Hokie Club
Thanks to the contributions of some generous donors and to the work of renowned golf architect Pete Dye, the Virginia Tech golf team practices in a state-of-the-art facility and plays on one of the best golf courses in the country.
In 2004, Dye began a renovation of The River Course of Virginia Tech, a golf course acquired by the Virginia Tech Foundation in 2002. Dye spent nearly two years designing the course to fit his vision, and the university thanked him by formally renaming the golf course The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech. Opening in August of 2005, the course was selected by Golf Digest as one of the Top 5 "Best Newly Remodeled Courses in America" for 2006.
Dedicated formally The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech in June of 2006, the beautiful course features five sets of tees along 2.5 miles of the scenic and historic New River. The yardage stretches from 5,142 yards for ladies to 7,665 for tournament play.
In addition to the renovation of the course, a turf care center was constructed, as well as the Virginia Tech Golf Team Complex, which houses an indoor teaching center that opens to the outside range and is equipped with the latest video swing analysis system. The Hokies’ team complex also includes locker rooms, a club repair room, a players' lounge, a recruit welcome area and a team meeting room for the Tech golf team. A covered tee area, which is enclosed on three sides, is located at the back of the practice range and is equipped with fans, radiant heaters and lights.
These improvements would not have been possible without the support from Bill and Alice Goodwin of Richmond, Virginia. Goodwin, a Virginia Tech alumnus, is an avid golfer and wanted to provide the Tech golf team and the university community an opportunity to play on a world-caliber championship course. Their generous gift covered all costs of design and construction.
The team’s indoor facility was constructed adjacent to the golf team practice area, which was originally built in 2003 and made possible through the generosity of longtime golf team supporter and scholarship donor, the late C.M. "Buddy" Neviaser, and his late wife, Doris. This facility provides Tech players with one of the finest total practice complexes in the nation. The facility was officially dedicated in September of 2004.
The course itself continues to draw rave reviews. In 2008-09, Golf Digest rated it as a 4.5 star facility and included the course among its “Best Places to Play.” This rating was the highest awarded in Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee and was also shared with The Homestead's Cascades Course, The Meadows Course at the Greenbrier, Kingsmill's River Course, and Pinehurst Resort Courses Nos. 4, 6, 7 & 8.
