Ballyhack golf club, located in the mountains of Roanoke, VA, is a 2009 Lester George design. Part of the Dormie Network, Ballyhack Golf Club is currently ranked 6th in the state of Virginia and 175 on Golf Digest’s 2nd 100 greatest courses.
As you approach the course, you can start to see some of the holes on the back nine. The front and back nines are divided by a public road. The holes you see from the road, give you a small sense of what the round will be like. Beautiful views of the mountain and tough golf shots.
The pro shop is well stocked and the bar/dining area is nicely appointed. A covered patio area allows for an after round lunch or snack and affords a nice overlook of the course and the mountains in the distance.
Five sets of tees will greet you on the 1st hole. The Back tees, also known as ‘Big Lick” measure 7294 yards. 76.3/155 course rating and slope. For this course review, I will play from the Ballyhack tees which are 6764. Rated 73.6/152. The other tees are Appalachian rated 72.1/149, Blue Ridge rated 71.0/146, Star rated 68.9/140 and Valley rated 66.8/135. For the women Star is rated 74.8/143 and Valley rated 72.3/137.
The opening hole sets the tone for the day. Playing 349 yards, the yardage is not the intimidating part. The tee shot plays over a large ravine with a sharp drop off left and bunkers/mounds right. The fairway is two tired, sloping left. After negotiating the tee shot, the 2nd shot plays uphill to a large green. The front left section is a false front. Repelling shots hit short and left. The best approach shot is to the far right of the green as the green slopes right to left.
The 2nd hole is a par 5. One of the more forgiving tee shots on the course, a good drive down the right side will give a chance to get home in two. Hole 3 is a 205 yard par 3. The green has 3 sections with a bowl area on the left. A pin placement in the bowl will give a good chance at bridie as most shots into the center and left will funnel into the bowl.
Moving to the 4th tee you only notice the left half of the fairway. This hole has a split fairway in which the right side is not visible off the tee. The fairway left has three levels. A well struck tee shot can make it to the lowest level, decreasing the distance for the approach shot. A large green will funnel most shots right to left, except the back right corner, which is the flattest portion of the green. The 5th hole plays downhill on the tee shot to the widest fairway on the course. The approach shot on 5 is the shot that makes or breaks this hole. A severe uphill shot, the green is two tiered and any shot left short will roll back down the hill 20-30 yards.
Playing 334 yards, the 6th hole is the shortest par 4 on the front 9. The tee shot plays downhill over a wetland to an angled fairway. A long iron or fairway woods is all that’s need to hit this fairway. A wedge shot approach should be all that’s left to give you a chance for birdie. The par 3 seventh plays 188 yards. A large bunker on the left, hides some of this very large green. A mid to long iron should get you on the dance floor. The 8th hole plays 350 yards. This par 4 has fairway right the creek that is not seen from the tee. A tee shot to the right is risker but will leave an easier approach. Most players will play down the left side and have a wedge into a wide green.
The 9th hole plays 530 yards. A demanding tee shot because of a sharp fall off to the right, playing up the left side of the fairway is the best bet as it slopes left to right. The 2nd shot, again played up the left side will kick right. Your 3rd shot will need to negotiate a two tiered green. Played correctly on a front pin placement, a shot hit into the middle of the green should come back and leave a good chance at bridie.
The 10th hole is another par 5. Playing 569 yards and a dogleg right, most of trouble is down the right side on all three shots into the green. A large green awaits, that slopes left to right.
The 11th hole is my favorite. Short at 322 yards. It’s the only hole on the course where you do not see any other holes. The fairway slopes hard right to left. The second shot will be uphill to a long narrow green. Favor the right side of the green as approach shots tend to bounce left.
Number 12 is the 6th handicap hole at Ballyhack. A par 4, the tee shot has bunkers and mounds down the right side and a large bunker complex on the left. The fairway slopes down after 200-230 yards, so using a driver is not always needed. A wind at you back should allow a fairway wood of the tee. A tee shot left over the bunkers is the big red X. Don’t go there! Very few balls are found when hit in this area. The 2nd shot will be uphill into a large green. Par here is a great score. The 13th hole is a par 3 at 214 yards. Playing slightly downhill, the green is a double green sharing with 15th hole.
Hole 14 is a sleeper hole. A reasonable length par 4 at 375 yards. The drive has to carry a ravine to a fairway running right to left. The further left you can hit your tee shot, the shorter the 2nd shot. The approach will be uphill to a two tired green. A back left pin is extremely difficult to get close. Another hole where par is a excellent score.
The Par 5 Fifteenth hole can be played 2 ways. The tee shot will play downhill for either choice. A fairway down right side which is hard to see from the tee is available to shorten the hole. A long iron or fairway wood is all that is needed for a drive to this fairway. If executed correctly, a tee shot down the right side will leave between 210-235 yards for the 2nd shot over a creek to reach the green in 2. Playing down the left side of of the fairway will result in the hole playing as a true 3 shot hole. The green is a double green, sharing with hole 13. Multiple pin locations are available on this large green.
Hole 16 is 4th handicap hole. Playing 461 yards, a good tee shot placed in the middle of the fairway will leave you with a good view the green tucked to the right over a ravine. A mid iron should get you home for a bridie putt. Par here sets you up for a good finish.
The par 3 seventeenth hole is 137 yards. The shortest hole at Ballyhack, it has 3 distinct areas on the putting green. Hitting enough club to get to the back portion of the green without going over is tricky. A fun hole to play
The finishing hole at Ballyhack has a narrow fairway, but probably the largest green on the course. Playing 428 yards, a drive down the left side will open up the approach shot which plays slightly uphill. The green is guarded by bunkers on the right. A good finishing hole for a course that is tough but fun to play.
Having hosted the State Open of Virginia numerous times, Ballyhack has proven itself to a competitive and challenging golf course. I have played it many times and find the more I play it the more I come to appreciate it.
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