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Golf Destination Golf Destination
The Greenbrier~Rites of Passage of the most famous throughout Europe. The 8th hole was styled after the "Redan"
at North Berwick, the 13th after the "Alps" at Prestwick, and the 15th after the
Nick Ciattei "Eden" at St. Andrews. Through the years, the course has hosted legendary golfers
like Snead, Hogan, Player, Palmer, Nicklaus, and Trevino, as well as presidents and
celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment who show up regularly to
Every golfer I know has several courses lined tee it up here
up in the back of his or her mind to try to
play during their lifetime. It’s known as their After the West Virginia floods in June 2016
“golfer’s bucket list,” and this writer scratched caused substantial damage to the course, noted
one course off the list when he happily teed golf course architect Keith Foster was brought in
it up at the Old White TPC Course at The to restore Old White TPC while fully embracing
Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West the original Macdonald/Raynor components.
Virginia. A birthday gift this past October for Golf Digest named The Old White TPC the Best
my “Big 60” from one of the most giving ladies Restoration of 2017. It was also named one of
on the planet turned into a memorable and remarkable getaway for both of us. If America’s 100 Best Public Courses by that same
you have some room in your pail, and I know golfers always have room for another publication. This year’s golf season is interrupted
round, I highly recommend a passage to America’s resort. only by needed maintenance and preparation for The Greenbrier Classic in July
While this event has only been around since 2010, it has already become one of
The Greenbrier is a National Historic Landmark that has been welcoming guests the most popular events for the players of the PGA Tour. In addition to playing
from around the world since 1778. The natural mineral springs there that drew this incredible golf course (the oldest on the tour), most of the players bring
their first guests more than 240 years ago continue to lure visitors. The guest list their families to enjoy the 11,000-acre playground and a week’s worth of events
has included 26 of our country’s 45 presidents (including our current golf-crazy celebrating America’s birthday.
leader). In the early 1800s, a cottage community grew into a very fashionable place
to gather. The Springhouse (still standing today) opened in 1835, the first hotel on My circuit around Old White TPC with caddie
the property opened in 1858, and the central section of the current hotel structure reminded me of all the reasons I have had a
opened in 1913. The Greenbrier also served as a WWII military hospital that love affair with this game for so many years.
admitted 24,148 patients. The course was conditioned immaculately, and
I found it hard to imagine that a Tour event had
been held here just three months before. As
traditional and as challenging as any course I
The Old White Hole 18 have played this side of the Atlantic and with
no gimmicks, they present golf as is was meant
to be played. In fact, when they repaired the course, they consulted the original
designers’ drawings and blueprints to make sure they got it right. The renovated
Meadows Course serves as a perfect complement to the historic Old White TPC
The 105th season of golf on The Old White at The Greenbrier officially began this
spring. “The Old White TPC has an amazing story to tell, and it is a significant
part of golf history in the United States,” said Dr. Jill Justice, president of the resort.
Originally designed and constructed by Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor
in 1914, this treasured classic was named for the well-known Old White Hotel,
which stood on the resort grounds from 1858 through 1922 Considered the father
of American golf course architecture, Macdonald modeled several holes from some
The Old White Hole 2
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