By Bill Nextor
This week’s edition of the Tee It Up took us to Grafton for a round at Tygart Lake Public Golf Course. This 18 hole championship course plays 6,255 yards from the longest tees and is a par 72.
Tygart Lake Golf Course was created in 1967 and has seen multiple changes over the years. The ownership and management has taken this proud tract to an even higher level. It seems as if every visit to this venue brings vast improvements. The most recent are the addition of blue tees on a pair of holes (numbers seven and 14) that add to the difficulty of both holes tremendously. I didn’t play from the near tees, but just standing there, pondering their perspective, made my knees knock.
The course is a tale of two sides with the front side being more wide open and with four par fours, there are plenty of opportunities to score. It also owns my favorite hole in the course (number seven) which is protected by water and bunkers. Sometimes, I think I would rather take a picture of it than to take it on.
The back nine provides the classic risk versus reward scenarios on multiple holes. Water comes into play on numbers 10, 11, 12, and 14. Hole 17 is a par five with a narrow opening lined with trees on both sides. All five of the above mentioned holes give the option of a driver, if you dare.
The staff is the difference-maker here. The upgrades to the facilities are nice, but it’s the people who make the venue stand out. From the pro shop to the course-friendly, knowledgeable, and hardworking staff set Tygart Lake Golf Course apart from others.
The 19th Hole is a fun and friendly experience to say the least, and it provides the perfect place to recap your round. They say the grass is always greener in Grafton and the proof can be found here. The greens are in exceptional shape; you have to play them to believe it, and I suggest that you do. Tygart Lake Golf Course is a must play this season.