11 Best Golf Courses in West Virginia
West Virginia, a state known for its premier golf courses, was home to the first golf club in the United States, Oakhurst Links in Greenbrier County, in 1882. This modest 9-hole golf course was just the first of many outstanding courses yet to be designed in the Mountain State. Some of the best golf courses in West Virginia today are found in the valleys, mountains, and lake areas. They have been designed by the 海角社区's finest course architects, including Arnold Palmer and Geoffrey Cornish. Read on to discover 11 of the best golf courses in West Virginia.
Bridge Haven Golf Club, New River Gorge, Fayetteville
Situated in Fayetteville in Fayette County, Bridge Haven Golf Club is 34 miles from the smaller Beckley Raleigh County Municipal Airport and 218 miles from Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio. The 18-hole, public type, Par 71, 6,032 yard long, 119 slope, 68.5 rated course is described by many as a Jekyll and Hyde golf course. The two nines are designed differently, each presenting its own unique challenges. The front nine holes were designed by Mike White in 1992, while the back nine were designed by Roger Flint in 1995. Lessons are available upon request. Daily rates range from $40 to $55 depending upon state residency and day of the week.
As Bridge Haven Golf Club is not part of a resort, the closest lodging is four miles away in ACE Adventure Resort, providing cabin-style accommodations on the New River Gorge. The resort's Wandering Waters Spa offers a full range of spa services. Other activities at the resort include waterpark, whitewater rafting, and mountain climbing. Dining choices at the resort include the Lost Paddle Bar and Grill and Woody's Grill. Bridge Haven Golf Club is open year-round, weather permitting, but the best times to golf are late spring through early fall.
Alpine Lake Resort Golf Course, Terra Alta
Situated in Preston County in the Allegheny Mountains, Alpine Lake Resort Golf Course in the town of Terra Alta lies 32 miles to the southeast of Morgantown. It is about 100 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, and its international airport. Designed by architect Ron Forse in 1992, the Alpine Lake Resort Golf Course is an 18-hole resort-style golf course at 2,595 feet elevation. The course is Par 72, 6,069 yards long, 117 slope, with a 69.2 rating. The most notable feature of the resort is Alpine Lake, a 150-acre lake for which the resort is named.
Five holes on the golf course are in sight of the lake, and the 10th hole has water surrounding the green on three sides. Daily golf rates range from $40 to $55, depending on the season and day of the week. Reduced rates are available for those who are staying at the resort, with stay-and-play packages featured. Golf memberships for the season allowing unlimited play may be purchased. The golf pro will teach lessons by appointment, and the pro shop is open daily.
In addition to lodging at the resort's hotel, the resort rents cabins and houses throughout the complex. The Lakers Lounge serves food and drinks to golfers and guests. An indoor heated pool is also within the lodge for guests to use. The course is open from May to October. Late spring and summer are the best times to golf at Alpine Lake when you can be sure that, despite its elevation, the temperature will be warm enough for an enjoyable game of golf.
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Golf Course at Cacapon Resort State Park, Berkeley Springs
The Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Golf Course at Cacapon Resort State Park in Berkeley Springs is in Morgan County in the eastern panhandle of the state. It is about 100 miles from Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, and their international airports. The 18-hole, Par 72 resort/municipal style course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and Roger Rulewich in 1974. It is 6,827 yards long, has a 134 slope, and has a 71.1 rating. It was listed among Golf Advisor's Top Courses in West Virginia in 2023. The course runs in the valley along the Cacapon Mountain, with wildlife visible from many holes. Accommodations at the resort include cabins and lodge rooms.
Other resort activities are a full-service spa, hiking, and biking. Getty's Grill overlooks the course and can accommodate your pre- or post-game dining needs. The golf shop on site sells Callaway equipment. Golf lessons with PGA professionals may be booked by appointment.
The driving range is open from April 1 through October 31. Daily rates run from $30 to $50, depending upon the month and day of the week. While the course is open year-round, weather permitting, the prime golfing times are late spring through early fall.
Twin Falls Resort State Park Golf Course, Mullens
Found in the mountains of Wyoming County in Mullens in the southern part of the state, Twin Falls State Park Golf Course is about 80 miles from Charleston's Yeager Airport and 230 miles from the larger Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. The 18-hole, resort-style Par 71 course is 6,382 yards long with a slope of 132 and has a 71.3 rating. It was designed by Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson in 1966, with an addition by George Cobb, Sr. in 1968. The course features magnificent views and challenges for golfers at all skill levels.
The resort accommodations include a lodge, cabins, and campsites. A clubhouse and pro shop are on site. Popular activities at the resort besides golf are biking, hiking, a 9-hole disc golf course, a nature center, and geocaching. Twin Falls Restaurant serves hungry golfers food and drink year-round. Season passes for golf are sold, and daily golf rates range from $33 to $50. While the course is open year-round, the best golfing times are late spring through early fall.
Lakeview Course, Lakeview Golf Resort, Morgantown
Off I-68 overlooking Cheat Lake, Lakeview Golf Resort in Monongalia County, Morgantown is just an hour and a half south of Pittsburgh and its international airport, and four hours from both Washington, DC, and Cleveland, OH. The Lakeview Course, featured in Golf Digest's Top 100 Public Courses in America, is an 18-hole, resort-style, Par 72, 6,760-yard-long course with a slope of 138 and a rating of 71.6.
It was designed by architect James Harrison in 1950. Signature holes include the 564-yard 7th hole, with a 180-foot drop; and the 620-yard 18th hole, presenting golfers with a test of precision and strategy. Golf packages are available in which you can stay at the resort and play. Golf memberships may also be bought, and the course can be reserved for special events. Daily rates range from $34 to $79 per day, depending upon the season, day of the week, and time of day.
Rooms and suites at the resort, some with a view of Cheat Lake, offer accommodations. Food and drink are served in Legends Sports Bar. While Lakeview Course is open year-round, barring snow closures, spring and summer are the top times for golfing.
Palmer Golf Course-Speidel, Oglebay Resort, Wheeling
Located in Wheeling, Ohio County, the Palmer Golf Course-Speidel at Oglebay Resort is 55 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, and its airport; 120 miles from Columbus, OH, and 150 miles from Cleveland, OH. This course was designed by Arnold Palmer in 2000. It is an 18-hole resort-style course, Par 71, 6,725 yards long, 135 slope, with a 71.9 rating.
The course was listed among Golf Advisor's Top 25 Value Courses in the US in 2022. Its design takes advantage of the existing terrain, with generous greens, and you can even book golf lessons. The Oglebay Resort Merchandise Shop sells clothing and other merchandise. The Speidel Grill on-site provides food and great scenery before or after your game. Eight other eateries exist within the resort as well.
Accommodations at Oglebay Resort range from rustic cottages to a lodge with resort amenities. The Good Zoo, located within the resort, is home to 68 species of animals, 20 of which are rare or endangered. Daily golf rates range from $54 to $99 depending upon season, day of the week, and time of day. Stay-and-play packages may also be purchased. The course is open year-round, with prime golf times from late spring through early fall.
18-hole Championship Course at Pipestem State Park Resort, Pipestem
Sitting within Pipestem State Park Resort in Summers County, this course in southern West Virginia is 57 miles from Greenbrier Valley Airport, 30 miles from Beckley, WV, and 200 miles from Charlotte, NC. This 18-hole regulation course was designed in 1966 by Geoffrey Cornish and is resort-style, Par 72, 6,884 yards long, slope of 125, and has a 72.5 rating. A Pro Shop with a premium golf simulator is also on site. Daily golf rates range from $17 to $64, depending on the season and day of the week.
Accommodations within Pipestem State Park Resort include a lodge, cabins, and campsites. Other activities at the resort are fishing, snow sports, biking, swimming, boating, hiking, rafting, miniature golf, and an Outdoor Adventure Zone. Mountain Serenity Spa within the resort delivers an array of face, body, and nail services. Dining choices include two dining rooms, a grill and lounge, and a sweets and treats shop. Golfing is offered year-round, weather permitting. The best times to golf are spring, summer, and early fall.
Canaan Valley Golf Course, Davis
Canaan Valley Golf Course, in the town of Davis in Tucker County, is in West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains. It is a three-hour drive from both Washington, DC and Pittsburgh, PA, and their larger airports, and just 38 miles from the smaller Elkins-Randolph County Airport. Despite its name, the resort sits at an elevation of 3,300 feet.
The 18-hole golf course at Canaan Valley Resort State Park is resort-style, Par 72, 6,984 yards long, slope of 130, and has a 73.3 rating. It was designed in 1966 by architects Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson, and redesigned in 2005 by Tom Clark. The course features 65 sand bunkers and eight water hazards. Winter activities such as skiing and snow tubing are popular in the off-season.
As the resort lies within a state park, hiking, biking, and nature watching are all favorite pastimes. An outdoor pool, arcade, and recreational center can be found within the resort. Three dining options exist within the resort. Accommodations include lodge rooms and suites, cabins and cottages, and campsites. Golf rates range from $30 to $70, depending upon the season, day of the week, and time of day. Golf season passes are also sold. The course is open from April through November. Spring and summer are the best times to golf at Canaan Valley.
Raven Golf Course at Snowshoe Mountain, Snowshoe
Nestled within the Appalachian Mountains, Raven Golf Course is within Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Pocahontas County. It is within a four-hour drive of Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, DC; and their respective airports. The 18-hole course is a resort-style Par 72, 7,045 yards long, 141 slope, with a 73.7 rating.
It was designed by Gary Player in 1993. The course was listed among Golf Advisor's Top Courses in West Virginia in 2018, 2022, and 2023. It is a scenic course that poses a challenge to most golfers. Dine at the Raven Grille once you have finished playing 18 holes. Including Raven Grill, there are 18 dining choices on Snowshoe Mountain, ranging from coffee shops to full restaurants.
Accommodation choices are many and include lodges, homes, and camping facilities. Season passes and daily rates from $39 to $89 are available. Stay and play packages are also sold, and you can combine accommodation at one of the Snowshoe Resorts with golfing. Winter activities in the off-season include skiing, tubing, and snowmobiling. In the summertime, you can bike, swim at Shaver's Lake, and paddleboard. The course is open from May through the end of October. The best times to golf are in late spring, summer, and early fall.
Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Stonewall Resort, Roanoke
The Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Stonewall Resort is in Roanoke, WV, in southern Lewis County. Pittsburgh International Airport is 140 miles away; Washington, DC, is 275 miles away; and Columbus, OH, is 220 miles away. The 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Course is resort-style, Par 72, 7,149 yards long, has a 143 slope, and has a 75.4 rating.
It was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay in 2002 and was ranked by Golf Advisor among the Top Courses in West Virginia in 2021. The course is within Stonewall Resort State Park, offering golfers picturesque views from every hole. The Golf Clubhouse houses a Golf Shop full of merchandise and equipment, as well as Lightburn's Restaurant, where you can relax and unwind after playing 18 holes.
Accommodations are available in the resort's lodges, cottages, lake houses, and campgrounds. The Mountain Laurel Spa, which delivers nail and body treatments, is on-site, as is a recreation center with a swimming pool, hot tubs, saunas, and a boathouse. Golf packages, memberships, and season passes are sold. Daily rates range from $49 to $89 depending upon residency, time of the year, day of the week, and time of day. Although the course is open year-round, the prime golf season runs from the end of April to the middle of October.
Greenbrier Old White Golf Course, White Sulphur Springs
The Greenbrier Resort in the Allegheny Mountains, in Greenbrier County, has been welcoming guests since 1778. Found in the town of White Sulphur Springs, the resort is an hour and a half drive from Roanoke, VA; three hours from Richmond, VA, and its international airport; and 13 miles from the smaller Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, WV.
The first golf course at The Greenbrier, the Old White, is an 18-hole course at 1,834 feet elevation designed by Charles Blair Macdonald in 1914. The course is resort-style, Par 70, 7,246 yards in length, slope of 145, with a 76.0 rating. The Old White was ranked among Golf Advisor's Top Courses in West Virginia from 2018 to 2022.
Macdonald designed certain holes after Europe's iconic golf courses. The 8th hole resembles the Redan at North Berwick; the 13th hole is designed after the Alps at Prestwick; and the 15th hole is designed after the "Eden" at St. Andrews. The Old White has hosted the PGA Tour and LIV Golf Tournament.
Daily golf rates for registered guests of The Greenbrier range from $175 to $490, depending upon the season, day of the week, and time of day you play. Rates for non-registered guests are a bit higher. There are 19 dining choices at The Greenbrier and a variety of rooms and cottages for accommodations. Spa services and a casino are also on-site. Other resort activities include a climbing tower, an arcade, bike rentals, workshops, and more. While the course is open year-round, because of its situation in the mountains, late spring through early fall are the prime times to golf at Old White.
These 11 golf courses in West Virginia are not only the best in the state but also some of the finest in the country. Whether you travel to the mountains to Greenbrier Resort, visit one of the state park resort golf courses found in Roanoke or Canaan Valley, or play the links in the southern part of the state at Pipestem, one commonality will be shared among all of the courses. Playing at any of these 11 courses will feel like "Almost Heaven."
