Discovering Stonehaven: a gem of a golf course in the West Virginia Hills
Do you belong to a league or golf club who loves to travel to discover and play new golf courses? Are you looking for a golf resort that can accommodate your entire group or family and make you feel like the space is yours alone? If the answer is yes, then the golf courses and the Manor Houses at The Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels, West Virginia are made just for you! Click here to view map location. (Ed. Note: Glade Springs is owned by the Justice family who also own The Greenbrier – and the amenities and service are just as impeccable.)
Our golf media tour bus arrived at Glade Springs mid afternoon on the fourth day of our tour of West Virginia golf courses. This luxury resort is set in the Appalachian Mountains only 50 miles from Charleston, WV with easy access from major highways. The resort offers the golf visitor endless possibilities for a vacation experience like no other.
Our group of writers stayed in two of the resort’s Manor Houses. We each had our own large bedroom en suite, and in the center of each house we could gather in the large private living and dining area complete with kitchen, and fireplace. It’s the perfect gathering spot for your golf group, family reunion or business team. One of the key offerings at Glade Springs is their Teambuilding Academy which provides cutting edge teambuilding programs for business and organizations.
No sooner had we settled in, when the staff were eager to give us a short tour of the resort’s three golf courses, Woodhaven, Cobb and Stonehaven — the course we would play the next morning. Both Cobb and Stonehaven were chosen by Golf Digest as a “Best Course in the State” in both 2010 and 2011. Woodhaven is their newest championship course and from what I could see of it’s finishing hole, it is one of the most intimidating courses I’ve ever seen. It’s built on the side of a gorge and from the top of the 18th green the view goes straight down the gorge to a tee box at the very bottom. Yikes! Stonehaven was going to prove to be challenge enough but I was looking forward to it.
That night we were treated to a fabulous family style dinner in the resort’s Glade Italian Grill & Bar. Our host introduced each of the selections as he placed dish after dish in the center of the large table. Generous and abundant does not do the meal justice as platter after platter of wonderful italian specialties were presented. The meal lasted well into the evening and we missed a chance to go bowling in the resort’s Leisure and Fitness Center. To be honest, I’m not sure if any of us writers could even pick up a bowling ball after that banquet!
Next morning we headed for Stonehaven and the first tee box. Four women were on the golf media tour bus this trip. And we determined it was about time we had a chance to play golf together! We told the rest of the group we would go out first, and as not to take a chance on slowing anyone else down, we would play a best ball format. The plan worked. We teed off ten minutes ahead of the second group and the guys never caught up.
It was a lot of fun! Stonehaven is no easy course, but it was so beautiful with some absolutely spectacular views, that even on the holes where we didn’t do so well, it was a pleasure to play. We even stopped at the top of the 16th hole to take a photo!
For so many reasons, Stonehaven at Glade Springs was a really memorable experience and one that you should consider as well when you plan your next golf getaway!
Contact West Virginia Tourism for travel information.
