ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605210007
SECTION: DISCOVER PAGE: 48 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
Most golfers say there's nothing like the sensation of arriving at a course just minutes after sunrise, teeing the ball up and letting rip the first drive of the day.
Now imagine yourself going through the same routine on a calm New River Valley morning and it suddenly becomes clear why the sport has become so popular here.
Four public courses - Blacksburg Municipal, Castle Rock, Draper Valley, Virginia Tech - and one private course, the Blacksburg Country Club, provide golfers with some of the state's most scenic and challenging play.
If you're a beginning to intermediate golfer, any of the area's public courses provide excellent play. The Blacksburg Municipal Golf Course, a nine-hole facility, compares well with the Virginia Tech Golf Course as a good course for beginners.
The par-35 Blacksburg Municipal plays at 2,731 yards from the blue tees, 2,628 from the whites and features wide fairways and boundaries only in areas near private homes. Rates are $8 during the week, $10 on weekends and holidays, with cart fees charged per nine holes.
"By all means, it's a very forgiving course," said Bob Clark, the course superintendent . "There are no water hazards and the fairways are wide open. There's only on par-5 on the course, so I'd say it's a good course for beginners as well as accomplished players."
The Virginia Tech Golf Course is a par-70, 18-hole course on the grounds of the Blacksburg campus. With two par-5 holes and no water hazards, the Tech course's layout provides players with a chance to showcase their driving skills on long, straight fairways.
The Tech course's fee structure is unique. The green fees entitle players to play as many holes that day as they want. Fees run $14 during the week and $16 on weekends and holidays for the public. Tech students can play the course for $6 during the week, $7 during weekends and holidays. Carts and a practice putting area are available.
Golfers looking for more of a challenge can check out Castle Rock Golf Course in Pembroke and Draper Valley Golf Course in Draper.
Castle Rock is a par-71, 5,668 yard course nestled in one of the valley's most scenic spots. Rolling terrain and open fairways highlight this gem. Costs are $12 during the week, $14 on weekends and holidays.
Draper Valley is the area's only public par-72 course. Playing at 7,050 yards from the back tees, Draper Valley provides accomplished golfers with a challenging round of golf.
"It's a very friendly public course," Draper Valley pro Greg Sayers said. "There are wide fairways that allow players to spray the ball around and still score fairly well. There is some water that comes into play, so people will have to use some strategy to negotiate parts of the course."
Draper Valley also features a discount golf shop, a club professional available for lessons, driving range and practice putting area. Costs are $28 (including cart) during the week, $34 weekends and holidays. Discounted rounds begin after 3 p.m.
For those looking for a little more than a golf course, check out the Blacksburg Country Club. It is the area's top country club, featuring a 6,712 yard, par-72 championship course, tennis courts (hardcourt and modified clay), a junior Olympic pool, pro shop, driving range and banquet facilities.
"With the scenic appeal of the golf course and the Ellett Valley, we have a very relaxing atmosphere," BCC General Manager Tim Cundiff said. Membership requirements last year included a $1,500 initiation fee, $250 for five shares of BCC stock and annual dues of $1,700. Cundiff said the BCC offers discount incentives for juniors (30 and under).
NEW RIVER VALLEY GOLF COURSES
Blacksburg Country Club 552-9164
Blacksburg Municipal Golf Course 961-1137
Castle Rock Golf Course 626-7276
Draper Valley Golf Course 980-4653
Virginia Tech Golf Course 231-6435
THE MOST SCENIC HOLES
Blacksburg Country Club: No. 12: Par-4, 408 yards. The course's top handicapped hole. A well-positioned drive carries the fairway's winding creek, putting the golfer in position to carry the creek on its return when firing at the pin. A beautiful Ellett Valley backdrop highlights the hole.
Blacksburg Municipal Golf Course: No. 7: Par-4, 254 yards. The second shot is the beauty of this one. The green lies open in front of a line of trees, producing a slight shadowing effect on the green's surface. A sand trap guards the front of the green. An attractive shot.
Draper Valley Golf Course: No.9: Par-5, 511 yards. A beautiful, but challenging hole. A solid par-5 hole, requires a delicate lay-up before attacking the pin. A pond guards the front of the green and there's a marsh between the pond and the ideal approach shot landing area. A difficult decision awaits here - grip it and rip it (and take your chances) or play conservative.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. The course at Blacksburg Country Clubby CNBoffers ``a very relaxing atmosphere," says General Manager Tim
Cundiff. color.