Phil Tonseth ‘22
Editor-in-Chief
I take pride in three things about my tenure at UVA Law: 1) I am a fiend for softball and will literally play for anyone who asks;[1] 2) I play golf at least once a week; and 3) I’ve been able to do both and survive law school while only walking into the library six total times. As I already wrote about my team’s softball exploits in our first edition of the year, it’s time I share my knowledge of the local links. These reviews and their subsequent rankings take not only the difficulty of the course into account, but also how tasty their clubhouse food is.[2]
Meadowcreek Golf Course
Ah, the local municipal course. Just like your old haunts back home, Meadowcreek’s best feature is its reliability. It knows what it is, what clientele it attracts, and what the generally appropriate cost someone ideally wants to play a round of golf.[3] Meadowcreek also understands that during the day, some people are busy or have work. To still incentivize people to come play, they offer a reduced rate at twilight in case anyone wants to get a few holes in without paying full price for a normal round. Speaking of cost, I have done the full price comparison, but I think it’d be a push if you were comparing the price of a case of PBR to a round at Meadowcreek. Also, don’t worry about having to dress to the nines to play here. I’ve seen people in jorts and cowboy hats balling at Meadowcreek without a care in the world.
After all of this, you may ask why you’d ever play somewhere else? Well, there’s a lot of times at Meadowcreek where you’re legitimately playing in a field. The grass isn’t always in the best shape, the difficulty mirrors a challenging putt-putt course, and the cemetery just next to the green on hole 15 always throws me off.
Rating: Like trying to shotgun warm Bud Light. You know what you signed up for.
Old Trail Golf Club
For a pretty penny and a hike out to Crozet, Old Trail is a sneakily good course. Old Trail’s best features are the views,[4] low cost for a cart, and degree of difficulty. Downsides you ask? Well, the rough at Old Trail is thicker than a Snicker™, if you catch my drift. If you don’t have a playing partner with a keen eye or simply don’t bring enough balls, good luck surviving the full round. Does that mean I don’t recommend Old Trail? Absolutely not. This course builds you up with inviting shots, draws you in with views that could rival a Van Gogh, and is far enough away from C’ville that you can disappear and forget about your problems for a few hours.
Rating: A Trashcan from Bilt. You don’t normally splurge, but you want to have a good time when you do.
Courtesy of Old Trail Golf Course
Birdwood Golf Course
As the University’s course, there’s a sense of loyalty and belonging when one walks onto the first tee at Birdwood. There’s also the sweeping realization that you just spent over $100, as a student, to play a course where you’ll probably lose at least five golf balls. With that in mind, you try to make the most of the experience. $20 for a 6-pack from the cart girl? Check. Pay another arm and a leg at the turn for a hotdog and French fries? Check. Thinking you’re okay at golf, only to watch every member of both the men’s and women’s UVA golf team embarrass you with their first tee shot? Checkmate.
Do I like Birdwood? Sometimes. I’ve played there the most amongst all C’ville courses. Would I recommend it? Probably. I’d also recommend they get 1) nicer staff in their restaurant and 2) more trees throughout the course, so that I won’t be the only one throwing shade consistently.
Rating: A bottle of Andre Brut Champagne from Wal-Mart
Courtesy of Birdwood Golf Course
Spring Creek Golf Club
Off the beaten path, Spring Creek is a hidden gem. I do owe the reader a disclaimer before you read this review, I am a member at Spring Creek. However, my bias and love for the course has been earned, not bought. If you can stomach the ~25 minute drive to Spring Creek, the rewards are bountiful. Like Birdwood, free range balls are included in your round, but Spring Creek’s buckets are endless.[5] I’d argue that Spring Creek’s fairways are manicured to a higher level than both Birdwood and Old Trail with their bent grass fairways rivaling a soft carpet to play off of. While narrower and more difficult than Birdwood, Spring Creek lines their holes with trees to both provide shade, but also allow for errant shots to be found and still played.
Enough about the golf, let’s chat about their hotdogs. Easily a 10/10, with great service. Not feeling a beer during the round? Try one of their many transfusions: they’re heavy on the pour, light on the mixer. Still not enough for you? What if I told you that instead of riding a cart, you could ride an electric bicycle around the course with your clubs strapped on the back? I fully acknowledge I am a snob for my home course, but it’s well worth the trip (and the membership rates are spectacular for students).[6]
Rating: A Miller High Life, the Champagne of Beers.
Courtesy of springcreekgolf.com
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pjt5hm@virginia.edu
[1] Seriously, text me. I love softball.
[2] In the wise words of Darby Hobbs ’22, “you really can’t beat a good golf course hotdog.”
[3] Read: cheap AF.
[4] Situated in between the mountains, whew. Talk about good pics for the ’gram.
[5] Trust me, don’t waste all of your good shots on the driving range. I do that often.
[6] I’m also always down to play more golf. Hit me up with any questions, or tell me when our next tee time is. (Friday with Doyle?)