By Steve Pike • My Spike Travel • September 1, 2020

Ballyhack Golf Club has been celebrated in the golf world since its debut in 2009. Painted across a vast swath of Virginia’s Roanoke Valley and serving up expansive views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, Ballyhack features a terrific Lester George-designed, links-style golf course.

Ballyhack became a Dormie Network club in 2016. And with its new ownership have come numerous ongoing enhancements.

Three new executive cottages and four standard cottages, in addition to a spacious two-level owner’s cottage, will be constructed above the 12th green and 15th fairway. Upon completion in 2021, Ballyhack will have one owner’s, four executive, and 10 standard cottages. Each cottage has four bedrooms, totaling 60 beds for members and their guests.

Ballyhack Cottage Details

The club will also soon be a gated property, with member-only access via a new entrance and front nine access via a tunnel under Pitzer Road.

Around the Ballyhack clubhouse, the kitchen and dining room each have received a facelift, including new hardwood floors for the member-facing space, while a new, 200-bottle wine cellar has been added. A new cart storage facility opened this past spring, including a full fleet of electric Club Cars. Ballyhack has also opened an 18-hole, par-3 Goat Trak that can be enjoyed as a fast-paced alternative to 18 holes on Ballyhack’s championship layout.

And speaking of goats, Ballyhack’s favorite mascot plays a major role in the club’s new logo – part of a rebranding under the Dormie Network umbrella.

“It’s been a great year, everything considered,” said Ballyhack General Manager Ian Sikes. “We’re seeing a lot of activity taking place, and we’re excited about the next wave of cottages now underway.”

The kitchen was taken down to gravel flooring and completely rebuilt. Though the lines are configured in a similar footprint, new and additional equipment brings improved functionality of the space.

“This is really allowing our team to put together some terrific culinary fare, and our members are excited about it. I think we’re seeing a great boost in food beverage activity as a result,’’ Sikes said.

The 200-bottle storage unit was constructed in a little-used space in the dining room.

“It’s a great display piece and it’s helped take our wine program to the next level,” Sikes said. “Individuals who are here for meals — for dinners, especially — can go inside the display case for bottles of wine, or even have a tasting with our team. It’s helped us revamp our wine list. We have a terrific food and beverage manager on staff, Derek Gassler, who has a high degree of wine knowledge. He’s hopped right in and helped direct the inventory of the wine cellar and display case.”

The Goat Trak, which opened this past June, features Zeon Zoysia tee boxes tucked away into the natives out of view from the main course, showcasing views and game strategy not typically experienced on the course’s traditional routing. To protect the integrity of George’s 2009 design, the architect visited Ballyhack to help select tee box locations, which fit the natural lay of the land and accommodate the existing greens.

“You’re going to have different yardages and different angles into the greens from what you would find during a classic, championship 18-hole round,” Sikes said. “It has really worked out well. Members and guests have been enjoying it. Instead of going back out for another full 18 or emergency nine, they’ll just go play the par-3 course and have some fun. It’s also a nice option for groups who are checking in late and don’t have time for the full 18.

“Golf can be challenging. The Goat Trak is an easier, less stressful way to enjoy some golf and enjoy the evening.”

Because Ballyhack is part of Dormie Network, its membership extends complete access to and full member privileges at every club in the network.

Original article written by Steve Pike of MySpikeTravel.com on September 1, 2020.