Omni Homestead Cascades Course
Golf is a sport built on tradition and longevity. One of the prime and shining examples of the eternal appeal of the game and its place in history is the peerless Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.
The Omni Homestead predates the founding of the United States by 10 years, with the thermal hot springs of the region a draw even before the first lodge was constructed in Bath County in 1766. By the late 19th century, The Homestead Resort, located along the West Virginia border in rural Virginia, was one of the premier luxury destinations in America.
It has remained so – thanks to a continued attention to detail and a nod to the resort’s place in history. Through the centuries, 24 U.S. Presidents have stayed at the resort – from Thomas Jefferson to George W. Bush.
Dallas-based Omni Resorts took over The Homestead in 2013 and over the past decade has performed millions of dollars of renovations while keeping an eye on the property’s historical prescience. The Homestead Resort was designated a National Historical Landmark in 1991.
The healing power of golf
While The Omni Homestead’s initial draw was its healing waters and there are plenty of activities on the menu at the resort, one of the biggest and most popular amenities is the facility’s duo of fabulous golf courses – the Old Course and The Cascades.
Golf began at The Homestead Resort in 1892 with a six-hole course that was expanded to 18 holes in 1901 and then redesigned by Donald Ross in 1913. Now named the “Old Course”, a round there begins on a tee box that’s recognized as the oldest first tee in continuous use in the nation.
The Cascades, which is set a short drive from the main resort, is considered the premier course at The Omni Homestead and one of the top 100 tracks in the United States. It was designed by and built under the direction of William Flynn in 1923. Aside from some work from Robert Trent Jones in 1961, The Cascades remains virtually unchanged from the course Flynn fashioned out of land that other prominent golf architects of the era deemed unsuitable for golf.
Part of the golf fabric of The Omni Homestead is the presence of Sam Snead, who was born about two miles from the resort and lived his whole life in the Hot Springs area. The main road through Bath County, connecting Hot Springs and Warm Springs, is known as Sam Snead Highway.
Snead’s record-setting golfing career began as a caddie at the Old Course at age 7 and he soon became the teaching professional there. Throughout his long and successful career, Snead maintained ties to The Homestead Resort and holds the course record at The Cascades, carding a 12-under 60 in 1983 at the age of 71.
Ross’s Old Course endures the test of time
The Old Course, a parkland design set in the shadow of The Omni Homestead’s main buildings, has a unique routing with six par-3s, six par-4s and six par-5s. This balance not only adds variety to each round but also showcases the thoughtful design and timeless appeal of this storied course.
The 6,099-yard, par-72 course now in play was initially to challenge players of the early 20th century, and has received significant updates through the years, most recently by Rees Jones. Golfers can enjoy a mix of challenges, from tree-lined fairways to strategically placed bunkers and the charming Allegheny Springs.
William McKinley was the first U.S. President to play golf while in office and he did so on the resort’s Old Course, teeing-off at in 1899. Around the same era as McKinley, former President and former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court William Howard Taft often played the Old Course to unwind. Former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and former First Lady Edith Wilson spent their honeymoon at the resort and played golf together each morning on the Old Course.
Many of Ross’s architectural signatures are prevalent at the Old Course via lush, contoured fairways and smaller, saucer-shaped greens. It’s a course that will test the golfer’s shot making ability. The corridors are tree-lined and test accuracy off the tee and are off camber to leave many uneven lies. There’s elevation change on several holes so a rangefinder with slope is a handy tool to have. The putting surfaces roll quick and true.
The Old Course is short by today’s standards, but don’t let that fool you. Remember, you’re playing golf in the middle of the Allegheny Mountains. The elevation changes are substantial, and several holes are uphill, and others play much longer than the yardage on the scorecard.
The Old Course is a historic gem, offering players a journey through the roots of American golf. With its traditional layout and stunning vistas, it provides a classic golfing experience.
The Cascades is mountain golf at its finest
Steeped in history and lauded for more than 100 years, The Cascades is widely regarded as one of the finest mountain courses in the country. The course is characterized by continuous elevation changes, uneven lies, and natural beauty.
The Cascades, which is played as a par-71 and is carded at 6,908 yards from the back set of four tees, is famous for its 3-5-5-3 finish and is notable for some really strong and tough two-shotters. The terrain here is rugged and mountainous, and the course’s bunkering is superb.
The Cascades is a unique layout for a couple of reasons. There are no houses on the course and a mountain stream winds its way throughout the layout, bringing water into play on several holes. The course boasts a championship pedigree as The Cascades course has hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur (1928, 1994), the Curtis Cup (1966), the U.S. Women’s Open (1967), the U.S. Senior Amateur (1980), the U.S. Amateur (1988), the U.S. Mid-Amateur (2000), and the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur (2009). It will also play host to the 2025 Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2029 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and showcases that the USGA certainly considers The Cascades to be one of the best courses to host championships in the country.
To see why this course is so loved, check out our exclusive drone footage of all 18 holes here.
Enjoying the resort
As we referenced earlier, the team at The Omni Homestead has recently completed a massive $160 million renovation of the resort to enhance your stay while not sacrificing any of the historic charm that has made the resort so special for generations. While we expect that you and your group will be maximizing your time on the two phenomenal courses here, there are also plenty of options off the course for you and your fellow guests to enjoy during your stay.
The Omni Homestead’s Spa is 60,000-square feet and includes 28 treatment rooms, a fitness area with updated technology, and an adults-only Serenity Garden that’s home to the historic natural hot springs. Allegheny Springs is a two-acre water park that is fed by the waters from the natural springs and features two 100-foot water slides and a massive lazy river.
As you’ll quickly notice upon arrival here, the setting here is incredible and you’ll want to get outside to enjoy many of the available outdoor activities such as trap and skeet shooting, fly fishing, horseback riding, wagon rides with s’mores, archery, guided hikes, falconry, biking, kayaking, lawn games, and more.
There’s a reason why this iconic destination has stood the test of time. If you’re looking for an incredible Mid Atlantic golf destination, then The Omni Homestead Resort must be on your list.