Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech ranked No. 9 in Golfweek's Best Campus Course list

23 Sep 2011

The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, the home of the Virginia Tech golf team, was ranked ninth in the 2011 Golfweek’s Best Campus Courses list.

The River Course was the survey’s fastest riser, moving up nine spots from 18th in the 2010 best campus course list.

"The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech is a great benefit to the Virginia Tech golf team, as well as the university community," said Virginia Tech golf coach Jay Hardwick. "This championship layout and the first-class facilities afforded with it have helped the Hokies remain competitive in an extremely competitive conference and collegiate golf landscape. Since hosting the NCAA regionals, the reputation of the golf course has become known nationwide as a facility that is capable of hosting a championship of any caliber."

The Course at Yale, located in New Haven, Conn., was this year’s top ranked campus course, followed by Taconic Golf Course at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., and Rawls Course at Texas Tech University.

A total of five Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) courses also made the list: Duke University Golf Club was ranked 16th; the University of North Carolina's Finley Golf Course was ranked 23rd; the University of Virginia's Birdwood Golf Course was ranked 24th; and North Carolina State University's Lonnie Poole Golf Course was ranked 30th.

The Pete Dye Signature Course has become a prime destination for golfers seeking challenging play in the serene setting of the western Virginia mountains. The course was used for the 2011 NCAA Regional Golf Tournament and received a nearly perfect 4 1/2 star rating from the readers of Golf Digest magazine in their "Best Places to Play" poll for 2011.

Dedicated in 2006, the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech features five sets of tees along 2.5 miles of the scenic and historic New River. The yardage stretches from 5,142 for ladies to 7,665 for tournament play. In 2006, Golf Digest, the nation's leading golf magazine, named the Pete Dye River Course among the "best new remodel" golf courses in the nation. It was ranked fourth among the 170 courses considered, and was the only public, non-resort course in the top five.

The Virginia Tech Foundation acquired the River Course, located between Blacksburg and Radford, Va., in Pulaski County, in 2002. In 2003, the course was rebuilt after Bill and Alice Goodwin provided the financial support to cover the cost of the design and construction of the new course and golf team facility practice and instruction facility. Pete Dye, widely considered one of the finest golf course architects in the world, was commissioned to renovate the course. A new clubhouse overlooking the course and New River was completed in 2009.

"The Virginia Tech Foundation is pleased to again create a facility that enhances our region and places Virginia Tech among the best universities in the country," said Ray Smoot, university treasurer and chief executive office of the Virginia Tech Foundation.

To qualify for the campus list, courses must offer a discount to students or faculty.

The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech is a daily fee public facility. Individual and family memberships are available and provide a variety of benefits for members.