Fees »  This is a private course. Initiation fee $80,000; dues $7,500 per year.

Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope

72/7410/77.0/152

Description »  Creighton Farms is a gated residential community with custom-built estates and an award-winning golf course, set on rolling land, rich with native vegetation, in Virginia hunt country. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course has lush bentgrass fairways and intricate green complexes with deep, furrowed bunkers.

Reason to play »  Immaculate conditions, an inspired layout with a great mix of holes, and top-notch amenities and service make Creighton Farms one of the elite private courses in the region, ranking with modern standouts Caves Valley and Robert Trent Jones. Named one of the nation’s top new courses in 2008 by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine.

Piedmont perfection »  Creighton Farms is set on 900-plus acres, on property previously owned by former Indiana Senator Vance Hartke and later by Jack Kent Cooke. The unique setting includes hardwood stands in higher elevations and wetlands in the lower, created by streams that meander through the property. Native vegetation with yellow and purple accents, provide seasonal beauty. Loblolly pines, planted along the perimeter, lend an air of exclusivity, blocking the course from Route 15.

Prettiest hole »  No. 11, Par 5, 624 Yards

After 10 links-style holes, No. 11 is tree-lined all the way down the left side, with all 624 yards of the hole visible from the elevated tee. The longest hole on the course runs downhill, with a creek in front of the green, daring anyone long enough to try to get home in two. This is the start of “Creighton Corner,” three memorable holes that go down, up, down.

Best hole »  No. 12, Par 4, 436 Yards

Creighton Farms Director of Operations Jason Paul, says he has a “love-hate relationship,” with this hole. No. 12 has a wide fairway which bends right to left, but encourages players to fire over a large fairway bunker to cut distance to the hate part — a confounding, severely-sloped, elevated green that can quickly turn birdies and pars into bogeys and others.

Toughest hole »  No. 4, Par 4, 482 Yards

Wide fairway with water down left side. Placement is important on this dogleg left as players are presented with a long, treacherous approach downhill to a wide, but shallow green, guarded by bunkers and a stream.

Distinctive touches »  All trash receptacles are underground at Creighton Farms. There are no ball washers, benches, or placards to disturb the landscape. Hidden in the woods, along the cart path behind the 12th hole, is a fire pit, where lobster bisque is served on cooler days.

Temporary? »  To get a sense of the opulent, yet-to-be-built, 30,000 square-foot clubhouse, you need only to visit the temporary pro shop, tastefully appointed in leather chairs and carved oak, and where a haberdasher is available to custom fit members.

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