The Origin Story of Ballyhack Golf Club
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia, Ballyhack Golf Club extends across the landscape like a dream. As one of Dormie Network's seven private golf clubs across the country, its rolling slopes offer breathtaking, often unexpected vantage points of ancient terrain, blending peaceful beauty with an unspoken risk.
This acclaimed links golf course conjures up visions of Old Scotland rather than the countryside of Virginia. Even though it’s five minutes from downtown Roanoke, setting foot on Ballyhack makes you feel like you’re a world away.
The story of Ballyhack is the story of place and of how the roots and foundation of that place can define what something can be.
How Roanoke's Landscape Shaped Ballyhack
An extension of the oldest mountain range in North America, the Blue Ridge Mountains serve as a reflection of the quiet charm that permeates the land. Populated at various times in history by the Cherokee, the Spanish, and the British, the region has simultaneously been at the center of crucial moments in American history.
Ballyhack, a former small hamlet in the Roanoke Valley, features a blend of beautiful grasslands and towering hardwoods that provide a stunning backdrop for a community. The rich soil, the moderate temperatures, and the unlimited possibilities made it an ideal place for farming, qualities that once made it home to the Saul Dairy Farm, 365 acres of rolling hills and pristine views dotted with the buildings and outposts needed to tend the property.
The views here are so spectacular that the area was chosen as a corridor for the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, beloved as “America’s Favorite Drive,” and given protection against development by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
It was this setting, and a bottle of vodka that served as his admission to a party, that inspired Lester George.
In 2004, renowned golf course architect Lester George was visiting with friends when his host, Ed Nunnelly, showed him a photo of a hillscape nestled in the Roanoke Valley that took his breath away. George instantly recognized the land—he had visited that site years earlier, though it wasn’t available to buy. To his surprise, Nunnelly not only owned the property, but was willing to sell. With that serendipitous discovery, the story of Ballyhack began.
George, the designer of the acclaimed Kinloch Golf Club, worked closely with local residents on an idea aimed at using the preservation of the beauty of the property to craft a new economic opportunity for the broader community. The farmland would be a golf course and a sporting club that would not only protect the serenity of the site, but invite people from all over to come experience it.
To help him, he enlisted Bill Kubly, founder of Landscapes Unlimited, to turn his vision into reality.
“I’d been looking for Ballyhack for a long time, and when I first saw this site, I knew it was ideal for our next great project,” said Kubly.
A Links-Style Course in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains
Together, the two shared a great reverence for the land.
George set out to fashion an 18-hole highlands-links layout, using the combined efforts of Mother Nature and Father Time to shape perfection. The course stretches out across 190 acres, embracing the farmland that came before it and using the backdrop of the mountains to provide unforgettable views to drink in.
Such perfection was achieved minimally.
“Ballyhack looks like we moved a lot of dirt, but we didn’t move hardly any,” recalled George. “People complain that it’s hard to walk. Well, yeah, it’s hard to walk because the land was severe, and I wasn’t gonna destroy those landforms just to make it easier to walk.”
George sought to take advantage of the existing topography and natural features, seeking to minimize any disruption of the land itself. Native grasses were preserved to provide definition between the holes, setting up natural boundaries throughout. The famously wide fairways were simply an adaptation of the existing landscape, using the soft hills and dramatic undulations to provide depth and character.
Where they had to make an impact, George and Kubly did so mindfully. The bunkers, for instance, were sculpted for “an old-world look and feel,” per the initial marketing materials. The greens were crafted to be expansive, giving an impression of welcoming shots while masking their treachery with false fronts and sweeping curves.
Through careful planning and thoughtful design, what was a simple dairy farm a century ago has evolved into a world-class destination golf retreat.
The Ballyhack Golf Experience
The golf course at Ballyhack offers a playing experience that stands alone.
George envisioned a highland-style course that embodied the best ones found in Scotland and Great Britain, taking advantage of the soft hills and tall grasses to provide a unique challenge. Undulating fairways with elevation changes of up to 70 feet in some places ensure that even the safest of shots feature a bit of risk due to their lies, while irregular bunkers throughout the course pose tests and reward accuracy.
“Elevation changes and uneven lies are a part of the experience here at Ballyhack, which play into the challenge and difficulty of navigating the golf course,” said Matt Bevan, Head Golf Professional at Ballyhack. “Elevation changes can alter shot selection and club choice based on how extreme the uphill or downhill nature is present based on the target.”
The course design embraced what was already there. A rural road provided a logical divide for the front nine and back nine, while the first four holes were crafted around an existing moor that provides beauty and forces strategic, smart play right out of the gate.
Ballyhack uses its dramatic terrain to its advantage, weaving in massive 150-yard fairways in some spots, deep gouged-out bunkers that punish errant shots, and a rugged rough that makes escaping its clutches to reach the green a test for even the sturdiest of golfers.
Since opening in 2009 and operating as an independent private club for its first several years, the course has established itself as one of the best in the U.S., ranking in the Top 10 best courses in Virginia by both Golfweek and Golf Digest, as well as coming in at No. 210 in Golf Digest’s prestigious Greatest Courses in America.
Ballyhack Joins Dormie Network: Cottages, Clubhouse & Course Upgrades
In 2016, Ballyhack joined what would become Dormie Network. As the second acquired club after ArborLinks, the precedent was set for the future growth of membership value.
Seeking to preserve what made it one of the premier golf courses in the U.S. while also working to enhance the overall experience for members and guests, Dormie Network set out to invest the resources and effort to further elevate the property.
That included the addition of three new Executive Cottages and four Dormie Cottages, while also fashioning a new Owner’s Cottage alongside the 15th fairway. These investments brought the total number of beds to 60 across 15 cottages.
Each cottage offers a comfortable pastoral retreat with breathtaking mountain views, and convenient access just steps from the course. All units feature private master suites with en-suite bathrooms, common seating areas, and wet bars.
The clubhouse was taken down to its studs, enabling Dormie Network to rebuild it in a way that is both functional for the membership, as well as offering the type of high-end hospitality that members and their guests have grown to love and expect. New hardwood floors were installed throughout the building, while a 600-bottle wine cellar offers members one of the most robust tasting experiences around.
The African Boer goats that once roamed by the 14th green and now welcome visitors near the entrance just past the gate also got their due. They are featured prominently in a refreshed logo for the club that better honors the regional charm of the club.
Additional investments included the debut of the Goat Trak in 2020, an 18-hole par-3 course named in honor of the club’s iconic mascot, providing a fun, fast-paced alternative to the rigors of the traditional championship layout.
George returned to assist with the planning of the Goat Trak, and effort was made to position tee boxes in locations that were out of view of the main course. Holes range in length from 40 yards to 150 yards, ensuring that players of all skills and interest levels can enjoy their outing.
Ballyhack Dining, Concierge & Lodging
Ballyhack is purpose-built for connection.
It seeks to bring people together in community, in the same manner that existed for those who lived and worked at the Saul Dairy Farm or the small hamlet that shares the Ballyhack name. And, in true Dormie Network fashion, an emphasis on hospitality is at the core of the member experience.
The Ballyhack concierge team handles every detail, no matter how small or obscure, to reduce the pressures of travel and ensure every group has an unforgettable stay. Each stay is customized to the group, from experiences on the course to times around a fire pit.
The culinary experience at Ballyhack is led by Executive Chef Tanner Sorenson, where the regional culture of Virginia shines. From the Appalachian cuisine known for delicious, hearty fare to the bright, fresh tastes of Lowcountry cooking, the menus at Ballyhack deliver comfort and familiarity to emphasize the diversity of its Southern roots. Seasonal menus rotate quarterly, highlighting the freshest ingredients from the region.
Meals can be enjoyed in the 62-guest dining room in the clubhouse, which sits adjacent to several standing structures from the old dairy farm, on the 24-seat patio that overlooks the property, or in a relaxed yet stylish setting at one’s cottage. The flexibility and personable approach ensure that members can curate an experience that is best suited for their trip.
Ballyhack: A Course Unlike Any Other
Ballyhack exists today because of a remarkable stroke of luck. A gifted bottle of vodka, a chance conversation, and a piece of land that George had once fallen in love with but thought he'd never get to build on.
Since Dormie Network took the reins in 2016, that fortunate beginning has only been built upon, with continued investment in the course, cottages and hospitality ensuring the experience keeps getting better for members and their guests for years to come.
Today, it’s hard to escape the words of George, who, before the club had ever opened for its first round, embraced its future potential.
“Everything about this property is special,” he said. “There is no doubt that the golf course will attract the sporting type. Ballyhack will be the kind of place that will be indelibly etched in your mind.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Ballyhack
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Access to Ballyhack is exclusive to Dormie Network members and their accompanying guests.
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Ballyhack opened in 2009. The club has achieved a ranking in the Top 10 best courses in Virginia by both Golfweek and Golf Digest, as well as ranking No. 210 in Golf Digest’s prestigious Greatest Courses in America.
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Ballyhack is located at 3609 Pitzer Road in Roanoke, Virginia, which is within the Blue Ridge Mountains, a region renowned for its beauty.
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Ballyhack is designed by Lester George.
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