The Homestead, Cascades Course, Hot Springs, Virginia - A Venerable Course Considered the Finest Mountain Golf Course in the Country

The Cascades Course at the Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Virginia is a venerable links-style layout set against the backdrop of the Allegheny Mountains. The course was originally opened in 1923, with its design by legendary golf course architect William S. Flynn, and was then later restored and re-opened in 2006.

The course, which has been called the finest mountain course in the country, is considered a challenging layout where skilled players can use the slopes and rolls to their advantage, while higher handicappers may find themselves penalized by hazards and forced carries.

The 18-hole, par-70 course plays to only 6,679 yards from the longest tees, with a USGA rating of 73.0 and a slope rating of 137 on Bent grass. The course, which is where golf legend Sam Snead launched his career, is known for its long, narrow fairways, the beautiful headwaters of the Cascades Stream, as well as its fast greens.

Throughout the years, and particularly since its restoration, the Cascades Course has been honored with a number of accolades and awards. Golf Digest has the course ranked among America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses, while Golfweek ranks Cascades #12 on its list of America's Best 100 Resort Golf Courses. GOLF Magazine also ranked the course as one of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the United States and the World, and the Cascades Course has also hosted a number of USGA championships, including the 2009 USGA Women's Senior Amateur.

Practice facilities at the Homestead can be found at The Old Course and The Cascades, and include a driving range and short-game practice area. Instruction is also available via a variety of options, including the Homestead Golf Academy, the Traditional Golf Academy, Ladies Only Golf Academy, Corporate Golf Academy and so on.

The Homestead has been a destination for generations of travelers and vacationers, and provides a grand resort setting with history and Southern hospitality. In addition to the Cascades Course, the Homestead features two other championship-caliber golf courses, as well as a host of activities and amenities, such as: world-class shooting, fly fishing, 100 miles of trails, horseback riding, carriage rides, an award-winning KidsClub, six tennis courts, a European-style spa, lawn bowling, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an eight-lane bowling alley, as well as a number of dining options, from elegant to casual.