Massanutten Resort Golf Course, Mountain Greens Golf Course

$36 (cart included), played on Tuesday, October 2020 at 12:30 PM

Spending three (3) days here at the Massanutten Resort and decided to take advantage of the lower afternoon price of $40.00 from the normal $75 for 18 w/cart. Being located in the hilly setting, it offers many challenges from staying on the fairways to reading putts. Arnold Palmer must of had some real challenges in 1976 carving out these hillside fairways and greens to make it very playable. With four (4) tee slections you can choose from Blues at 6,443yds / 71.9 / 139 down to Red at 4,846yds /69.3 / 128 on this Par 36/36 layout. We ended up playing the Whites at 3,131 / 2,956 yds and used the range finder to target landing areas distances and green elevations. Conditions today were alittle wet because of the rain yesterday so that helped keeping out tee shots on the fairways and sticking the greens. The well kept fairways were mostly narrow and being treelined, they offered a visual challenge from the teebox. I ended up hitting many 3 woods /4 irons off the tee as many fairways ran downhill and then uphill to the greens. The greens were rolling at 8-10 and were very hard to read as I struggled all day with. The starter gave us this tip, "No matter what you see, it breaks AWAY from the hill" and he was correct. Sand traps were plentiful and well placed on fairways and green protection. The #7 is a downhill 475-379yds Par 4 and protects its green with a creek for those that can hit a long high shot into a shallow green. Follow that up with at #8 a170-73yd Par 3, that has the green 2-3 clubs above the tee box. I hit my 155yd club to a 126 yd front pin placement and was 6' short but on the green. Coming up short will have you hitting from a blind shelf 30' below the green. The Back 9 has some more generous fairways but still using 3 wood / 4 iron off the tee to allow attacting the green instead of punching out from the trees and playing for Bogey. Many beautiful views here in hole layouts and mountian views, so take your camera. I ended up shooting 43/41 w/41 putts as hitting the greens wasn't the problem, but reading those putts was another story. Looking forward to returning someday with alittle more respect and knowalege of mountain green putting.

Guest (cart included), played on Sunday, August 2018 at 10:00 AM

If you’re looking to play some mountain golf on a course that isn’t real long but will challenge you and have you using every club in the bag, then the Mountain Greens Golf Course at Massanutten Resort is a course you’ve got to play.

The Mountain Greens Golf Course at Massanutten Resort in Virginia plays 6,443 yards from the Blue Tees to a par 72, From the back tees, it carries a course rating of 71.9 with a slope of 139. Less masochistic men may choose to play from 6,087 yards (70.2/135), while seniors can have a go from 5,608 (68.1/128). The ladies typically play from 4,846 (69.3/128). Choose the tees that best suit your game and you’re certain to have a good time. When in doubt, move up a set of tees and play it forward.

At only 6,443 yards from the back tees, Mountain Green’s length is not going to overwhelm anyone, however the slope says this is not going to be an easy round. Most doglegs seem to go to the left, making the preferred shot shape off the tee a draw. As you can expect from a mountain course, the topography is very hilly with quite a few elevation changes. There are plenty of woods and many tree-lined fairways as well as steep drop-offs on the peripheries and meandering streams that frame many of the fairways.

Most Memorable Hole: Number 8, Par 3, 140 yards (White Tees). This medium length par 3 plays uphill, so take an extra club off the tee. Clear the “M” shaped bunker short of the green and you’re well on your way to a par of better. After you hole out, look back to the tee and admire the view. No wonder this is Mountain Green’s signature hole.

Favorite Par 3: Number 16, 176 yards (White Tees). To score well on this long par 3, you’ll need an accurate shot off the tee into this elevated green. Favor the right side and the ball should funnel down on to the putting surface. Par is a good score here.

Favorite Par 4: Number 12, 309 yards. Following the course’s shortest par 3 is the shortest par 4. At only 309 yards from the White tees, consider something less than driver off the tee. Play your tee shot out to the left, short of the farthest fairway bunker. From there, you’ll have an easy pitch shot into the green and a good chance at birdie. This is arguably the most scenic par 4 on the course.

Favorite Par 5: Number 2, 487 yards. At only 487 yards long, many players will think about going for the green in two. Given the fact that trees line both sides of the fairway, control and accuracy on your first three shots will provide the best opportunity at par or better. Plan on hitting your layup shot short of the 100-yard marker in order to have the best look into the well-bunkered putting surface. To add to the excitement, the green has quite a bit of undulation.

Last Word: Two tips if you want to have a good time on the course at Mountain Greens: 1) Play it forward. 2) Course management.

Mountain Greens is a great course to play when you think you’re better than you really are; it’s a reality check! With hardwood forests lining many fairways and rocks and drop-off areas just beyond that, accuracy and distance control is a necessity. On some of the par 4s, it may be best to hit a 3-wood or hybrid off the tee and have a longer shot into the green, just to keep a ball in play. There are several blind shots off the tee as well as a few blind approaches. On may holes, it’s not about how far you hit it, but where you hit it, that will lead to a good score. Several greens are multi-tiered, and the breaks are directly influenced by the mountain itself. Mountain Greens provides golfers a true test of mountain golf. Even if you’re playing your worst, look around and take in the beauty of the surroundings.