Scenic drives and panoramic vistas at West Virginia state parks’ golf courses provide a unique golfing experience not to be missed.
Avid golfers here will find a challenge for all skill levels at five unique courses amidst the natural settings of the great Mountain State.
Cacapon, Canaan Valley, Pipestem, Hawks Nest, Stonewall Jackson Lake and Twin Falls resort state parks offer excellent quality, resort style courses with a variety of design and terrain for an exhilarating golf adventure.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Spacious and gently rolling terrain on the floor of enormous high mountain valley as well as an excellent turf grass climate gave architect Geoffrey Cornish excellent ground on which to work at Canaan Valley Resort State Park, in Davis, West Virginia. The result is a long and correspondingly challenging, yet relatively open layout which encourages big hitters to reach back for a little extra. For an added bonus, summer time players get the delightfully cool weather at 3,200 average feet of evaluation and terrific views of the crest of 4,000 foot high Cabin and Canaan Mountains which border the valley.
Cacapon Resort State Park
Golfers at Cacapon Resort, near Berkeley Springs in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle, will find a classic design by world famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. This course is considered one of the most enjoyable and pastoral golf experiences in West Virginia. Nestled beneath the formidable bulk of Cacapon Mountain is 6,942 yards of pure golfing pleasure with the large greens and tees, strategic trap marks of a Trent Jones course. An unusual double green is found on the back nine and even the practice green is something special in that it is built around a chimney from an early homestead.
Twin Falls Resort State Park
At the other end of the state, Twin Falls Resort near Mullens in the southeastern portion of West Virginia, brings golfers to a shotmaker’s course with a Geoffrey Cornish design on the front side and a George Cobb back nine. Although one of the shortest of the state park courses at 6,382 yards, Twin Falls has a reputation for being the most challenging when it comes to giving up par or better scores. Sloped greens, tight fairways and landing areas, and a meandering stream which threads its way through the course make this an extremely intriguing golf experience. The par threes at Twin Falls Resort are particularly memorable with one featuring an extreme vertical drop from tee to green.
Hawks Nest State Park
Within view of the New River Gorge National River, Hawks Nest, near Ansted, West Virginia, provides a challenging 9-hole mountain course. At 5,096 yards, Hawks Nest offers spectacular landscape with manicured greens, well-placed hazards and moderately tight, lush green fairways. The course wanders around the natural contours of the area for an exciting experience. Hawks Nest golf course is minutes away from the park lodge.
Pipestem Resort State Park
Pipestem Resort provides an opportunity to play two courses situated on a mountain tabletop between Hinton and Princeton, West Virginia. Of course, this plateau is bisected by the 1,000 foot deep Bluestone River Canyon to which the 18-hole championship course is adjacent. This allowed course architect Geoffrey Cornish the opportunity to create an extremely scenic design with several incredible views and one memorable par 3 which requires a blue tee carry of more than 200 yards over a ravine in the canyon wall. From the regular tees, Pipestem Resort is an all around excellent, varied, and interesting course. From the professional tees, particularly on days when the seemingly ever present mountaintop breeze gets a little brisk, the serious golfer will find a great golf course.
The added bonus at Pipestem Resort is a 9-hole par 3 course. Although super for the less experienced golfer, it also receives raves from serious players who find it considerably different than the average pitch and put course. Large greens and tees, varied terrain and wood-lined fairways, and several tee shots requiring a mid to long iron or fairway wood draw a lot of players back over and over after they discover this little gem.
Stonewall Resort at Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park
Named one of the 10 Best New Courses in the Country by Golf Digest and awarded the Top Ten Best New Course in North America by Golf Magazine, Palmer has succeeded in treating golfers to a course built with a wide range of skill levels in mind at Stonewall Resort located at Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park.The merging of impeccable greens and manicured fairways with powder white bunkers, towering tree lines and the surrounding lake, strikes the perfect balance between difficulty and playability. The par-72 course measures 7,149 yards from the championship tees with a United States Golf Association (USGA) Course Rating of 75.4 and a Slope Rating of 143. However, with five tee placements, golfers will be able to choose their desired level of difficulty. Dramatic views of Stonewall Jackson Lake are enjoyed inside both the accompanying Golf Shop and Lightburn's restaurant, perched atop the resort's highest point.
All West Virginia State Park courses offer practice greens and ranges, pro shop facilities and full-service restaurants. Hawks Nest, Cacapon, Canaan Valley, Twin Falls, Pipestem and Stonewall all offer lodge rooms with the latter five providing cottages or cabins on park grounds. Canaan Valley, Twin Falls, Pipestem and Stonewall also offer campgrounds. They sit among beautiful scenery with a variety of recreational services, facilities, and abundant wildlife to enjoy on site. Golf package plans are available seasonally which includes a discount to already reasonable rates, lodging and green fees. Like all state park facilities and services, more information and reservations can be obtained by calling toll free at 1-800-CALL WVA.
