I Get Asked This More Than I Get Asked About My Golf Swing
Now hold on a second. If you typed "is Grandview Country Club still open" into your phone, you're probably standing in a parking lot, or sitting at a kitchen table, trying to decide whether to dig your clubs out of the garage. I understand. I've asked myself the same question every spring for the last six years. And I'm going to give you the most honest answer I can: I don't know for certain. But I can tell you exactly what I know, what I don't, and how to get the truth in about fifteen minutes.
I remember the last time I stood on Grandview's first tee. It was the fall of 2019, late afternoon, and the shadows were already long. The grass was a little shaggy, but the course was still playable. The website was still up, and the phone still rang. Then winter came, and when spring showed up in 2020, the website was gone. Not a notice, not a farewell. Just gone. And I've been wondering ever since.
Why You Should Trust Me on This
My name's Earl Buck Hatfield. I've lived in Beckley all my life, and I've been playing Grandview since I was a teenager. I've walked every fairway, cursed every bunker, and bought more hot dogs from that clubhouse than I can count. I'm not a reporter, and I'm not a website scraping old information. I'm a local who cared about this course before it went quiet, and who still cares now.
I need you to understand one thing: I have not personally verified the course's status this year. I'm not going to pretend I have, because pretending is how misinformation spreads. What I can do is give you the tools to find out for yourself, and I'll do it without sending you on a wild goose chase.
What I Know
Grandview Country Club was a real, functioning public golf course in Beaver, West Virginia for roughly thirty years. It had a clubhouse, a pro shop, a driving range, and eighteen holes of mountain golf that locals genuinely loved. It wasn't a country club in the fancy sense—it was a public course with a good heart and a great view.
What I know for sure is this: the website stopped updating in 2019. The tee time page went dark. The phone number stopped appearing in new directories. By 2020, the only mentions of Grandview online were old listings on sites like GolfDigest and Chronogolf, which still show the course as if it's alive because nobody ever told them otherwise. That's not proof the course closed, but it's proof the course went quiet.
What I Don't Know
I don't know if Grandview is permanently closed, temporarily closed, under new ownership, or open under a new name. I've heard all three stories around town. A man at a diner told me it shut down in 2020. A woman at a gas station told me she saw people playing there last summer. A guy I used to play with said he heard someone bought the land. That's Beckley for you—everyone has a version, and none of them agree.
I also don't know what shape the course is in right now. If it is open, it might be as good as it ever was, or it might be a shadow of itself. I can't tell you whether the greens are true, the fairways are mowed, or the clubhouse still sells those terrible hot dogs I loved. That's the honest truth, and I'd rather give you uncertainty than a lie.
Three Honest Drawbacks to Searching for This Answer Online
If you've been trying to figure this out from your couch, you've probably run into three problems. I know I have.
1. The directory sites are frozen in time. GolfDigest, Chronogolf, and other listing pages still show Grandview as a normal course. They don't know it went quiet, because nobody updates those pages. If you trust them, you'll think the course is fine and drive up to a locked gate.
2. The local chatter is contradictory. Ask three people in Beckley about Grandview, and you'll get four answers. That's not helpful if you're trying to plan a round from out of town.
3. The old phone number may or may not work. I've called it a couple of times over the years. Sometimes it rings, sometimes it doesn't. I've never gotten a clear answer. If you're not careful, you'll waste a morning chasing a ghost.
How to Find Out for Yourself in Fifteen Minutes
If you're determined to know, here's my old-school process. It's not fast, but it's honest.
Step 1: Call the clubhouse. Find the old phone number online and dial it. Let it ring at least ten times. If someone answers, ask directly: "Are you open to the public? What are your green fees? What shape is the course in?" If they answer clearly, you've got your answer. If it rings forever or is disconnected, move to step two.
Step 2: Check the parking lot. If you're local or passing through, drive by on a Saturday morning around 9 a.m. A functioning course will have cars and golfers. An empty lot on a beautiful day is a loud answer.
Step 3: Ask at a local business. Stop at the nearest gas station or diner and ask, "Is Grandview still open?" If the clerk says "far as I know," that's mildly positive. If they say "I thought that closed years ago," that's your answer.
Red flags that should make you stop:
🚩 The phone number is disconnected.
🚩 The entrance has a chain or a "For Sale" sign.
🚩 The fairways look knee-high.
🚩 Nobody in Beaver has heard the name in years.
What to Do If You Can't Get a Clear Answer
If the phone rings forever and you can't make the drive, then the honest answer is: don't gamble on Grandview. There are other public courses within an hour of Beckley that still answer the phone and still take tee times. I'm putting together a complete list of Beckley golf courses that actually operate. It's not as nostalgic as Grandview, but it'll get you a round of golf.
And if you're new to this and you just want to hit a few balls without all the mystery, check out our beginner gear guide. You'll find what you need to get started—like a decent pair of golf gloves from Amazon or, if you're really watching your money, DHgate (prices lower, shipping slower). You don't need much to start.
Who Should NOT Chase This Answer
If you're a traveler with one afternoon and no patience for uncertainty, then no. Don't spend your only free hours hunting for a course that might not be there. Book a confirmed tee time elsewhere, and save Grandview for a day when you can afford to be surprised.
If you're someone who needs everything confirmed online before you leave the house, then also no. Grandview won't give you the certainty you need, and that's okay.
But if you're a local who remembers this course, or a golfer who doesn't mind a little detective work, then go find out. And if you learn something, tell me. I'd like to know too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grandview's Status
Is Grandview Country Club permanently closed?
I can't confirm that. The website went quiet in 2019, and the course hasn't had a visible online presence since. It may be closed, or it may be operating under the radar. You'll need to call or drive by to know for sure.
When did Grandview Country Club stop updating its website?
Around 2019. The last snapshot I remember was from the fall of that year. After that, the site went dark without explanation.
Can you still play golf at Grandview?
I don't know. Some locals say it's open, others say it's closed. The only way to be sure is to contact the clubhouse or visit the property.
Why do GolfDigest and other sites still list Grandview as open?
Those directory pages rarely get updated when a small course goes quiet. They still show Grandview because no one told them otherwise. Don't trust them for current status.
What should I do if I want to play Grandview and can't reach anyone?
If the phone doesn't answer and you can't verify in person, play one of the other Beckley area courses. Don't drive long distances on a guess.
Where to Go From Here
If you want the full story on what Grandview was, read my honest look at Grandview Country Club. It's the most complete local memory you'll find.
If you're trying to figure out how to book a round if it is open, my guide to Grandview tee times will walk you through the process step by step.
And if you want to know what to expect before you go, I've also written about Grandview's old prices and how to judge what's fair.