The Homestead (Cascades) – Played July 2018
- Rankings: Golf Digest Public #26, Golf Magazine Public #24
- Location: 1776 Homestead Drive, Hot Springs, Virginia
- Year: 1923
- Architect: William Flynn
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,873 yards, Par 72, 72.8 Rating/135 Slope
- White: 6,256 yards, Par 72, 70.9 Rating/130 Slope (Men’s), 77.5 Rating/142 Slope (Women’s)
- Gold: 5,530 yards, Par 72, 68.2 Rating/123 Slope (Men’s), 73.8 Rating/134 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 4,968 yards, Par 72, 70.2 Rating/122 Slope
I headed down towards the Omni Homestead resort after my round at Nemacolin. After a night’s sleep in West Virginia, I hopped across the border to visit the Homestead (Cascades) course. The Homestead resort has a long history, too much to get into in this post. I do suggest you check it out at this link though. They just celebrated 250 years in 2016!
As you’ll see in the photos, this course plays through the mountains and has wonderful scenery. William Flynn has always been an interesting architect to me and I love old golf courses. He used the terrain wonderfully at Homestead (Cascades). It’s funny, but this old course is the newer of the two associated with the resort. The other was completed in 1892.
Be careful on the winding road to the course or you may miss the entrance. A helpful tip…the course is a few miles short of the resort and your GPS may be off.
Once you turn off the road you drive down into a quaint parking lot with an unassuming bag drop. The older guys working were super nice and got me all set up. Since I was one of the first tee times my parking spot was about 10 yards from the bag drop!
Once you get squared away, you walk about 50 yards to the grand old clubhouse seen in the photos below. This building was so cool. I’m not an architecture buff but I appreciate different styles. This clubhouse was not what you would expect at a resort course.
The inside decor can be seen below. An added amenity was the showers. They let me use them before my long ride home, which was a huge bonus.
The Homestead (Cascades) has a special place in history as the setting for the beginning of Sam Snead’s golf career. The plaque below sits under a flagpole close to the first tee. I suggest zooming in to read it if needed. He had an interesting career. I think that course record is safe for a while.
Randomly, I was paired with two other singles for my early tee time. I hopped on with one of them and we headed to the first tee.
As a quick aside, one of the guys noticed my Clemson hat and commented he had gone there as well. Turns out we are both from Greenville and he is now in Charlotte. Small world! We’ve have since gotten together for a round at a great track in SC. Golf is the best.
Hole 1 – 379 yards – Par 4 – Outward Bound
I’m not sure how Slammin’ Sammy drove this green. The hole plays uphill for a bit and then flattens out for the most part. Your approach must be accurate as the green is tiny and narrow.
Hole 2 – 401 yards – Par 4 – The Dip
With an early tee time there was still a crisp air when we reached this tee. With all the trees this tee shot can be difficult. Once you’re in the fairway, the main challenge is avoiding the single large bunker in front of the green.
Hole 3 – 279 yards – Par 4 – Shelf
I didn’t mention it earlier, but be sure to check out the hole names as you’re reading. You have some options here. The conservative play is to leave yourself a short iron in while longer hitters can take it over the trees on the right to try and reach the green.
I don’t really see the benefit of going for the green.
Hole 4 – 192 yards – Par 3 – Carry On
The first of the one-shot holes makes you think from the start. The elevation change can wreak havoc on club selection. It is best not to miss long in general at Homestead (Cascades) and that holds true here. The green is a pretty small target.
Hole 5 – 548 yards – Par 5 – Marathon
I don’t particularly like this hole, mainly based on the tee shot. You can see the severe angle and small fairway. It is hard to hit and almost exclusively requires a fade. Once you get past this portion of the hole, it opens up and plays better.
Hole 6 – 356 yards – Par 4 – The Wedge
You need to be careful on this tee shot. The road looms to the left and a creek is on the right. Anything 200+ out there is safe. The hole bends to the right and features an approach over the creek to a circular green.
Hole 7 – 414 yards – Par 4 – Seventh Heaven
Nothing is hidden on this hole. It plays uphill all the way to the green with a fairway canting severely to the right. If you get on the green in regulation you should have a good opportunity to make a putt since the green is quite flat.
Hole 8 – 130 yards – Par 3 – Cemetery Ridge
I forgot to get a shot of this green from the tee. The hole plays downhill but not as much as the previous par three. It is also a short shot. The land drops off quickly if you miss the green right.
Hole 9 – 423 yards – Par 4 – The Take Off
A good shot here should go a long way from the elevated tee. I don’t love the trees encroaching on the tee box but the rest of the hole is great.
The approach plays up over a hill to a blind green. This necessitates the use of a target which you can barely make out on the center tree behind the green. It’s very helpful when playing and quite easy to see in person.
Hole 10 – 364 yards – Par 4 – Slippery Hollow
When you make the turn, you get a real mountain feel with the Homestead (Cascades) halfway house. This quaint spot had some phenomenal cinnamon donuts that I was thankful for after skipping breakfast. Top notch!
Once on the tee you are faced with a dramatic hole. The land moves sharply to the right and downhill towards the green that is fronted by a hazard. With the trees and mountains surrounding us I felt like I was in a stadium on this hole.
Hole 11 – 170 yards – Par 3 – Lucky Strike
There’s nothing flashy about this hole but don’t let that take away from it. Any shot shape will work here with the main goal of avoiding the large sand trap. Guard against going long.
Hole 12 – 435 yards – Par 4 – The Vale
The final six holes are where the course really gets cracking. This fairway favors a draw and is on the tighter side. Anything beyond the rough is likely gone.
The approach plays to an open green where, like the tee shot, you don’t want to miss on either side.
The green shape is simple but some internal slopes provide adequate defenses.
Hole 13 – 406 yards – Par 4 – Swift Run
For the second hole in a row a draw is favored off the tee. Be careful though as a creek extends down the left side. This green is more heavily guarded but the front bunkers are deceptions as they are well short of the green.
Hole 14 – 411 yards – Par 4 – The Mews
This is a difficult dogleg right that plays slightly uphill. I ejected to left of the left trees here and had some adventures getting to the green.
Hole 15 – 214 yards – Par 3 – Vanity Fair
You feel like your hitting out of chute on this tee. The green is way down there with the slope taking a bit off the yardage. Due to the trees it’s hard to curve it too much here.
The green is pretty small for the length of the hole.
Hole 16 – 488 yards – Par 5 – The Hemlocks
The first of back to back par fives is a definite birdie opportunity. The depth perception is challenging on this one. I wasn’t sure of the line to take but the bunkers can definitely be carried.
Once in the fairway you can have a go at the green. There is a shallow pond guarding the front so it is all carry. Bunkers behind the green provide a barrier if you come in too hot.
Hole 17 – 481 yards – Par 5 – Cress Lakes
Many players will have a second chance to get home in two, this time on a dogleg left. It plays a bit uphill all the way. A tough to see hazard runs all the way down the right side of the hole up to the green.
Not too much slope on this green. Green light city with putts.
Hole 18 – 165 yards – Par 3 – Taps
I like to see things on a course that are out of the ordinary. Not many finish with a par three. Pasatiempo certainly comes to mind. With a mid iron and a large green this should be an opportunity to walk off with a 2.
I loved Homestead (Cascades). It reminded me a ton of New England courses and I’m a sucker for old school feel. I won’t lie, the green fee is steep. I didn’t stay in the resort so I saved on that end. To me it was worth it, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning a trip.
I can see why Snead loved this place! It’s not the easiest to get to and I bet you will be questioning yourself on the winding drive in, but once you arrive it will all be worth it.