Country Club of Virginia, Westhampton Course

Course History and Overview

The Country Club of Virginia is located in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1908, the club is home to three golf courses spread across two separate campuses. The James River Course is probably the most notable course of the three as it has hosted in recent years the PGA Tour Champions Tour via the Dominion Energy Charity Classic and will be returning again in October 2025. Across the street from the James River course is The Tuckahoe Creek course which is the most recently constructed course of the three opening in 1988. These are both excellent golf courses, I have not had the opportunity to play them as often as the clubs third course, Westhampton.

The Westhampton Course is set on its own campus further in town from the James River and Tuckahoe Creek courses. Westhampton is the main club campus some of the amenities include a large clubhouse, multiple dinning options, tennis courts and a expansive work out facility. Westhampton was the original course layout for The Country Club of Virginia opening in 1910, two years after the club was founded. Two of the greatest names in golf have teed it up on this course, Bobby Jones and Harry Varner. The original course design was led by Herbert Barker. Golf course design legend Donald Ross was tapped for a redesign in 1920. In 2005 a renovation project was led by Lester Georgia where he was able to restore many of the Ross course features as part of this project.

View from the tee box on the short par four fifteenth hole at Westhampton

Westhampton has four sets of tees and play from a maximum yardage of 6,214 yards from the blue tees with a slope rating of 127. The course is a par 70. The layout differs from the standard par 72 with three par threes and one par five on the front. While Westhampton does not play as a long course, it holds a fair share of challenges. There are several very difficult par fours including the 428 yard par four third and 445 yard par four ninth which is a beast of a golf hole. There is also a very difficult par three on the front that always plays over 200 yards. The back nine scales back some in difficulty with all par fours playing under 400 yards. The front nine carries away from the clubhouse and number nine is actually one of the further points from home camp. The greens hold that classic Donald Ross feel as they are not huge and have tricky slopes built throughout. The course is very walkable with rolling hills with greens strategically located close to many tee boxes. The course is always kept in excellent condition and has a number of standout holes.

Individual Hole Analysis

*Yardages are from the Blue Tees

Number 1: 349 Yards, Par 4*

The first hole at Westhampton is a great way to ease into the golf course. Playing around 350 yards from from the opening tee, the golfer can hit anything from a long iron to driver to start their round. The first fairway is pretty open. With enough distance on your drive you will get some added carry from a hill on the left side of the hole that will leave you playing your approach shot to a slightly a uphill two tier green. A short playable par four is always a nice way to start a round on any golf course.

Number 3: 428 Yards, Par 4

Make it stand out

After a short par three second, you reach one of the more challenging holes on the course. Driver is always going to be the play off the tee here as you are dealt a 430 yard hole with lots to take in. The tee shot requires carry over a large ravine to a fairway that moves slightly from right to left. A miss off the tee left can likely lead to out of bounds and a miss right can lead to a really difficult shot off a large hill. Even with a good drive you may still be left with a blind approach shot. Any form of a missed fairway will lead to a difficult approach shot; even a drive that is not well centered can make the approach tricky. After cresting the hill the approach here plays slightly downhill to a nice sized green. Don’t miss right here as many approach shots funnel down into an out of bounds area. Consider hitting a green in regulation on this hole a win.

Number 4: 556 Yards, Par 5

I enjoyed profiling three of the first four holes at Westhampton in large part because you get four very unique golf holes to start the round; a short playable par four, a very short par three, the most difficult par four on the course, and a really well designed par five. The fourth hole is one of my favorites on the course. Standing on the tee box of the fourth hole is fairly intimidating, however the landing areas on both the right and left side of are relatively open. The fairway here is split by a ‘S’ shaped creek that winds its way from the middle of the fairway to the back side of the green. You can play this hole two ways: first, up the right side of the fairway, or for bigger hitters up the left side which narrows as the hole progresses but provides more green grass before the creek. For approach shots you can play over the creek to the right side of the fairway or try and bite off more of the hole and carry up the left side, a classic risk reward. The green here is large in size but always plays difficult. Two bunkers guard the front left and right and the creek winds it’s way up the left side of the hole. Approach shots to the left side of this green and hole are more likely to find trouble.

The third provides multiple shot options throughout the entirety of the hole

Number 13: 351 Yards, Par 4

The par four thirteenth is my favorite hole design on the course. The hole does not play long at 351 yards but requires a good bit of strategy. The hole is as straight away as they come with large trees guarding either side of the fairway. The fairway has a few rolling hills built into it, with a good drive you can get a nice roll off your tee shot to add in some extra yardage. The hole gets complex when it comes to strategy on the approach shot. The good news is the green is =one of the largest on the course, the bad news it is probably the most difficult. The large size is overshadowed by two significant size tiers. With a back pin placement this pin can become a true bear and walking away with a three put can be common place. Additionally there are three of four sides of the green covered by sand traps. This par four at the Westhampton course is no walk in the park.

Number 17: 166 Yards, Par 3

The final par three on the course is a straight forward hole playing just under 170 yards from the tees. From the tee boxes, the hole slopes down and then back up to a slightly elevated green. Two bunkers guard the front sides of the green. With the elevated green there is slope off most sides of the green so if you do miss this green you are looking at a uphill pitch or a sand shot. Again, this is a straightforward par three but I usually wind up with a bogey on this hole for whatever reason.

Number 18: 512 Yards, Par 5

The par five finishing hole is a fun ride and also a workout if you are walking as the hole is a calorie burning uphill walk. Off the tee the hole bends slightly to the right. With the slope on this hole, most shots will garner some form of left to right roll so I always prefer to try and keep the ball on the left side of the hole. Playing up the right side of the hole is certainly a option but brings risk into play as shots too far right will likely find out of bounds tree line. The approach shot here is always an interesting one as often times you will have some form of above or below your feet lie and play to a slightly blind approach shot depending on the pin placement. The highest likelihood of a uncomfortable approach shot comes in the left rough about 150 yards or in. The finishing hole also provides nice views of the clubhouse.

The finishing hole at Westhampton will likely provide some form of non flat lie for approach shots but also provides great views of the club

In Summary

Playing a course under the influence and design of Donald Ross makes for a memorable round of golf, The Westhampton Course at The Country Club of Virginia is no exception. Westhampton plays to a fun but challenging layout with some very difficult holes and memorable greens. A chance to tee it up at Westhampton is always a treat.