Designer: A.W. Tillinghast (1917), Donald Ross (1927, Redesign), Davis Love III/Scot Sherman (2021, Restoration)
Location: Richmond, Virginia
History: Originally founded in 1900 as Hermitage Country Club, A.W. Tillinghast built the first course on this property in 1917. Donald Ross arrived in the 1920s and redesigned the greens while converting them from sand to grass. Hermitage was held in high regard and hosted the 1945 Richmond Open won by Ben Hogan and the 1949 PGA Championship won by Sam Snead. To date, it remains the only course in Virginia to host a major championship.
Hermitage needed more land and moved to suburban Manakin-Sabot in 1977 with two new courses. The original course, now known as Belmont, was sold to the city of Richmond and has been public ever since. Sadly, this course fell into disrepair after decades of municipal ownership and was in true danger of being sold for development. Thankfully, the First Tee of Richmond stepped in and bought Belmont in 2019. They immediately hired Davis Love III to redesign the course, and his completed version opened in 2021 with the 12-hole Belmont Golf Course from the original 7th-18th holes, a 6-hole par 3 course known as Little Bell, a full driving range, and a Himalayas style putting green known as The Ringer.
Conditions: 7/10, For a municipal course, Belmont is kept in solid condition, with firm and fast Bermuda fairways and greens that roll true.
Value: 6/10, While there are discounts for twilight, seniors, and juniors, Belmont will cost you between $40 to $48 to walk, representing fairly average value.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Tillinghast (Black) 48 4325 N/A N/A
Ross (Green) 48 4170 N/A N/A
Hogan (Blue) 48 3915 N/A N/A
Snead (Yellow) 48 3585 N/A N/A
Love (Red) 48 2855 N/A N/A
Hole Descriptions: As the only course in Virginia to host a major, Belmont was always a course I wanted to see. Sadly, I saw it following the redesign so it wasn’t the full course that hosted the 1949 PGA, but nonetheless I came away impressed. It seems as though the pre-restoration Belmont was a shell of its former self with rampant tree overgrowth and poor conditioning, and was in dire need of some TLC. It was in real danger of shutting down altogether, so I am thankful that the First Tee stepped in and put money into the course. Based on aerials, it seems Love’s restoration is a fairly faithful one to the original 7th-18th, and the additions of a par 3 course, full range, and practice green make this a perfect municipal golf facility for all kinds of golfers. Twelve holes is certainly an interesting number, but actually is pretty nice as you can play more than just 9, but don’t have to spend four hours either. It’s also very clear Davis Love and his team put a lot of thought and effort into the greens and bunkering, which are the real highlights at Belmont. Overall, this is a unique facility that holds the distinction of hosting a major championship, while also admirably serving its role as a municipal course where people can learn the game. The game of golf would be in a better place if more cities had munis like this.
Originally the 7th hole, today’s 1st is a gentle opener playing slightly downhill as a 320 yard par 4. Favoring a right-to-left ballflight off the tee, this slight dogleg left features a generous fairway lined by a right crossbunker around 215 yards. This approach continues downhill towards a severely back-to-front sloped green surrounded by deep bunkers on all sides.
Despite being only 12 holes, Belmont is more difficult than expected and this is especially true on the first half of the course besides the opening hole. The 2nd is a good example of this as a 375 yard dogleg right par 4 that runs along the edge of the property. With houses and OB down the right the entire way, this hole also features a large pond down the left for the first 180 yards and a crossbunker down the right at 210 yards. Teeshots that can avoid the danger will be left a downhill approach over a small creek to a green defended by bunkers on either side and long. This is probably the most severe green on the course, sloping extremely back-to-front with two tiers.
The 3rd is another interesting hole and the first of back-to-back par fives at 485 yards. Although short and reachable in theory, this teeshot plays through a chute of trees to a narrower fairway lined by trees and OB down the right and a pond beginning down the left at 235 yards. The difficult thing about this hole is that it turns 90 degrees right late at about 310 yards and those who don’t hit it at least 275 yards will be blocked out from going for the green by trees down the right. A string of beautiful bunkers runs across the fairway about 130 yards short of the green and presents a real challenge to those trying to lay-up. This approach plays slightly uphill towards a back-to-front sloped green with bunkers on its corners.
The next eight holes are situated on the other side of Hilliard Road and are connected by a tunnel underneath the road. The 4th hole is the longest on the course but is a fairly straightforward par 5 at 505 yards. This hole begins with a semi-blind teeshot to a generous fairway lined by OB down the right the entire way and several bunkers down the left early on. There’s a speed slot in this fairway, offering longer hitters the chance to get some extra roll and go for this green in two. The defining feature of this hole is a ditch that runs across the fairway about 40 yards short of the green, forcing the golfer into a decision on their second shot. This wide, back-to-front sloped green sits on the other side of the ditch flanked by bunkers.
At a prodigious 450 yards, the 5th hole is the longest par 4 on the course and a deserving number 1 handicap. With OB and a road continuing down the right the entire way, this is a fairly narrow fairway with large bunkers down the left at 220 and 295 yards and sporadic trees on this side as well. This back-to-front sloped green is open up front but also quite narrow with large bunkers flanking either side and OB long. Par is an admirable score on this beastly hole, especially from the Black Tees.
The 6th hole is a solid par 4 that runs parallel to the 5th in the opposite direction at 405 yards. Playing slightly longer uphill the entire way, this hole features a generous fairway lined by a large left crossbunker at 265 yards. This approach continues uphill towards a wide, rectangular green defended by bunkers left and long. This putting surface has more tilt back-to-front than you’d expect.
It takes 7 holes to reach the first par 3 at Belmont but this gorgeous one-shotter is worth the wait. Playing downhill from an elevated teebox at 180 yards, this hole feels very much like a classic Tillinghast par 3, with a moat of four deep bunkers surrounding an undulating green.
If you want to shoot a good score at Belmont, you’ll need to take advantage of holes 8-10 – shorter par fours that provide good opportunities for birdie. At 355 yards, the 8th hole is the longest of these holes and plays as a semi-blind dogleg left. There’s a brief forced carry over a hazard directly in front of the teebox and an initial crossbunker you must carry down the left at 155 yards. With a good teeshot, this approach is pretty straightforward to a subtle green lined by bunkers on either side.
The 340 yard 9th hole is another dogleg left and plays tighter, with a fairway turning left around a left crossbunker at 160 yards. Tall trees down the left block you from cutting the corner and the preferred ballflight is a draw to avoid running through the fairway into the woods. Similar to what you find at Harbour Town, this approach has somewhat of a “field goal” effect, where you’ll need to thread your ball between tall trees on either side just short of the green. With an accurate teeshot, these trees are more visual intimidation than true obstacles, but miss the fairway and they will definitely be in play. This circular putting surface contains mounding along its edges and is defended by a bunker short left.
The 10th hole is arguably my favorite on the course as a nifty risk/reward short par 4 at 310 yards. With OB down the right the entire way, this green is tucked off into the back right corner but is visible from the tee, tempting golfers. Further complicating matters, the fairway really begins to narrow at about 225 yards, with a large hill down the left at this point. The smart play is probably a lay-up, but a pesky potbunker sits in the middle of the fairway at about 205 yards directly where many golfers will be aiming. The golfer has many options here but they all come with risk. This green is small and elevated, sloping mostly left-to-right towards a deep bunker.
The 11th is the most challenging hole on the second half of the course as a lengthy 430 yard par 4. From the Black Tees, this is an intimidating teeshot playing over the 10th green and a drainage ditch to a narrow fairway that slopes hard left-to-right. Tall trees line the right the entire way and obscure the right half of the fairway while a deep and well-placed crossbunker runs down the left at 240 yards. This approach plays at least half a club longer and semi-blind uphill towards a large, back-to-front sloped green surrounded by tight lies.
After crossing back under Hilliard Road, Belmont’s final hole is its shortest as an 170 yard par 3. This is another solid hole featuring a large, back-to-front sloped green surrounded by six bunkers.
General Comments: Belmont is an impressive facility, with a full driving range, short game area, Himalayas style putting green, and 6-hole par 3 course known as Little Bell. There truly is something for every kind of golfer here. Pace of play is hit-or-miss at Belmont and the 12-hole course is a nice walk.
Verdict: The only course Virginia to host a major championship, Belmont is now a sporty 12-hole municipal course with strong practice facilities and especially notable greens and bunkering. This is an excellent option for local golfers and an innovative course worth seeing if in the area.