Ballyhack Golf Club

Ballyhack is a spectacular golf course, and worth the time to travel to Roanaok and the expense to play the course. It's a private club, but open to public play if you stay in one of the cottages on the property. We took advantage of their stay and play package, for for $400 spent an evening there, played 36 a day, and had dinner and breakfast, what a great experience. It's southeast of Roanoke off Pitzer Road, and part of a residential real estate development that hasn't taken off, and may not for a while. In the meantime, it's a treat to play without being a member. They call it a Scottish Highlands type layout, never been to Scotland so not sure about that claim. It was a fun golf course to play with significant elevation changes, fairways as wide as 150 yards, and cavernous bunkers and great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains throughout the golf course. The course was designed by Lester George, and has a tremendous amount of variety and terrain, and is a real experience to play. It's big everything: fairways, bunkers and greens, and plenty of ‘big’ views of the beautiful surrounding countryside. The mountain range that you see from many points is called ‘windy gap, and wind is a huge factor in playing the course. It plays like a links course, hard and fast, and was in excellent condition when we played. Must play-expensive treat.