The project is a new nine hole par three golf course on a gently rolling piece of formerly grazed pastureland enveloped by the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains in Sperryville, VA. McCartin Golf Design had responsibility for every aspect of the course development, from planning and permitting to course design and shaping to construction management and oversight of all contractors.
The Schoolhouse Nine project runs counter to the prevailing trends in golf and golf course design over the past 50 years. The mission statement from the owner - Cliff Miller - was to build a fun, architecturally interesting, and affordable course ($10-20 a round). To do that, we took an "old school" approach to maintenance and construction - push up greens shaped in the native topsoil, irrigation only for the greens, a higher fairway height of cut, and playing conditions that relate to the weather and change color with the seasons. Golfers have responded with enthusiasm to the combination of fun architecture and good green conditions at a very affordable price point.