I suppose I have driven by Ingleside Golf Course on Rt. 11 near Staunton a couple hundred times, always admiring the hilly layout. Last week, I finally played the mountain course and I will be back.
Ingleside has been on a campaign to lure golfers from across the mountain and had advertised an $82 foursome special if you made the trip over to the Valley. My golfing amigos and I had booked one of those specials in June, but got rained out.
When I called again in July, they said their special had expired but they gave us a great afternoon rate of $30 per person with cart, and that was close enough.
Ingleside is a very nice course and few layouts anywhere can rival the scenic vistas.
Adjoining the Ingleside Conference Center, the course plays much longer that its listed 6,405 yards from the back tees. That’s because steep hills come into play on almost every hole. A few holes are straight down the hill – I love those. Others, however, are straight up, which does not suit my worm-burner drives. The Par 3s are all challenging, no gimme’s, and some of the Par 5s will test the longest drivers. The fairways were in great shape, and the rough was, well, rough – pretty thick. The greens were medium fast and in good condition for mid-summer.
Ingleside is a Fred Findlay/Raymond F. Loving, Jr. design and opened in 1928. The fairways are Kentucky Bluegrass and rye grass and the greens are bent grass. Eric Cobb is the Golf Pro.
At one time, the Conference Center was a prime destination for businesses and large gatherings. The recession took its toll, however, but the Center is now being renovated and updated. The course, however, is first rate.
From Charlottesville, Ingleside is just a 45-minute hop over the mountain via I-64 and I-81.
Call 540-248-788 for tee times or find out more at www.inglesidegolf.net.