“I’d rather be driving a golf ball” at a West Virginia State Park

            SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Bumper stickers proclaiming “I’d rather be driving a golf ball” are reminders that golfers are never far from a West Virginia State Park golf course. Players find a challenge for all skill levels at five unique 18-hole courses amidst the natural settings of the Mountain State, according to Ken Caplinger, West Virginia State Parks Chief. 

            “Cacapon, Canaan Valley, Pipestem, Stonewall, and Twin Falls resort state parks offer excellent quality, resort-style courses with a variety of design and terrain for an exhilarating golf adventure,” Caplinger explained. “The Short Course, which is a second course at Pipestem, is a great nine-hole, par 3 challenge and Hawks Nest State Park has a nine-hole course just a short drive away from the lodge.”

            Pro shop facilities, overnight accommodations, campgrounds, and good food can be found on site at Cacapon, Canaan Valley, Twin Falls, and Pipestem and Stonewall resorts. These state parks are located among beautiful scenery with a variety of recreational services, facilities, and abundant wildlife to enjoy on site.

            Golf package plans are available seasonally, and include “stay and play” options with reasonable rates, lodging and green fees. In addition to packages at the on-site courses, North Bend and Tygart Lake state parks offer golf as a lodging package at the park and golf at a nearby course. Courses are open for daily play with many offering daily play rate options. Like all state park facilities and services, more information and reservations can be obtained by calling toll free at 1-800-CALL WVA or visiting online at www.wvstateparks.com.

About the W.Va. state park 18-hole championship courses

Cacapon Resort State Park

            Golfers at Cacapon Resort, near Berkeley Springs in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle, will find a classic design by world famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. This 18-hole championship course is considered one of the most enjoyable and pastoral golf experiences in West Virginia, and is rated as one of the 130 best-designed courses in the United States. Nestled beneath the formidable bulk of Cacapon Mountain is 6,827 yards of pure golfing pleasure with the large greens and tees, strategic trap marks of a Trent Jones course. An unusual double green is found on the back nine and even the practice green is something special in that it is built around a chimney from an early homestead. A full-time PGA golf pro and a part-time LPGA teaching professional are on duty and available for both group and private lessons. The course is open year-round, weather permitting.

Canaan Valley Resort State Park

            Spacious and gently rolling terrain on the floor of an enormous high mountain valley as well as an excellent turf grass climate gave architect Geoffrey Cornish excellent ground on which to work at Canaan Valley Resort State Park in Davis.

            The result is a long and correspondingly challenging, yet relatively open layout which encourages big hitters to reach back for a little extra. For an added bonus, summer players get the delightfully cool weather at 3,200 average feet of elevation and terrific views of the crest of 4,000 foot high Cabin Mountain and Canaan Mountain, which border the valley. Canaan golf course has earned four stars from Golf Digest Magazine for its spectacular mountain views and design which is challenging enough for the most experienced golfer, yet friendly for the beginner. Canaan Valley Resort State Park’s golf course is open April through mid-November.

Pipestem Resort State Park

            Pipestem Resort provides an opportunity to play two courses situated on a mountain tabletop between Hinton and Princeton. Of course, this plateau is bisected by the 1,000 foot deep Bluestone River Canyon, to which the 18-hole championship course is adjacent. This allowed course architect Geoffrey Cornish the opportunity to create an extremely scenic design with several incredible views and one memorable par 3 which requires a blue tee carry of more than 200 yards over a ravine in the canyon wall. From the regular tees, Pipestem Resort is an all around excellent, varied, and interesting course. From the professional tees, particularly on days when the seemingly ever-present mountaintop breeze gets a little brisk, the serious golfer will find a great golf challenge. A resident PGA golf pro is available for lessons. The course is open year round, weather permitting.

            A bonus at Pipestem Resort is a nine-hole par 3 course. Although perfect for the less experienced golfer, it also receives raves from serious players who find it considerably different than the average pitch and putt course. Large greens and tees, varied terrain, wood-lined fairways and several tee shots requiring a mid- to long-iron or fairway wood draw a lot of players back over and over after they discover this little gem.

Stonewall Resort State Park

            Stonewall Resort’s Palmer Signature Course is ranked 23 among the nation’s top 100 resort courses by Golfweek Magazine and strikes the perfect balance between difficulty and playability, science and nature. In the midst of rolling mountains, alongside beautiful Stonewall Jackson Lake, this 18-hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer features a three-tiered practice facility, pro shop and convenient clubhouse dining. Nestled at the foothills of the Alleghenies and bordered by the second largest lake (26 miles long) in West Virginia, Stonewall Resort is among the best Palmer courses in the country. It can be as enjoyable as it is challenging – the course measures 7,149 yards from the tips – and the surrounding scenery and wildlife only enhance the experience. A PGA golf pro and two assistants are available for lessons.

Twin Falls Resort State Park

            Twin Falls Resort near Mullens in the southeastern portion of West Virginia brings golfers to a shotmaker’s course with a Geoffrey Cornish design on the front side and a George Cobb, Sr. back nine. Although one of the shortest of the state park courses at 5,987 yards, Twin Falls’ 18-hole championship course has a reputation for being the most challenging when it comes to giving up par or better scores. Sloped greens, tight fairways and landing areas and a meandering valley stream which threads its way through the course make this an extremely intriguing golf experience. The par threes at Twin Falls Resort are particularly memorable with one featuring an extreme vertical drop from tee to green.