West Virginia Golf Courses - Complete Guide to Mountain State Golf

Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport is widely considered the best course in West Virginia, ranked #92 nationally in Golf Digest's Top 100. This private club built atop a former coal mine features classic Pete Dye design elements with wide landing areas, multi-level bent grass greens, and a stunning Appalachian Mountain backdrop.

For public access, The Greenbrier's Old White TPC is the premier choice. This Charles Blair Macdonald design from 1914 hosted PGA Tour events from 2010-2019 and is one of the few Macdonald courses the public can play. The course underwent restoration in 2001 and joined the TPC network in 2011.

The Raven at Snowshoe Mountain ranks as the #1 public course in West Virginia (Golfweek) and #30 nationally among public courses. Designed by Gary Player, this 7,045-yard mountain course features dramatic elevation drops up to 200 feet.

The Greenbrier offers multiple courses with varying rates:

• Old White TPC: $350-$450 per round (includes mandatory $65 caddie fee)
• The Meadows Course: $150-$300 per round
• The Greenbrier Course: $140-$200 per round
• 9-Hole and Short Courses: Lower rates available

Resort guests receive 10-15% discounts. Golf packages start at $316.50/person/night (Sunday-Thursday) or $354.50/person/night (Friday-Saturday), based on double occupancy. Packages include lodging, breakfast, and golf privileges across all courses.

Youth golfers 12 and under play free with a paying adult. All rates exclude taxes and Historic Preservation Fund fee. Reservations require 24-hour cancellation notice.

For current rates and tee times, visit greenbrier.com/golf or call 304-536-1110.

The West Virginia golf season runs April through early November, with the best playing conditions typically found in three periods:

Late Spring (Late April - June): Ideal weather with comfortable temperatures (65-75°F), courses freshly maintained after winter, less crowding than peak summer. This period coincides with West Virginia's overall best travel season.

Late Summer (August - Early September): Courses are in peak condition, fairways well-established, consistent weather patterns, and slightly less crowded than early summer.

Fall (September - Mid-October): Many golfers' favorite time to play West Virginia courses. Offers spectacular autumn foliage, cooler comfortable temperatures (60-70°F), excellent course conditions, lower green fees at some resorts, and less crowded tee times. Mountain courses are particularly stunning framed by vibrant fall colors.

Avoid: March (courses may still be closed), late November (many courses close for winter), July-August afternoons (thunderstorms common). High mountain courses like Snowshoe have shorter seasons (May-October).

West Virginia has 71 public golf courses out of 104 total courses statewide (71 public, 19 municipal, 14 private). Top public-access courses include:

Premier Public Courses:

• The Greenbrier Resort (5 courses) - White Sulphur Springs
• The Raven at Snowshoe Mountain - #1 public in WV
• Stonewall Resort (Arnold Palmer) - Roanoke
• Glade Springs Resort (3 courses) - Daniels
• Oglebay Resort (3 courses) - Wheeling

State Park Courses (Excellent Value):

• Cacapon Resort State Park (Robert Trent Jones Sr.) - Berkeley Springs
• Pipestem Resort State Park (2 courses) - Pipestem
• Canaan Valley Resort - Davis
• Tygart Lake Golf Course - Grafton
• Twin Falls Resort State Park - Mullens

Municipal Courses: Charleston area (Little Creek, Big Bend, Coonskin Park), plus municipal options in most cities.

Private Clubs: Pete Dye Golf Club and Pikewood National (both Top 100 nationally) are private with limited public access.

The Greenbrier has one of the richest golf histories in America:

Early History: The Old White golf course designed by Charles Blair Macdonald opened in 1914, with construction supervised by Seth Raynor. President Woodrow Wilson was among the first to play the course during Easter 1914. The course is named for the Old White Hotel, The Greenbrier's predecessor.

Sam Snead Era: "Slammin' Sammy" Snead was first hired as Assistant Golf Professional in 1936, served as Golf Professional from 1946-1974, and returned as Golf Professional Emeritus from 1993 until his death in 2002. Snead shot 60 six times on The Old White Course and memorably shot 59 in 1959 on The Greenbrier Course. His final hole-in-one came on the 18th hole in 1994 at age 82.

Major Championships: The Greenbrier hosted the Ryder Cup in 1979 and the Solheim Cup in 1994 - the only resort course to host both prestigious team competitions.

Modern Era: The course underwent restoration by Lester George in 2001 using historical photos to return it to the 1922 design. In 2011, it became Old White TPC as part of the Tournament Players Club network. From 2010-2019 (excluding 2016 due to flooding), the course hosted "A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier," a PGA Tour FedEx Cup event.

Course Design: The Greenbrier Course was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1977. The Meadows underwent dramatic remodeling in 2017 featuring stacked sod bunkers and dynamic green complexes.

Yes! West Virginia offers excellent golf value, especially at state parks and municipal courses:

State Park Courses ($28-$55):

• Cacapon Resort State Park: $40-$55 (Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, rated top 130 nationally)
• Pipestem Resort State Park: $35-$48 (two 18-hole courses)
• Twin Falls Resort State Park: $28-$40
• Tygart Lake Golf Course: $30-$42
• Canaan Valley Resort: $40-$58

Municipal Courses ($25-$45):

• Coonskin Park Golf Course (Charleston): $25-$35
• Little Creek Golf Course (South Charleston): $35-$45
• Big Bend Golf Course (Kanawha County): $30-$40

Value Resort Options:

• Lewisburg Elks Country Club: $40-$52
• Oglebay's Crispin Course: $35-$50

Money-Saving Tips: Play twilight rates (after 3pm) for 30-40% discounts, book state park annual passes for frequent play, look for weekday specials, and consider Golf Club of West Virginia membership ($28 weekdays, $33 weekends with Club Key WV VIP).

State park courses offer championship quality at 40-60% below resort rates, with most including cart, range balls, and GPS.

West Virginia's mountain golf offers a distinctive experience unlike flatland courses:

Dramatic Elevation Changes: Courses feature drops of 80-200+ feet from tee to fairway. The Raven at Snowshoe has fairway drops up to 200 feet. Glade Springs' Stonehaven features 80-foot elevation changes. This affects club selection significantly and creates spectacular vistas.

Altitude Effects: High-elevation courses like Snowshoe (4,800+ feet) and Cacapon (2,300 feet) play differently. Golf balls travel 8-10% farther in thin mountain air. Temperature drops about 3°F per 1,000 feet of elevation.

Scenic Beauty: Mountain courses wind through forests of maple, beech, hickory, and oak. Rock outcroppings, natural waterfalls (like Pikewood's par-3 5th), and panoramic Appalachian views create memorable golf experiences. Fall foliage is spectacular September-October.

Course Design Challenges: Architects work with natural terrain rather than bulldozing mountains. Pete Dye Golf Club was built on a former coal mine. Courses often incorporate natural features and mining heritage.

Weather Variability: Mountain weather changes quickly. Morning fog common, afternoon thunderstorms possible May-August. Cooler temperatures make summer play more comfortable than lowland courses.

Playability: Despite elevation changes, mountain courses are surprisingly playable. Wide fairways compensate for difficulty. Carts are strongly recommended due to terrain.

Absolutely! West Virginia is ideal for 3-5 day golf trips with multiple resorts and courses within driving distance:

Sample 4-Day Southern WV Golf Trip:

• Day 1: Arrive at The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs), play The Meadows Course, resort dinner
• Day 2: Morning round on Old White TPC, afternoon at resort spa or activities
• Day 3: Drive to Glade Springs Resort (45 minutes), play Stonehaven or Cobb Course
• Day 4: Morning round at Pipestem or Lewisburg Elks before departure

Sample 3-Day Mountain Golf Tour:

• Day 1: The Raven at Snowshoe Mountain
• Day 2: Stonewall Resort (Arnold Palmer course)
• Day 3: Cacapon State Park (Robert Trent Jones Sr.)

Northern Panhandle Weekend:

• Base at Oglebay Resort (Wheeling)
• Play 3-4 rounds across Jones, Palmer, and Crispin courses
• 72 holes available without changing hotels

Package Deals: Most resorts offer stay-and-play packages including lodging, breakfast, and multiple rounds. The Greenbrier, Glade Springs, Stonewall, and Oglebay all have customizable golf packages.

Driving Distances: Most major courses are within 1-2 hours of each other. White Sulphur Springs to Daniels: 45 minutes. Charleston to Snowshoe: 2 hours. Wheeling to Morgantown: 1.5 hours.

West Virginia features courses by golf's greatest architects:

Charles Blair Macdonald: Designed The Old White at The Greenbrier (1914), one of his earliest and most accessible works. Macdonald is considered the father of American golf course architecture.

Seth Raynor: Supervised construction of The Old White and designed The Greenbrier Course. Raynor was Macdonald's close associate and one of early American golf's great architects.

Robert Trent Jones Sr.: Designed Cacapon Resort State Park (1974), rated among the top 130 courses nationally. Also designed the championship Jones Course at Oglebay Resort, which hosted the LPGA for 11 years.

Pete Dye: Created Pete Dye Golf Club (1994) in Bridgeport, built atop a coal mine and ranked #92 nationally. Features signature Dye design elements including railroad ties and dramatic bunkering.

Arnold Palmer: Designed the Signature Course at Stonewall Resort (2002) with Ed Seay, named to Golfweek's Top 100 Resort Courses 2007-2018. Also designed the Palmer Course at Oglebay Resort.

Gary Player: Designed The Raven at Snowshoe Mountain (1993), ranked #1 public course in West Virginia and #30 nationally.

Jack Nicklaus: Redesigned The Greenbrier Course in 1977, creating the only resort course to host both Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup.

Tom Clark: Designed Stonehaven (#8 in WV) and Woodhaven at Glade Springs Resort.

George Cobb: Designed the classic Cobb Course at Glade Springs, ranked #1 in West Virginia by Golf Magazine in 2007.

Geoffrey Cornish: Designed both 18-hole courses at Pipestem Resort State Park.

High-elevation courses like Snowshoe (4,800+ feet) and Cacapon (2,300 feet) require adjustments:

Distance Changes: Golf balls travel approximately 8-10% farther at elevation due to thinner air and less resistance. At Snowshoe's elevation, a drive that normally carries 250 yards might fly 270-275 yards. Adjust club selection accordingly - you may need one less club on approach shots.

Temperature Effects: Temperature drops about 3-5°F per 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Snowshoe can be 15-20°F cooler than valley courses on the same day. Bring extra layers even on warm valley days.

Weather Considerations: Mountain weather is more variable. Morning fog is common and usually burns off by 9-10am. Afternoon thunderstorms develop quickly May-August. Check radar before starting back nine.

Physical Effects: Some golfers feel mild effects of altitude, especially if coming from sea level. Stay hydrated, pace yourself, and use a cart if tired. The combination of elevation and hilly terrain can be taxing.

Course Conditions: High-elevation courses typically have shorter growing seasons (May-October vs April-November). Courses may be softer due to more moisture, cooler temps mean slower green speeds in spring/fall.

Ball Flight: Thin air affects spin rates - balls may not spin as much, making it harder to stop approach shots on greens. High draws and fades will accentuate at elevation.

Advantages: Cooler summer temperatures (70-75°F vs 85-90°F in valleys), stunning mountain views, spectacular fall foliage, and the enjoyment of hitting longer drives!