RESORT FEATURE
Living Up To Number One: The Cascades Course At The Homestead
By Jeffrey A. Rendall,
Senior Writer
HOT SPRINGS, VA -- It's hard being #1—just ask Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, or any other legend, and I'm sure they'll tell you it ain't always wine and roses at the top. But there are certainly some perks that go along with the honored place on everyone's mantle, one being you have a clear view of everyone else below. And you won't need to carry business cards or wear a nametag at parties because everyone already knows you.
Such is the case for The Cascades at The Homestead, Virginia's number one course on most everyone's list, as well as being the top rated mountain course in the United States—and it's not even in the Rocky mountains. I guess you could say it's reached heights that others only dream of—literally and figuratively. The Cascades is Virginia's lone representative in Golf Digest's ‘100 Greatest American Courses' at #48 (though I think several other Virginians deserve a shot at breaking into the rankings). It's also the headlining golf act at the oldest continuously run resort on the North American continent— which The Homestead is. In other words, there's a lot to live up to.
Similar to the aforementioned human legends, however, The Cascades seems to be taking stardom in stride—which makes it easy to maintain its lofty position. The course is simply too beautiful from the first tee to the eighteenth green to relinquish any of its honors. It's a natural work of sculpture in organic form. Its holes just seem to belong right where they lay—and that was almost by necessity.
Don Ryder, The Homestead's Director of Golf, says one reason
why The Cascades seems to fit its setting so well is because it
couldn't be any other way—the modern earth moving equipment
wasn't around in 1923 to move a lot of dirt. So, the holes
fell where they fit—and by an incredible stroke of fortune,
they fell into place perfectly.
"One of the things you'll notice right away about The Cascades Course is how naturally it blends with the mountain setting. There's that stretch of holes on the back nine, ten through thirteen, that just seems like they've been there all along. And it's that way throughout the course—truly, eighteen different golf holes, all fitting into their places. It's a highly rated golf course in a perfect part of the world."
Apparently Mr. Ryder, myself, and Golf Digest aren't the only ones who think that way—The Cascades has held seven United States Golf Association championships in its time. It's hard to improve on number one—why even try?
And it's not just golf in spite of the scenery. William S.
Flynn, the course's architect, laid out the holes to allow
the land's natural variations to suggest the shot. You'll
have downhill tee shots, uphill tee shots, tee shots to sloping
fairways, and second shots containing all the above. Trees frame
many of the fairways, and just seem to whisper ‘Draw'
or ‘Fade.' Maybe that's what the breeze was saying?
The rough is thick and the fairways very tight in spots. Ryder says how you play largely depends on how you drive: "If you drive the ball well, it's not a course that's so long that you can't hit some greens. But if you're driving the ball poorly, you'll never score well there. I've played courses where you can drive it all over the place and still do okay, but you can't do it on The Cascades."
Ryder also says you'll need to keep the ball on the fat side of the green to avoid high numbers. "You start missing on the short side at the Cascades and you'll make bogey after bogey it seems like—it's a hard course to get up and down when you miss the greens to the opposite side of the flagpin."
That's because the greens roll pretty fast, and the contours
won't allow for a short saving putt if it's pitched
or chipped by. I wouldn't call the putting surfaces severe
or overly undulating, but they'll make up for it in speed
and condition. Simply some of the finest greens you'll find
anywhere, and a joy to putt. If you reach them in regulation,
the greens will surrender some birdie tries.
Another prevalent feature throughout the course is The Cascades stream itself. It comes into play on about half the holes, very much so on the closing three. It's crystal clear—very easy to see the final resting place for quite a few golf balls. On a hot day, I'm sure it's tempting to want to jump in after ‘em if you're unfortunate enough to miss one there.
As a final point of introduction, playing the course from the back tees is a sheer joy on this course. It'll make it several degrees more difficult, but the elevation and yardage differences really add a superior quality. Hitting good shots from some of those back tee boxes brings a degree of satisfaction you'll not often experience. Highly recommended.
The opening hole sets the tone for the round. 394 yards from the back tees, you'll see a gently sloping fairway left to right, trees and bunkers on the right to test your accuracy.
Number two continues the sloped fairway trend, only the degree
is even more severe. Extremely tough driving hole because of the
fairway and the fact it's slightly uphill. There is a great
deal of room, however, and the right side bunker's only 174
yards out. You'll most likely have a sidehill lie for the
approach shot—so aim a little left to try and make the green
(and avoid the bunker on the right). You'll need two good
shots for a chance at par here.
Four's a terrific par three, 198 yards and severely downhill. There's the stream to the extreme left, along with trees, and a bunker guards the left side of the green. A ton of bailout room to the right, but you'll have to make a good pitch from thick rough if you end up there.
Six's second shot is one of the most picturesque on the course, as it's over the stream to a very generous green. Guard against going too long in the fairway, and it's an easy 3-wood and short iron to the putting surface.
Nine is a muscular 450 yard par four from the back tees. You can't
see the green from the tee, as it's about 50 feet below you
and hidden beneath the fairway plateau (also doglegs a little
to the left). What a spectacular tee location. When you finish
up the hole, it's hard to believe you've got nine more
holes on this great course. Can it get any better?
Yes.
Holes ten through thirteen are as good as you'll find anywhere, in terms of shot selection, aesthetic beauty, challenge and pure enjoyment.
Ten's a 375 yard par four, dogleg right. Here, again, you can't see the green from the tee, and you'll have to gather from experience how to play the hole—the length of your tee shot and type of lie you'll want for the second shot will dictate what you club with—because the fairway slopes down quite a bit over the horizon. Second shot is over a grassy depression to a beautiful green tucked short of a hillside.
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The par three eleventh sits on top of a plateau with bunkers guarding the entire short and left sides, and a steep slope guarding the right side. The Cascades stream is to the extreme right and definitely comes into play for anything sent in that direction. The hole's too beautiful to get mad at, though, even if you end up with a double (like I did).
Twelve has another incredible downhill tee shot, and is the longest par four on the course at 479 yards (used to be a par five). Looks narrow from the tee, it's actually not too bad unless you hook or slice it badly. If you're in the rough off the tee, the second shot's a layup over some strategically placed fairway bunkers (for the old par five). A bogey here feels like a par.
Thirteen's another tremendous par four at 438 yards, same story as at twelve (but this one was always a par four). What a repeat performance.
Sixteen through eighteen gives the close of the round a real flare,
with somewhat unusual sequencing at two consecutive par fives
and a par three for the last. On sixteen and seventeen, the Cascades
stream comes very much into play—for your approach shot on
sixteen (be it your second or third), and down the entire right
side of seventeen. Neither hole is particularly difficult if you
have a good tee ball—they're very enjoyable.
Eighteen is a 192 yarder over the stream (which looks more like a pond at this point), which doesn't really come into play except for shanked balls. The green is elevated and guarded on either side by bunkers—making for a tough hole location if it's in front!
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The final green presents great views of The Cascades' clubhouse, which was once the summer home of New York Stock Exchange Trader Jakey Rubino (who owned the property prior to the Homestead's purchase). Definitely worth a visit, if just to look at the beautiful building—and to take in some lunch!
The summation of a great golf experience—but it all fits. You'll go into visiting The Cascades with high expectations—the kind you'll only garner for something that's number one. And the great thing is, The Cascades lives up to all of them.
The Cascades at The Homestead
P.O. Box 2000
Hot Springs, VA 24445
Phone: (800) 838-1766
FAX: (540) 839-7954
www.thehomestead.com
Course Designer: William S. Flynn
Director of Golf: Don Ryder
Tees/Yardage/Slope
Blue 6,679 137
White 6,256 131
Red 4,967 124
Rates
$165 for Hotel Guests. Rates are typically tied into overall Hotel
stay & play packages, which may include spa visits and incredible
dining—call the above number for information.
