South Wales Golf Club
Location » Jeffersonton, Va.
Phone » (540) 937-3250
Fees » $28 Monday-Thursday; $38 Friday-Sunday
Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope
71/7033/73.2/126
Description » The 48-year-old course, with wide fairways and large greens, follows the natural contours of the Virginia Piedmont, and remains virtually unchanged from its original version. Layout is crisscrossed by streams that are in play on 13 of the first 14 holes. Streams empty into the nearby Rappahannock River.
Reason to play » Low rates and no waits. Despite its age, South Wales remains undiscovered. Many who played the course decades ago are surprised it still exists. For a course with minimal maintenance, the greens are in excellent condition.
Tale of two nines » The front nine at South Wales is shorter (3247 yards), flatter and less intriguing than the scenic, secluded, rugged back, which sits on higher ground and measures a rigorous 3786 yards.
Toughest hole » No. 12, Par 4, 483 Yards
According to the scorecard, this is the No. 9 handicap hole. Don’t believe it. Even with a huge drive, one is left with a severe downhill approach off a downhill lie over water. Many players have no choice but to lay up.
Most scenic hole » No. 17, Par 4, 449 Yards Blue Ridge Mountains visible from the tee on this hole, one of five par-fours on the back that measure at least 420 yards. Silo is the target on this blind tee shot to a wide-open fairway.
Signature hole
No. 18 » Par 5 » 640 Yards
Few local public courses have a hole as long as the monstrous No. 18 at South Wales, which requires two solid shots to set up an approach over water to an elevated, bunker-protected green. Cool feature — a row of pine trees (258 to be exact, yes we counted), which runs the length of the fairway down the left side of the hole.
Historic perspective » South Wales was opened as a recreation facility for Air Force personnel. It included horseback trails, campgrounds, a swimming pool, and a manor house, which served as the officers club. The government sold the course in 1970.
