Monocan Hole # 5

Stoney Creek at Wintergreen Resort:

In the Rockfish Valley with Reese Jones.

Posted by Alistair Orr

The Wintergreen Resort is located on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia roughly 50 miles southwest of Charlottesville a mere stone’s throw from the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. The resort spans 11,000 acres and is both a winter and summer playground for golfers, tennis players, skiers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Home to 45 holes for golfers to enjoy -the 18 hole Devils Knob mountain course designed by Ellis Maples and the Reese Jones designed 27 hole Stoney Creek valley floor facility.

The 27 holes that comprise the Stoney Creek course at Wintergreen Resort are located in the Rockfish River Valley some 3000 feet below the peaks of the adjacent Devils Knob and Black Rock Mountains. Golf can can be enjoyed year round in the valley at Stoney Creek, whereas the Devils Knob course, which is routed over the top of the mountain, is put to bed by the coming winter conditions in late October and returns from hibernation in early April. For those who pleasure in hitting the slopes as much as hitting the golf ball Wintergreen offers a ski and tee policy where skiers can present their same day lift ticket for a round of golf at Stoney Creek. Shred the runs in the morning the tread the fairways in the afternoon.

The Devils Knob course has severe elevation changes, tight tree lined fairway corridors and striking views of the distant mountain peaks and the valleys below. In contrast the Stoney Creek nines feature modest elevation changes, wider fairways and the network of ponds and creeks that meander through the valley floor play an integral part of the design. The views of the surrounding mountains are equally spectacular as those afforded to players atop the Knob –especially in the fall months when the trees are in full colour. Maples’ mountain top design demands precise distance control, while in the valley Jones grants you more shot options while plotting a course from tee to green.

As is typical of many Reese Jones courses the architect doesn’t force you to play a tick-tack-toe target style of golf at Stony Creek. His goal for Wintergreen was to create a resort experience where players of all abilities can enjoy a challenge suited to their level of play. There are plenty of risk reward opportunities for the skilled lower handicapper to test their nerve while the higher handicap players are offered choices while navigating the routing. Strategically placed mounding that line the generous fairways aid in keeping the ball in play and the larger greens affords the novice and intermediate player a chance to post some good scores. Careful attention must be paid to the pin placements as the green complexes are large and contain some fairly dramatic contours and tiers If your approach finds the wrong area of the putting surface your green reading and distance control skills will be put to the test. The skilled player will find the greens the largest obstacle that must be overcome if the course record is to be put in jeopardy.

Each nine at Stoney Creek is named to honour local native heritage and their connection to the land in the area. The Monocan nine is a tribute to the Monocan Indians who belonged to a vast confederation of Algonquin speaking tribes who ranged from eastern Virginia through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Shamokin side pays homage to a gathering place for the remnants of Virginia’s Saponi, Occaneechi and Tutelo people who, in 1730’s, moved north out of Virginia to Shamokin Pennsylvania to seek the protection of the Oneida. The Tuckahoe nine honours the eastern Algonkian languages. The work tuckahoe was used for several edible plants whose root stalk was a staple food for the local natives.

Course Stats in the Valley:

Stoney Creek: Monocan to Shamokin

Stoney Creek: Tuckahoe to Monocan

Stoney Creek: Shamokin to Tuckahoe

Course Stats at the Peak:

Devils Knob [View Course Review]

Access: Public daily fee and through resort golf packages.

Location:

Wintergreen, Va

* Tuckahoe-Monocan:**Shamokin-Manoncan / Shamokin-Tuckahoe

Feature Holes Descriptions:

Born in 1998 the Tackahoe side is the youngest of the Stoney Creek siblings. This routing is the hilliest of the sisters with the first few holes using elevation to great effect. The first of the two superb short par 4’s that get the nod to our shot maker’s collection is found in this stretch. Number 2 is a dogleg right where the big hitters are given the opportunity to let it fly from the elevated tee. The hole drops significantly to the fairway then rises steeply to the elevated false fronted green that is protected by deep bunkering. Nine bunkers line the right side from the 150 marker in ready to punish those who try to challenge the inside of the dog leg too aggressively. The sixth hole may be the shortest of the par 4’s found on Stoney Creek but it is far from a pushover. This hole is all about the approach shot. The ideal tee ball needs to avoid a long left side bunker and mounding right to set up a short second shot in the 90 to 110 yard range.  Careful consideration of the facing wind needs to be heeded on the approach for it is paramount that you find the correct section of this well bunkered “t” shaped green that slopes right severely from a back left tier.

The Monocan and Shamokin nines comprise the original 18 which Jones crafted in 1988 and can be described as gently rolling with the odd elevated tee or green here and there. The Monocan opener is a wonderful shot maker’s test right out of the gate. This beastly long dog leg left par 5 flows gently downhill from the tee. While bunkered on either side the driving area is generous but a pond awaits the wild shot right. This green is reachable in two for the long hitters with two healthy Sunday best wallops’, however, the approach must carry a crossing hazard and climb to a slightly elevated green which slopes sharply back to front and has several pot bunkers built in to the fronting bank –a tricky target to find with a 3 wood in hand. The prudent player will lie back on the second and lean on their pitching and putting prowess in an effort to open the round with a birdie.

Monocan Hole # 4

Holes four and five are Monocan’s other shot maker’s nominees.  The gentile dog leg right par 4 fourth hole stretches out to 420 yards with a pair of bunkers left and mounding right ready to capture a wayward drive. On the approach the wise player will take aim at the left centre of the green for any short right strike will bound down into a large pond while a fronting bunker will gobble up the less than perfect shot. The fifth hole is a picturesque unforgiving one shotter permitting no margin for error. Your mid-iron strike must be pure to neutralize the lake effect winds. The short ball will have you reaching for the ball scoop while the long ball will find one of four pot bunkers leaving you with a nerve wracking blast back to a green that flows down towards the water.

The par 3 third and par 4 sixth holes at Shamokin’s deserve special mention. The third is a visually stunning hole with its mountain backdrop, green site nestled amid the forest and Stoney Creek hugging the left side. But, don’t let the beauty affect your concentration for only the purest of shots will successfully locate the shallow putting surface which falls away front left towards the creek. The fourth is the tightest driving hole in the valley with trees pinching the flight path requiring precise accuracy off the tee. Care must be taken to place the approach in the centre of the green for Stoney Creek makes another appearance and flows against the front and left sides of the green and will suck in the short or left miss.

Contact:

Wintergreen Resort

Route 664
Wintergreen, VA 22958

434-325-8250

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