Located in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, The Homestead is an upscale mountain retreat and sporting playground featuring luxurious accommodations, fine dining and refined style. The resort, founded in 1766, combines history and tradition with the finest, modern amenities and a vast array of outdoor activities, including premier golf on three superb courses, miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, and a world-class spa. The Homestead’s first golf course was built more than 100 years ago, and since then, the resort has maintained a reputation for offering a championship golf experience – combining challenging play with spectacular scenery and a classic golf heritage.
The Homestead’s three courses include:
The Cascades Course: The Cascades was designed in 1923 by the legendary William S. Flynn. The jewel in the trio of Homestead courses, the 6,659-yard, par 70 course is well known for its long, narrow fairways, fast greens and beautiful headwaters of the Cascades Stream. The Cascades is ranked No. 39 on Golfweek Magazine’s “America’s Best Classic Courses.”
Considered by many to be one of the finest mountain courses in America, The Cascades is also one of the most challenging to conquer, using its mountain location to influence play, but not dictate it. Talented players can use the slopes and roll to their advantage, but less skilled golfers will not find themselves penalized by forced carries or unfair hazard placement.
The course has hosted seven USGA Championships and several prestigious PGA events, including the 1995 and 1996 Senior PGA TOUR Shoot-Out Championships. In 2004, it hosted the NCAA Men's Division 1 Championship.
The Old Course: Opened in 1892, The Homestead’s Old Course enjoys the distinction of having the oldest first tee in continuous use in the United States. Initially a six-hole layout, by 1913, the course had been expanded to 18 holes and had taken its place as one of Donald Ross's original designs. Under the direction of Rees Jones, a more than one-million-dollar redesign was performed on the Old Course, to preserve the essential flair and enhance the traditionally favorite characteristics. Abundant fairway contouring gives most shots a side hill, uphill or downhill lie to compact greens, making approach shots interesting. Also, six par-5s and six par-3s - including par-3s to conclude each side - give this layout a unique flavor. A driving range and putting green are adjacent to the course.
The Lower Cascades Course: Established in 1963, the Lower Cascades Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and features long tees, large greens, rolling fairways and the beautiful Cascades Stream. The 6,619-yard, par 72 layout includes Jones' trademark runway tee boxes and wide-open fairways, as well as severe green contouring with exaggerated breaks, and strategically placed bunkers for a competitive game.
Practice Facilities and The Golf Advantage School
Driving range and short game practice facilities are located at The Old Course. The Golf Advantage School is a top-rated instructional program that originated at The Homestead’s sister property, Pinehurst. Encompassing all areas of the game, from full swing to short game, the school's format allows for individual as well as group instruction, with the maximum student-to-instructor ratio set at five to one.
