Hilton Head Golfers Guide

Acting LPGA Commissioner Marty Evans has announced that the Tour will partner with long-time LPGA sponsor Wegmans to conduct the 2010 LPGA Championship ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

Whether it's a flashy diamond-studded belt buckle, a bright orange camouflage hat or a pair of loud pants, today's image-conscious golfers have ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

The 2010 PGA Tour schedule will again feature 37 regular season ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

Golf Packages of South Carolina has been providing customized golf vacations and golf packages to all of the top golf destinations in ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

Cobra Golf has unveiled the company's most innovative, highest-performing driver ever, the ZL, which is designed to help all golfers achieve more ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

OCALA, Fla. - When Herbert Warren Wind coined the phrase “Amen Corner” in reference to holes 11, 12 and 13 at Augusta National ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

MONTGOMERY, Texas - If the hackneyed term “Hidden Gem” was ever to be used accurately to describe a single outstanding ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

FOUNTAIN HILLS, Az. - Blending its colorful past as the first ever golf course in the town of Fountain Hills circa 1971 with ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

Golfers from California and Nevada are about to agree with this recent quote from well-known announcer, Ben Wright. The golf icon commented ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

In response to the imminent new groove regulations designed by the USGA and R&A in an attempt to limit the ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On a perfect getaway, guests would be surrounded by luxury and emerald greens, all the golf courses ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

PALM BEACH GARDENS - PGA Village, located in Port St. Lucie, Fla., is ranked No. 51 among the "75 Best Golf Resorts in ...

More...
Hilton Head Golfers Guide

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - As curious little boys evolve into men who know everything, they gleam much of their worldly knowledge ...

More...
Find Hilton Head Golf Vacation Hilton Head Golf Courses Hilton Head Golf Real Estate
Escape To Golf with the new Golfers Guide Travel website. Research, Plan & Book your next golf vacation. Looking for a course to play? Click on more info below to search by course or region. Looking to move into a great golf community? Search the nations best in golf course living.
Find Golf Vacation >>

Find Golf Course >>

Find Golf Real Estate >>

Virginia Tech's Pete Dye River Course

Print E-mail
Written by Brandon Underwood Online Editor   

Pete Dye River Course of Virginia TechPete Dye arrived on the campus of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida fresh off a stint with the 82nd Airborne Infantry of the United States Army in World War II. Soon after his arrival at Rollins, where he served as captain of the men's golf team, he met Alice O'Neal who would become his bride.

The young men who now sport the burnt orange and chicago maroon of Virginia Tech probably wouldn't be playing on such a world-class course if it weren't for the relationship Pete had with Alice, who encouraged him to pursue his passion in golf course design.

With such fond memories of his own college golf career, it's no surprise that Dye decided to take on a renovation project in Southwest Virginia when he got a call from friend and 1962 Virginia Tech graduate Bill Goodwin, who picked up the multi-million dollar tab for Dye to renovate the school's River Course.

Tucked away betwen the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg and Radford, just a few miles from I-81 is one of the Hall of Fame architect's most unique projects. The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech is set in the rural countryside of Pulaski County, very earthy when compared to some of his designs like TPC Sawgrass and the Straights Course at Whistling Straits.

Pete Dye during a recent visit to the River Course
The rushing waters of the New River, which adjoins the course for 2.5 miles when played from the championship tees, serve as the soundtrack. The surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, a popular destination for motorists to drive through during the peak of fall foliage, make for a majestic and multi-faceted backdrop; panoramic views are the norm here.

The golf course itself is bisected by a 70-foot rock cliff, which created a natural dividing line for two distinct but complimentary nine-hole loops. The linear nature of these two nines allowed 14 of the 18 holes to feature views of the river. Eight of these player directly to the river's edge.

The par-72 layout includes five sets of tees that stretch from 5,142 yards (ladies) to 7,665 yards (men's championship).

Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech"I've never had anything better than this piece of ground as far as the ambiance of the golf course,"Dye told a crowd assembled for one of the initial outings at the new course in June 2006. "The river makes this place. How many places have that? We tried to focus on the river. You'll see that most of the holes point back to the river."

Boosters envisioined not only a new and more spectacular home for Hokie golf, they pictured a course that would be a resource for local golfers and a destination for out-of-state travelers. The course would also become a gathering point for Virginia Tech alumni, which is probably why greens fees on Fridays before Hokie home football games are treated as holidays.

The River Course isn't an original Dye design. The course was first built by Daniel J. Schlegal of Ault and Clark Associates. When they University purchased the property in 2002, the decision to bring in a nationally-known golf architect to enhance the course was made. That's when Dye stepped in.

Considered one of, if not the greatest, modern day golf course designers set out to overhaul the course and transform it into a world-class golfing destination, one that could help with regional economic growth and spark the school's golf program.

Dye reconstructed all 18 greens and tees, and then added 3,500 trees to the layout. In all, he moved 400,000 cubic yards of earth, not by himself of course. The River Course reopened to rave reviews on August 21, 2005.

The New River in the backgroundIn 2006, Golf Digest hailed the revamped River Course as one of "America's Best New Coures," making the Dye redesign No. 4 on the list of best remodels in the country. A couple of years later, the same publication branded the course with a nearly perfet 4.5 star rating from its readers, making it one of their "Best Places to Play" for 2008-09.

Today, the daily-fee course which is open to the public and members, is approaching its fourth anniversary. One piece of the puzzle still remains unfinished.

A luxurious $5.5 million clubhouse that will sit on a 70-foot rock cliff above the New River is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2009. It is expected to be as unique and distinctive as the golf course it serves. It will be much more than a well-equipped pro shop peddling the latest Pete Dye River Course logo golf shirts. The buliding will become a venue for golf events, university functions, as well as private and corporate soirees.

"We just embarrassingly smile when people ask about our clubhouse," David Lowe, chairman of the course's operating board recently told the Roanoke Times in reference to the pair of double-wide trailers that presently serve as the course's pro shop and respite area.

"It's going to be absolutely gorgeous," he continued. "A great golf course and a fabulous clubhouse, what else more would you want? There are some cosmetic things that we still want to do with the golf course. But the new clubhouse is the one big piece we really needed. And it's coming. I can't wait."

River Course Clubhouse sketch

Construction of the new clubhouse

About the Pete Dye River Course at Virginia Tech

The layout winds along 2.5 miles of the scenic and historic New River and many holes have been endeared with its presence. Panoramic views are the norm and the passing of an occasional train enhances the beauty of the surroundings.

The Pete Dye River Course is a daily-fee public facility. Individual, Student and Faculty and Family Memberships are available and provide a variety of benefits. All golfers are invited and encouraged to experience "The River." Special corporate and group outings are welcome and can be specifically tailored to meet your needs.

Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech

The course is also only 45 minutes from Roanoke, the Blue Ridge Parkway and The Appalachian Trail. Other recreational opportunities in the area include white water rafting, canoeing, hicking, fishing, hunting, NASCAR racing and more, making it an ideal area for a family vacation or golf trip with your friends.

The golf shop and driving range are open daily. For more information visit www.rivercoursegolf.com or call 1-888-PETE-DYE.

» Post Comment
Email (will not be published)
Name
Title
Comment
 remaining characters
Captcha Image Regenerate code when it's unreadable
» No Comments
There are no comments up to now.
 

On the Tours

PGA Tour Honors Tournaments with "Best Of" Awards

Nine PGA Tour tournaments were recently honored with 13 “Best Of” Awards by the PGA Tour at the Tour’s year-end Tournament Advisory Council (TAC) Meetings. Here is a list of those...
Full Story

LPGA Schedule Lighter in 2010, Wegmans to Sponsor Second Major

Acting LPGA Commissioner Marty Evans has announced that the Tour will partner with long-time LPGA sponsor Wegmans to conduct the 2010 LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans. It will be among 24...
Full Story

More from Golf Tournaments
Get Flash to see this player.

Golf Blog

Tom Brady Gets GQ on Tiger Woods
Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Tom Brady is one of my personal heroes. He's won three Super Bowls, married one of the hottest women on the planet and graces the cover of GQ as often as he appears on the front of Sports...
Full Story

An Interview with Hank Haney
Monday, 16 November 2009

When Hank Haney talks, golfers typically lesson, especially if they're the impressionable young men and women from around the world who attend the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in...
Full Story

More from Golf Blogs

Golf News

Michelle Wie Moves the Needle for Golf Channel
Friday, 20 November 2009

Michelle Wie’s first victory at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational garnered one of the year’s best LPGA Tour ratings for Golf Channel. Sunday’s 0.72 final-round rating represents...
Full Story

The Open Championship Celebrates its 150th Anniversary in July
Friday, 20 November 2009

2010 marks another milestone in golf history as The Open Championship celebrates its 150th Anniversary in July. Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club (MOCGC), the club at the world's oldest golf...
Full Story

More from Golf News

Golf Poll

Who Will Win the 2010 Ryder Cup?