grandview country club reviews: A 44-Year Local Golfer's Honest Review of Beckley's Most Missed Course

I've Played This Course More Than Most People Have Played Put-Putt

Now hold on a second. Before you read another word, you need to know this isn't one of those reviews written by a guy who drove by once and snapped a photo for a travel blog. I'm Earl Buck Hatfield. I've lived in Beckley my whole life, and I've played Grandview Country Club since 1982. I've walked every fairway so many times I could draw the 7th hole from memory with my eyes closed. So when I tell you this course was something special, I'm not guessing—I'm remembering.

But I also need to be straight with you. The Grandview I'm reviewing today is the one from my memory and my last visits around 2019. If the course is still open, some things may have changed. If it's closed, then this review is a eulogy. Either way, I'll tell you exactly what made this course worth playing, what drove me crazy about it, and how it compared to other public courses within an hour of here. That's the only honest way I know to write a review.

Why You Should Trust This Review

I've been swinging golf clubs in southern West Virginia for 44 years. I've played Grandview in every season, on every kind of day, in every condition from perfect to barely playable. I've seen the course at its best—October afternoons when the leaves turned and the wind smelled like woodsmoke—and at its worst—March mornings when the greens were half-frozen and the cart path was a mud slick. I know this course the way a man knows his own porch steps.

I'm not a pro. I'm not an architect. I'm not trying to sell you a membership or a tee time. I'm just a local who wants you to understand what Grandview was, and whether it's worth your time and money today. I may earn a small commission if you buy gear through my links, but I don't link to anything I haven't used or wouldn't use myself.

What Grandview Got Right

Let me start with the good, because there was a lot of it.

The setting. Grandview sat on a mountaintop in Beaver, West Virginia, and the views from the 16th hole were worth the green fee by themselves. On a clear day you could see the Blue Ridge in the distance, and the long shadows of late afternoon made the whole course look like a painting. It wasn't a fancy course, but it had a soul. You felt it as soon as you stepped out of the car.

The pace. Grandview was never a rush-rush place. The staff didn't stack tee times five minutes apart, and nobody barked at you if you took an extra moment on the green. For a working man or a beginner, that was gold. You could actually breathe between shots.

The price. In its best years, you could play 18 holes with a cart for under $40, and twilight rounds were cheap enough to play twice a week. For the quality of the experience, that was a bargain.

The character. The people who ran Grandview knew your name. The regulars nodded at you on the first tee. The clubhouse sold hot dogs that had probably been on the roller since sunrise, and they tasted like victory after a long round. That kind of charm can't be built with money.

Where Grandview Fell Short

Now for the honest part. This course had flaws, and I won't pretend it didn't.

1. The maintenance was inconsistent. Some summers the fairways were lush and the greens were true. Other summers, the rough got shaggy and the bunkers turned to concrete. If you caught Grandview on a bad week, it could feel like playing through an abandoned pasture. The mountains were beautiful, but the grass didn't always cooperate.

2. The facilities were basic. The clubhouse was old, the restrooms were clean but tired, and the driving range was little more than a field with some mats. If you wanted a resort experience, this wasn't it. Grandview was a working-class golf course, and it showed—in both the best and worst ways.

3. The course was short and quirky. At around 6,200 yards from the tips, it wasn't long by modern standards. The elevation changes and blind shots made it interesting, but if you're a big hitter who wants to grip it and rip it, Grandview might have felt a little tight. It rewarded placement over power, which I liked, but it's not for everyone.

How Grandview Compared to Other Beckley-Area Courses

I've played most of the public courses within an hour of Beckley, and here's how Grandview stacked up in the ways that matter to a local golfer. This isn't a scientific survey—it's my honest feel after four decades on these fairways.

If you're the kind of golfer who'd rather look at mountains than a cart path, Grandview was the clear winner. If you'd rather have perfect fairways and a modern clubhouse, then the other public courses might suit you better.

What You Should Know Before You Go (If You Go)

If you're thinking about trying Grandview—whether it's open or not—here's my best advice, drawn from too many rounds to count.

Don't bring your ego. This course will humble you. The elevation changes will eat your distance, and the wind will grab your ball and put it places you didn't intend. That's part of the fun, but only if you're ready for it.

Bring the right gear. The fairways are uneven and the rough can be thick. You'll want a glove that grips, and shoes that can handle a little mud. I've been using the same kind of simple gear for years, and it's never let me down. If you need a reliable pair of gloves, this Amazon search for beginner-friendly golf gloves is a good place to start. If your budget is really tight, DHgate has cheaper golf gloves, but the shipping is slower—so order before you need them.

Call first, always. I've said it in every Grandview article I've written, and I'll say it again. The phone is your best friend. If it rings and someone answers, you're in luck. If it's dead, you've saved yourself a drive.

Who Should NOT Play Grandview

If you're a traveler with one afternoon and no patience for mystery, then no. Play a confirmed course from our Beckley golf courses list.

If you're a high-end golfer who expects a country club experience, then also no. Grandview was never that, and it never wanted to be.

If you're a beginner who's nervous about holding people up, then maybe. Grandview's pace was forgiving, but the mountain layout can be intimidating. If you're new, Maya's beginner guide will help you prepare before you set foot on any course.

Verdict: A Course Worth Remembering, Even If It's Gone

If Grandview is still open and you can get a tee time, play it. Don't expect perfection—expect character. The views alone are worth the drive, and if you catch the course on a good day, you'll understand why so many of us in Beckley still talk about it.

If Grandview is closed, then this review is my thank-you note to the place that taught me how to play. I've hit good shots and bad shots on that ground, and I'd give a lot to stand on the 16th tee one more time with the sun going down and the mountains in the distance.

My score: 7.5 out of 10. Not for the bunkers or the clubhouse—those were always a little rough. The score is for the way the place made you feel: like you belonged, like the game mattered, and like a working man could have a little piece of beauty without paying for a membership. That's worth more than any modern amenity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grandview Country Club Reviews

Where to Go From Here

If you want the full history and memory of Grandview, read my honest look at Grandview Country Club.

If you're planning to try booking a round, my guide to Grandview tee times will walk you through it step by step.

And if you want to know what a round used to cost, check out Grandview's old prices and how to judge what's fair.

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