We've played every public and most semi-private courses in the Richmond region. When customers ask which ones are worth their time, the answer always depends on their handicap and what they're trying to get out of a round.
Here's how we'd organize the rotation. These aren't the most expensive or the most exclusive. They're the courses you'll actually enjoy and learn from.
Beginner / 20+ handicap.
Stonehenge Golf & Country Club (Henrico). Open to public play on weekdays, wider fairways than you'd expect from the name. Good for building confidence.
Mill Quarter Plantation (Powhatan). Short, walkable, generous landing areas. The kind of course where you can play out of position and still post a score.
Improving / 10-20 handicap.
The Crossings Golf Club (Glen Allen). Varied tee boxes mean you can play within your distance. Good shot-making tests on the back nine.
Hermitage Country Club (Manakin-Sabot). Semi-private. The Manakin course rewards thoughtful approach play. The River course is more demanding.
Royal New Kent (Providence Forge). Irish links-style. Wind matters. You'll learn to flight the ball.
“Variety is overrated when you're trying to lower your scores. Pick your home rotation and play it until the shots become familiar.”
Lower handicap / 0-10.
Independence Golf Club (Midlothian). Tom Fazio design. Demanding from the back tees. Worth seeing if you can keep the ball in play.
The Federal Club (Glen Allen). Private but accessible through member guest play. The greens will expose any wedge gapping issues you have.
Salisbury Country Club (Midlothian). Established member club with serious teeth. Long, classic layout.
The wild card.
Belmont Golf Course (Henrico). Recently restored. Donald Ross design. Affordable, public, and an excellent test of strategy over distance.
If you're trying to improve, our suggestion is to play the same two or three courses repeatedly until you know where every wedge needs to land. Variety is overrated when you're trying to lower your scores. Pick your home rotation and play it until the shots become familiar.
And if you want fitting work done that matches the courses you actually play, come see us. We'll factor your home rotation into the wedge gapping, loft choices, and shaft selections.
Written by
Matt Rutherford
Co-owner · Fitting specialist
Want to dig in further?
Book a fitting and we’ll work through it on the range.
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