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Hokies’ World-Class Facility Ranked
In Top 10 of Golfweek’s Best Campus Courses
World-renowned architect Pete Dye describes the course
renovations taking place in 2004 to the Tech golf team.
Renowned golf architect Pete Dye began a renovation of The River Course of
Virginia Tech in 2004. With the facility’s completion, the Pete Dye River Course of
Virginia Tech has become a beautiful reality. Opening in August 2005, the course
was selected by Golf Digest as one of the Top 5 “Best Newly Remodeled Courses
in America” for 2006. In August 2016, the course was selected 10th on the list
of Golfweek’s Best Campus
Courses, the highest ranking
for any university in the Atlantic
Coast Conference.
The Pete Dye River
Course continues building
its reputation as a championship
destination and has already hosted
several prestigious events, including the
2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf East Regional, the 2011 Virginias-Carolinas
Women’s Team Matches and the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Junior Invitational. Because of
the rave reviews the facility received following these events, it was also selected to
host the 2016 VSGA Amateur Championship last summer.
“This world-class golf course, coupled with our magnificent clubhouse, is an
exciting and challenging venue for the top golfers at all levels,” said Jay Hardwick,
director of golf operations at Virginia Tech and head golf coach.
It was included in Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” for 2008-2009 as
a coveted 4-1/2-star facility. This rating was the highest awarded in Virginia,
Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee and was also shared with The
Homestead’s Cascades Course, The Meadows Course at the Greenbrier,
Kingsmill’s River Course, and Pinehurst Resort Courses No. 4, 6, 7 & 8. “The
River” was also named as one of the “100 Middle Atlantic Must-Play Courses
for 2008.”
In addition to the renovation, a turf care center was constructed, as well as the
Virginia Tech Golf Team Complex, which houses an indoor teaching center that
opens to the outside range and is equipped with the latest video swing analysis
system. This facility also includes locker rooms, club repair room, players’ lounge,
a recruit welcome area and team meeting room for the Virginia Tech golf team. A
covered tee area, which is enclosed on three sides, is located at the back of the
practice range and is equipped with fans, radiant heaters and lights.
These improvements were made possible by support from Bill and Alice
Goodwin of Richmond, Va. Mr. Goodwin, a Virginia Tech alumnus, is an avid golfer
who wanted to provide the Virginia Tech golf team and the university community
an opportunity to play on a world-caliber championship course. The gift covered all
costs of design and construction.
PETE DYE
RIVER COURSE
OF