While Virginia is not among the top three golfing states in the country, it has some of the best mountain golf courses in the country.
The rolling terrain of the Old Dominion has blessed the region with some tremendous golf.
Golf in Virginia is played in small towns and scenic rural areas spread out throughout the state. So, no matter where you are in the state, you will surely find a great golf course.
Plus, there are several things you can do beyond the course.
Most people love playing in the state because of its outstanding golf courses.
In fact, some of these golf courses have been designed by top architects, bringing out the best of Virginia.
We will discuss some of them in this guide. So, if you are eager to know which are the best golf courses in Virginia, keep reading.
List of the Best Golf Courses in Virginia
- Kinloch Golf Club: The Best Overall
- The Olde Farm: 1st Runners Up
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Club: 2nd Runners Up
Other Top Golf Courses
- The Highland Course at Primland
- Ballyhack Golf Club
- The Omni Homestead Resort: Cascades Course
- Golden Horseshoe Golf Club: Gold Course
- Trump National Golf Club, Washington DC: Championship
- The Country Club of Virginia: James River
- The Club at Creighton Farms
- The Virginian Golf Club
- Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech
- Kingsmill Resort: The River Course
- Spring Creek Golf Club
- Birdwood Golf Course at Boar’s Head Resort
- The Federal Club
- River Bend Club
- Independence Golf Club
- Royal New Kent Golf Club
- Poplar Grove Golf Club
The Best Golf Courses in Virginia
1. Kinloch Golf Club
- Location: Manakin-Sabot
- Length: 7,363 yards
- Par: 72
- Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- Year Established: 2001
- Championships: Virginia State Amateur Championship Virginias-Carolinas in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2024; U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 2018, 2021, and 2024
Kinloch Golf Club has several double-fairway posing options, creating expansive corridors that allow for plenty of air and sunlight on the turf.
This was the only option to successfully establish bentgrass tees, greens, and fairways in the hot, humid Richmond area.
The expanded space also provides better visibility and playability, making it one of the best golf courses in Virginia.
2. The Olde Farm
- Location: Bristol
- Length: 6,885 yards
- Par: 71
- Architects: Thomas Weems Architect
- Year Established: 2000
- Championships: The American Legends for Mountain Mission Kids in 2018; The American Legends in 2010
This is another fantastic golf course featuring an old-school design.
The terrain of the site was perfect for golf, such that the designer never had a rough time constructing the course.
What is unique about it is that the routing hugs the flowing contours of old farmland below the foothills of the Appalachians.
3. Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
- Location: Gainesville
- Length: 7,425 yards
- Par: 72
- Architects: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- Year Established: 1991
- Championships: The 19th Solheim Cup in 2024; the Quicken Loans National in 2015
The architect of the course, Robert Trent Jones, intended it to be one of the best golf courses in Virginia that would showcase his craftsmanship as a championship course.
The course reflects Trent-pioneered heroic architecture, as evident in the routing on rolling terrain covered with hardwoods and pine.
4. The Highland Course at Primland
- Location: Meadows of Dan
- Length: 7,053 yards
- Par: 72
- Architect: Donald Steel
- Year Established: 2006
- Championships: Highland Golf & Wine Classic in 2024
The course sits atop a mountain plateau that overlooks some of the most outstanding scenery in the country.
The designer, Donald Steel, ensured that he didn’t overpower the setting with the construction of green contours and bunkering.
5. Ballyhack Golf Club
- Location: Roanoke
- Length: 7,294 yards
- Par: 72
- Architects: Lester George
- Year Established: 2009
- Championships: Virginia State Open Championships in 2020; Virginia’s Premier Golf Championship in 2017
This is another golf course designed by the same architect who worked on No. 66 Kinloch. Just like the latter, Ballyhack also features expansive fairways and optional routes.
6. The Omni Homestead Resort: Cascades Course
- Location: Hot Springs
- Length: 6,873 yards
- Par: 70
- Architect: William S. Flynn
- Year Established: 1924
- Championships: The NCAA Championships; the U.S. Women’s Open; the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2023; the Ninth and 10th USGA Championships in 2023; and the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships
Architect Seth Raynor was initially consulted to design the Cascades Course, but he felt the space was too small for such a project.
So, the then relatively unknown course designer, William Flynn, was engaged, and he made the most of the available space.
That is why today, the topography and bunkering of the Cascade Course are magnificent.
7. Golden Horseshoe Golf Club: Gold Course
- Location: Williamsburg
- Length: 6,817 yards
- Par: 71
- Architects: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- Year Established: 1963
- Championships: Hosted five USGA championships, the most recent being the 2007 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship.
In the mid-1960s, Golden Horseshoe was among the toughest golf courses in the country. Interestingly, it is now one of the most fun public courses in America.
8. Trump National Golf Club, Washington, DC: Championship
- Location: Sterling
- Length: 7,793
- Par: 72
- Architects: Tom Fazio and Arthur Hills
- Year Established: 1999
- Championships: 2017 Senior PGA Championship
Trump National Golf Course is one of the beautifully designed courses by Tom Fazio.
The club features the Riverview and Championship courses and has hosted a number of championships, including the Senior PGA Championship.
9. The Country Club of Virginia: James River
- Location: Richmond
- Length: 7,025 yards
- Par: 72
- Architect: William Flynn
- Year Established: 1928
- Championships: The 1955 and 1975 USGA Men’s Amateur Championships
This is one of the oldest golf courses on this list.
The William Flynn-designed course has hosted several prominent events, including the 1955 and 1975 US Amateur Championships. It also features superb greens and a wonderful layout.
10. The Club at Creighton Farms
- Location: Aldie
- Length: 7,410 yards
- Par: 72
- Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- Year Established: 2006
- Championships: NKF National Capital Area Golf Classic in 2024; the 2017 Creighton Farms Invitational
This private club is situated in an idyllic setting in northern Virginia.
The golf course boasts a number of wide and rolling fairways that offer a reasonable challenge.
It is a lifestyle facility that supports a community of players in a historic setting.
11. The Virginian Golf Club
- Location: Bristol
- Length: 7,110 yards
- Par: 72
- Architect: Tom Fazio
- Year Established: 1993
- Championships: The US Senior Amateur Championships in 2003
This is one of the best golf courses in Virginia because it is laid out over rolling terrain in the Appalachian Mountains.
This member-friendly course boasts wide fairways that are forgiving.
12. Pete Dye River Course at Virginia Tech
- Location: Radford
- Length: 7,685 yards
- Par: 72
- Architect: Pete Dye
- Year Established: 2005
- Championships: The 2011 NCAA Regional Championships and the Virginia State Amateur Championships in 2016
Pete Dye River Course is what it is today due to a donation from the Goodwin family.
The financial support played a crucial role in the upgrade of the existing 18-hole layout along the New River.
13. Kingsmill Resort: The River Course
- Location: Williamsburg
- Length: 6,831 yards
- Par: 72
- Architect: Pete Dye
- Year Established: 1975
- Championships: The PGA Tour’s Michelob Championship from 1981 through 2002
This is another fantastic course by Pete Dye.
The architect gained notoriety in the 1960s and 1980s for his unique style of designing courses like Crooked Stick, The Golf Club, and Harbour Town.
But what stands out among his courses is the River Course at Kingsmill Resort.
14. Spring Creek Golf Club
- Location: Zion Crossroads
- Length: 6,461 yards
- Par: 71
- Architects: Jack Fleming and Ed Carton
- Year Established: 1969
- Championships: The 101st Virginia State Golf Association’s Amateur Championship in 2014
There is something unique about Springs Creek golf club, and that is its sophistication on the holes, which wind attractively through a serene landscape of pine and hardwoods.
We also believe it is one of the best golf courses in Virginia due to the scale and positioning of the bunkering. Most greens are also angled to the line of play.
15. Birdwood Golf Course at Boar’s Head Resort
- Location: Charlottesville
- Length: 7,116 yards
- Par: 71
- Architects: Davis Love III and Love Golf Design
- Year Established: 1984
- Championships: Second Annual Lewis Chitengwa Memorial from 2022 to 2024; The College Prep Series at UVA in 2023
Birdwood is among the few golf courses that typify the multi-purpose direction, which future golf developers can borrow from.
Situated just 10 minutes away from downtown Charlottesville, the golf course is convenient and affordable for new and experienced players.
Honorable Mentions
16. The Federal Club, Glen Allen
17. River Bend Club, Great Falls
18. Independence Golf Club, Midlothian
19. Royal New Kent Golf Club, Providence Forge
20. Poplar Grove Golf Club, Amherst
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you play golf throughout the year in Virginia?
One of the things that makes Viginia an attractive golfing destination is its moderate year-round temperatures.
Also, its spectacular coastal location makes it easy to play golf year-round in the state.
How many golf courses are there in Virginia?
The Old Dominion has around 358 golf courses.
Out of these, 189 are public golf courses, 122 are private courses, and 47 are municipal courses.
Which golf course does Donald Trump own in Virginia?
Trump owns many prestigious golf courses around the country, and Virginia is lucky to have one. Trump National Golf Course is an 800-acre golf course located on Lowes Island in Potomac Falls, Virginia.
Final Thoughts
As you can see from the above list, Virginia has some of the best modern layouts and classic designs in the country.
Many golfers love playing here because of its mountain courses and the fact that you can find a classic golf course in all corners of the state.
Another good thing about Virginia is its diverse menu of golf courses. In fact, no state can match the Old Dominion in terms of diversity and quality.
So, if you are looking forward to playing at some of the best golf courses in Virginia, be sure to check out Kinloch Golf Club and The Olde Farm.
Other quality golf courses that bring out the diversity of Virginia’s golfing scene are Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, The Highland Course at Primland, and Ballyhack Golf Club.
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