-time VSGA Player of the Year, David Partridge is a member
of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2020. He lives in
Richmond and works as a mortgage banker.
JON HOOD
16
V IRGINIA G OLFER | S EPTEMBER/O CTOBER 2020
vsga.org