The Claiborne House Blue Ridge Blog

The Claiborne House Bed & Breakfast , (VA)

May 7, 2010

Mountaintop Masterpiece is a Natural Wonder

The Highland Course at Primland epitomizes the phrase "natural wonder"

It would seem to be a given that golf courses are green -- not just in color but in the environmental sense. After all, they're covered with a variety of grasses, and out-of-bounds areas are often thick with trees and populated by wildlife. But many golf resorts flout Mother Nature, maintaining their courses with copious amounts of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and water from sometimes limited local sources.


Some course operators, however, whether driven by environmental consciousness, necessity, or both, are taking a more natural approach. The Highland Course at Primland (866.960.7746, primland.com) opened in 2007 to rave reviews -- in part, because of its setting in a 12,000-acre hunting and fishing preserve in the mountains of southwest Virginia, 83 miles from Greensboro, N.C. "It's like a national park with a golf course and a resort inside it," says Steve Helms, Primland's vice president.


The resort component debuts this month, with a 26-suite lodge, spa, and restaurant in a state-of-the-art building that incorporates extensive amounts of reclaimed wood and recycled materials, including roofing tiles made from repurposed old automobile tires. The resort also features its own wastewater treatment facility. "Our mission is to continue Primland's environmental stewardship while creating a world-class resort," says general manager Brooks Bradbury.


The Highland Course fills the bill. Carved out of a mountaintop forest, the design is a minimalist masterpiece, guided by the lay of the land and leaving the natural areas that line the holes undisturbed. Judicious application of chemicals and the use of filtration ponds to purify surface runoff minimize the environmental impact. But being green doesn't come at the expense of great golf. One need only stand in the fairway of the par-5 13th hole, facing an approach shot to a four-tiered putting surface framed by sycamore trees and the endless blue sky, to glimpse golf and nature at their finest.

-- Joe Bargmann 

The Lodge at Primland. This country retreat features 26 suites ranging from 500 to 1,800 square feet, all with mountain views. Stargazers will marvel at the lodge's observatory, with a powerful telescope that feeds celestial images directly to the guest rooms. 866.960.7746, primland.com

Eat

Elements. The Lodge at Primland's top-shelf restaurant features New American cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The 1,500-bottle wine cellar, visible behind a glass wall, features an impressive selection from Virginia, California, Italy, France, and more. 866.960.7746, primland.com


Your innkeeper met the VP of Primland Steve Helms and The General Manager Brooks Bradbury.  She was astonished at the intricate details at Primland, down to the orchids in the guest suites.  The views were magnificent and truly show off God's handiwork at Meadows of Dan, VA.  I am not a golfer, but it didn't take a blind man to see the Highland Course literally took my breath away, it was that spectacular.   The views, the solitude, the beauty was something found only in these Blue Ridge Mountains.  I wish everyone had a chance to enjoy Primland, their hospitality is bar none.


Primland is a leisurely drive down The Blue Ridge Parkway from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast.  Since the speed limit is max 45 mph on the Parkway, give yourself ample time to stop at the look outs along the way and enjoy "America's Favorite Road."    They are located 4 miles from the BRP Mile Post 177.


Come back Via Highway 58 to Stuart, in Patrick County VA.  Travel the Jeb Stuart Highway.  


VIRGINIA IS FOR HIGHLAND GOLF LOVERS


Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net
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