Here at The Greenbrier Sporting Club, one of the country's best golf communities, Tom Fazio has created one of his finest designs, The Snead. This par 71, 7,025-yard centerpiece of The Sporting Club, named in honor of the longtime Greenbrier golf professional emeritus and American icon Slammin' Sam Snead, is surrounded by three scenic mountains and offers challenging links for the most discriminating golfer.
"The Snead is a fitting tribute to my dad in a place he loved very much and where he truly took his place as golf's ambassador," says the legend's son Jack Snead. "It ensures that his spirit will live on among generations of golfers to come."
The design of The Snead is a refreshing return to the core golf experience. Fairways transition beautifully through natural meadows and rolling forested hills, with layouts that test every skill level. Wall-to-wall bentgrass throughout, The Snead is forgiving off the tee but makes up for it with a defensive greens complex, ripe with false fronts and edges.
Whether sinking putts on the members-only Snead or any of the three resort courses that members have access to - The Old White TPC, The Meadows or The Greenbrier - golfing plays an integral role for Greenbrier Sporting Club members and where better to enjoy the game, then where it all began - in White Sulphur Springs.
The History of The Snead Timeline
#1-Ante Up After a proper warm-up and preparation choose your set of tees, get the bet right, and prepare yourself for a fabulous Tom Fazio-designed experience.
#2-Lake Ashford During WWII, near the location of this lake, the U.S. Army established a POW camp known as Camp Ashford. During this time, The Greenbrier served as a military hospital.
#3-Grandstand Near this site a grandstand stood for polo matches, horse shows & races. Picture yourself thrilling the crowd with a great tee shot on this demanding par 3!
#4-Runway Before a golf course existed on the property, it was a landing strip and Oscar Tate ran the charter air service for almost forty years. Split the middle of the fairway with your tee shot for a perfect landing.
#5-"The Slammer" This stretch of Route 60 is now known as Sam Snead Boulevard. Use the prevailing wind to replicate one of The Slammer's awesome, long drives.
#6-Midland Trail This route connected Norfolk, VA and St. Louis, MO back in the 20's. Have a safe journey and watch out for the wetlands on your second shot.
#7-Stonewall The stone wall on number seven is obviously a primary feature; however, there is also a Civil War tie to this region as well. Hence, "Stonewall" Jackson, who was a guest at The Greenbrier in the 1850's.
#8-Kate's View The panoramic view from this set of tees is of Kate's Mountain. The mountain was named after one of the first settler's in this valley, Kate Carpenter.
#9-Sahara Why not? There are thirteen sand bunkers on this short par four. From the tee there appears to be many more. Avoid the traps and you'll have an opportunity to score well.
#10-Meadows For twenty years, from 1910 to 1930, Thornton Lewis, the President of The Greenbrier, owned this property and he called his horse farm The Meadows.
#11-Hidden Pond To the left of the fairway is a lake, camouflaged by a slight uphill tee shot. Avoid the fairway bunkers, as the pond must also be negotiated on the second shot as well.
#12-White Rock Don't be distracted by White Rock Mountain, the mountain you are facing with four humps, stay clear of the dangers surrounding this green.
#13-Turning Home From this point, you are heading back home. Make certain you have your approach the right distance, as this green is not very deep.
#14-Howard's Creek In the early 1740's John Howard was the first explorer to follow the tributary on the Greenbrier River and discover what we now call Howard's Creek. The creek will definitely influence how you play this hole.
#15-Postage Stamp Names after the famed eighth hole at Royal Troon in Scotland. Both play to a very small green, on a ridge, where wind is likely to play havoc with your tee shot.
#16-Allegheny Vista The entire mountain range is known as the Appalachians; however, this section is referred to as the Alleghenies. From the Championship Tees, there is an 85-foot change in elevation. What a spectacular view of the surrounding area!
#17-Shawnee Although a number of Indian tribes hunted in this area, it was the Shawnee who created numerous camps along Howard's Creek.
#18-Swan Song A fitting finish to this eighteen holes, once again along the creek with The Lodge as a backdrop. There may even be a pair of Swans in your gallery!
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“It is an exclusive club with all of the amenities of the hotel but is a resort within a resort.” - Member, West Virginia (2005)