NWO Golf Links October 2016

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Very few golf courses
have refreshingly, stunning
mountain-top views, which
are outmatched by the quality
of the entire golf course
rural Virginia fits that bill.
While the appeal of playing
golf on a mountain top with
jaw-dropping views of the
Blue Ridge Mountains may
be what draws you to Devils
Knob, the overall quality
of the course will bring you
back for another round.
And that’s a good thing.
The views of the Blue Ridge
Mountains from many of the
greens, tees, and fairways
generate an indelible image,
but the brilliance of golf course
architect Ellis Maple’s clever and
creative imagination with this
rocky and rural piece of Virginia
real estate is what leaves every
golfer begging for more.
Excuse the use of this cliché,
but Devils Knob is the
complete package. While the
blue tees measure just over
6,700 yards, the white tees,
at 6,123 yards, is a sufficient
challenge for most golfers.
When Maple designed this
par-70 layout, he produced
a golf course that has
wonderful balance, flow, and
is in complete equilibrium.
The best two stretches of
golf at Devils Knob are five
holes on the front nine, 4-8,
which feature a par-3, par-5,
par-3, par-5, par-3 sequence.
The first six holes of the back
nine offer a quartet of short
par fours, bracketed by the
longest hole on the course,
the 547-yard 10 th hole, and a
medium length par three, the
166-yard 15th, which is also
the highest elevation on the
course. Any wayward stroke
on the short par-4 holes, will
send your ball soaring into
the forest, never to be seen
again. At Devils Knob, the
driver is often not the club of
choice on many of the tees as
the reward of hitting a long
tee shot is outweighed by
the possibility of a tee shot
drifting into the woods.
“Devils Knob is actually quite
a bit flatter than your typical
mountain course,” Matt
Burch, head golf professional,
Devils Knob Golf Course told
us. “Although it looks to have
lots of slope and terrain,
DEVILS KNOB: A BLUE RIDGE BEAUTY
By Mike May
The views here in the fall are simply amazing, as
members and guests are able to see the leaves change
and enjoy the natural beauty that Wintergreen and
Devils Knob have to offer.
NWO Golf Links