The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs
THE COURSE
The Pure Golf Experience.
Our Story
The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs is a world class golf design sculpted from 330 acres of wildly undulating countryside in historic Caroline County, Virginia. After five years of meticulous planning and detailed development, Mattaponi has quickly become recognized as the premier golf destination in central Virginia. Mattaponi is conveniently located just a few miles from I-95 along the Richmond to Washington corridor.
“Best looking course I have ever been to in Virginia. Definitely recommend.”
Stephen O.
Google 5-Star Review
ESCAPE TO
The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs
Mattaponi offers all of the amenities found at exclusive private membership facilities in a relaxed atmosphere with a focus on total guest service. The championship golf course, combined with a five-acre practice facility, up-scale casual grill, and 200 seat conference center all blend into a perfect setting for any golfer’s needs. The absence of home sites and traffic provides a refreshing escape.
The par 72 course maintains a flair for the dramatic. The first East Coast design by Bob Lohmann (designer of the Merit Club—host site of the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open), the perched tee boxes and plunging fairways challenge golfers on multiple holes. Steep banks and rolling hills abound. While such elements appear intimidating, lush zoysia fairways, Bermuda rough, and true and quick bentgrass greens combined with multiple arrays of teeing areas allow golfers of all levels to enjoy Mattaponi .
At The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs, the beauty lies in its simplicity. There are no homes, no roads to cross, and no gimmicks. You will not find imitations of other golf courses, but 18 original and distinctive holes that complement the unique terrain. Designed for the pure golf enthusiast, Mattaponi Springs blends nature and a masterful design to provide all golfers with the total golf experience.
EXPERIENCE
The word is spreading about Mattaponi’s devotion to pure golf. With 10 minute tee time intervals, golfers are never rushed or crowded. The practice facility and instructional programs deliver an exclusive member experience. The staff at The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs is dedicated to delivering unsurpassed service to our members and “members for a day” alike.
VENUE
The 4,000 square foot Lodge and conference center and 5,000 square foot Clubhouse provide the perfect venue for any corporate or private function. Combine your next corporate meeting with the thrill of a golf outing at Mattaponi Springs.
ESCAPE
The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs – golf as it was meant to be played – in a beautiful and serene environment. Escape to Mattaponi for the pure golf experience.
THE NAME
“Mattaponi (pronounced matta-pone-aye) Springs” describes the many natural freshwater springs throughout the property that feed the Mattaponi River (less than one mile downstream), as well as provide sources of clean, fresh, naturally-filtered water for the Mattaponi Indians who lived and hunted in this area. The springs, streams and creeks on the property support an abundant wildlife population of deer, geese, hawks, turkey and many other species of wild birds.
GUEST REVIEWS
OUR CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
THE DESIGN
Designed by Bob Lohmann, former President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) (and designer of The Merit Club in Libertyville, Illinois–site of the 2000 LPGA Open) and Mike Benkusky, one of Bob’s senior golf course designers, the 18-hole par 72 championship course has been laid out to:
- Utilize as fully as possible the natural terrain and features of the estate;
- Preserve, protect and enhance as fully as possible the springs, streams, creeks, wetlands, and wildlife habitats; and
- Highlight those features and bring them into view wherever possible to enhance the golf experience.
With those goals defined, the course features five sets of tees from professional at over 6900 yards to recreational at just under 4900 yards. The 18 undulating greens will vary from just under 5000 square feet to well over 8000.
The course winds uncrowded through the 330+ acre estate, crossing the streams at strategic locations and bringing the streams, creeks, many wetlands, other preserved areas, and distant colorful hillsides into view. Numerous natural hazards, including extensive natural water hazards, and breathtaking changes in elevation have all been incorporated into the design. A large 5+ acre lake on the eastern plateau provides an aesthetically pleasing lateral water hazard for several back nine holes. The other large 5+ acre lake adjacent to the Lodge and Conference Center greets golfers upon arrival and provides a soothing backdrop to the practice greens, greenside and fairway practice bunkers, driving area, and teaching complex.
The course meanders over gently rolling hillsides through forests of mature beech, oak, holly, and pine trees. Expansive beautifully naturally shaped oak trees define welcoming, warm and soothing edges to several greens, particularly the 18th. Those beeches and large oaks also line the perimeter of many fairways. In spring, flowers on the numerous wild azaleas and native dogwoods provide a colorful border for the zoysia fairways, wispy fescue maintained rough, Scottish Links style unmaintained rough and bentgrass greens. Other holes cross the streams and protected wetlands with both hand-crafted boardwalks and natural earthen bridges.
The 9th and 18th par 4 front and back finishing holes have right and left doglegs which cross the stream onto hillside-backed and rock-wall fronted greens situated directly below the clubhouse. The clubhouse sits prominently on a ridge overlooking both the 9th and 18th greens.
There are no tricks at Mattaponi Springs. Players can use the driver on every hole. The fairways are long and wide and sculpted to collect errant tee shots. The course is designed to reward proper shot execution and ball positioning – a feat achievable only through the use of the full selection of clubs.
A HIGH-QUALITY COURSE
THE SITE
The site for Mattaponi Springs was selected to allow the development of a high quality course – with a challenging level of play – over a terrain of dramatically varying elevation and diverse landscapes. The course architects sculpted an interesting and enjoyable layout around the natural topography to reduce the impact of construction on environmentally sensitive areas. The course routing further preserved wetlands, plant and animal habitats and areas of historical significance to retain the natural and distinctive character of the site.
PLAYABILITY
THE TURF
The turf selection for Mattaponi Springs was driven by golfer “playability” — Zoysia for the fairways and L93 Bentgrass for the greens. The fairways were sodded and the greens seeded during 2003. The grass was given over a year to grow and mature. The fairways are lush and full. The greens are smooth, true, and receptive to approach shots.
Fairways and Tees
Zoysia is denser, finer-textured and more upright in its growth than many other grasses. These qualities combine to create an unhindered playing surface on which the ball sits raised from the ground. This provides an outstanding striking surface and greater resistance to divots and heat stress. Results were so positive that Zoysia was used on the driving range and tees as well.
Greens
L93 Bentgrass is a state-of-the-art turf that is very resistant to high levels of play and low mowing heights. Mattaponi Springs’ greens were designed to allow more than ample sunshine and air circulation for quality putting speed and smooth roll year-round.
YOUR PURE GOLF EXPERIENCE
HOLES 1-18
Hole No. 1 - Par 4 - 446 Yards
Playing from an elevated tee some 70 feet above the fairway, the first hole should play much shorter than its yardage while offering one of the many spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The fairway bunker to the right provides direction and outlines the landing zone. Once off the tee, the approach is to a green surrounded by depressions. It is designed to look difficult, yet play easy. A mid to high iron second shot across the pond in the right-center is much easier than it looks. If intimidated, play it safe to the bailout area just short and left of the green for an easy, welcoming chip.
Hole No. 2 - Par 5 - 543 Yards
The first par 5, one of the signature holes, may be the most interesting to play. The first landing area is defined by two sand bunkers short right and one bunker long left. By carrying over the right bunkers, the golfer faces less than 240 yards to the green (reachable for the longer hitter). Provided the drive is safe, the choice on the second shot is whether to carry over the wetland on the right side, leaving a better angle into the green, or play left of the wetland, leaving a more difficult approach to an elevated green.
Hole No. 3 - Par 3 - 148 Yards
The shortest of the par 3s, this hole should pose few problems. From the tees, this hole provides an outstanding view of Millpond Swamp and the surrounding countryside. The bunker (and pond below it) to the right of the green should only come into play from the black and blue tees.
Hole No. 4 - Par 4 - 493 Yards
With the black tee 150 yards behind the gold and red tees, this hole is not as difficult as it seems, provided you play from the proper tee. From the back, this is the longest par 4 on the course. Teeing off from the blue or black tees, your landing area is on top of the hill. If you’re playing from the gold or red tees, your tee shot could roll toward the bottom of the hill, short of the wetlands. Either way, the approach is to a long green sculpted to accept a long iron shot.
Hole No. 5 - Par 4 - 335 Yards
The shortest par 4 provides some options off the tee. Cut as close to the cape bunker on the left as you like to get a better angle into this small green. A safe tee shot played out to the right, leaves a longer approach over a well-bunkered green.
Hole No. 6 - Par 5 - 521 Yards
With the fairway cut out of the hillside, even a slightly errant tee shot should funnel back into the landing area. The fairway bunkers are more for direction but will catch a wayward drive. The second shot is downhill to a landing area short of a deep depression in front of the green. The short pitch is to a challenging green that falls off in all directions. Watch out for the pond at the back right side of the green.
Hole No. 7 - Par 3 - 200 Yards
This par 3 offers more outstanding views of the surrounding countryside from the tee. However, don’t get caught up in the view, as this tee shot is a difficult one. Playing downhill about 50 feet, this hole will play shorter than the yardage. The green is surrounded by sand, which only adds to the hole’s beauty.
Hole No. 8 - Par 4 - 368 Yards
This par 4 tempts the golfer off the tee. Playing uphill, the carry over the bunkers is much farther than it seems. The best play is left of the sand. This leaves around 130 to 150 yards to a challenging narrow green that falls off sharply on the right.
Hole No. 9 - Par 4 - 455 Yards
One of the longer par 4s on the course, this hole finishes the front nine in style. The tee shot is to the top of a narrow ridge. Be bold and try to carry the right bunker, and you could gain 60 yards in roll. From the top of the ridge, the 200-yard approach shot is 50+ feet downhill. The rock-walled green sits across the creek to the side of a prominent ridge (below the clubhouse) and is backed by two bunkers.
Hole No. 10 - Par 4 - 364 Yards
The back nine starts with a tee off the clubhouse ridge area. The slightly uphill landing area sits between two ridges, with a sand bunker to the left and depressions to catch any shot to the right. The green is one of the most severely guarded, with deep bunkers front and right.
Hole No. 11 - Par 4 - 413 Yards
Hole No. 12 - Par 5 - 529 Yards
Hole No. 13 - Par 4 - 421 Yards
Hole No. 14 - Par 3 - 236 Yards
Hole No. 15 - Par 4 - 350 Yards
Hole No. 16 - Par 5 - 494 Yards
Hole No. 17 - Par 3 - 179 Yards
Hole No. 18 - Par 4 - 442 Yards
SCORECARD
The Elite Daily Fee
From 1995 through 2001, mid-Atlantic golfers experienced a golfing revolution. In that short seven-year period, over forty “upscale” courses opened for business within an hour of Washington DC and Richmond. Golfers rejoiced as a true “buyer’s market” emerged and they were given greater tee time availability with good course conditions, fast greens, excellent customer service, and “development-free” golf courses.
Supply soon outweighed demand and the golfing environment changed. Owners with courses tied to residential development lined their fairways with single family homes and townhouses. Stand-alone facilities cut back on service and conditioning. The word “upscale”, so long a reliable and recognizable predictor of the golfing experience one could expect at any facility referred to as “upscale”, lost its meaning.
Around 2001 a new kind of golf facility began to emerge. For golfers who appreciated great design in a natural, beautiful setting, with perfect conditions, first-class customer service, and quality food and beverage. Bulle Rock opened to the North. Stonewall to the West. Lighthouse Sound to the East. These “Elite Daily Fees” thrive as avid, knowledgeable golfers select the finest golf experiences.
Mattaponi Springs – the southern “Elite Daily Fee”.