The Viniterra Club near Richmond, VA

[cougar978]

This place is a private club near Richmond - about 30min from I-95.  Anyway, 16 of us from my local league went up there Sunday because they're allowing the public to play on certain days in an attempt to increase membership.  The only thing I have to say is, it is without a doubt the most challenging course in the state of Virginia.  It's a Rees Jones design that can stretch to almost 7800 yards from the tips (we estimated it played to about 7200 from our tees), and you have severely elevated greens and bunkers with faces that can be up to 15ft in some cases.  If you can't carry the ball 250 off the tee, you won't break 100 out there.  If you're in the woods or high grass, you may as well re-tee because chances are your ball is going to be lost.  Also, the greens were probably running at least a 12-13.

We had 5 guys (including myself) in the group that were scratch or better, and the low man in the group shot 78 (I birdied the first hole and then proceeded to shoot 80 with three doubles).  If you want to see how your game stacks up on a couse that could host a PGA Tour event and you're in the Richmond area, find a way to play this course.

[chilly]

I've played it twice, my home club actually has a reciprocal there so I can play for cart fee.  It's the favorite course I've played, first time I played from the Blues at 7200yds on a very windy day and it's the only time i've played longer then 6800, whole new concept hitting a good drive and still having a four iron into a green.  I played the Whites the second time,  quite a bit easier not just because of the yardage knocked back to 6600 or so, but the angles into par 3s changes quite a bit and takes bunkers out of play.  I've played some resort courses that were tough because of what I call "funhouse" design, but agree that it's a "Pro" course without incorporating stupid design tricks, unbelievable that they actually play 7800yd courses.  I can't imagine the course tightened up, it wasn't particularly tight when we played and it was early so the rough was almost non-existant, pins weren't tough.

I don't know how it was when you were there, but both times I played there we were the only group in sight, even at the range there was just one other foursome.  I played it quite early in the year so I didn't get to see it in good shape, have to get up there this Fall when it should be perfect.  Love a couple of the holes that are adjacent to the vineyard.

Still, by far the best hole I've played is birdie on #11, playing 465yds.  Big drive for me about 270, seven iron from 190 out with wind at my back and the huge elevation change (don't anyone get excited, good 7iron is 170yds for me). Pin was up in the front about on the shelf, hit it to six foot then actually made the tricky slider.