The back nine at Birdwood Golf Course is as scenic as it gets. A true highlight of these holes is number 17 where golfers must navigate an overly memorable par-3 shot that lies in the shadows of the historic Birdwood Mansion. According to Davis Love III, there is no true signature hole at Birdwood but with the unique proximity to the mansion, the final three holes will certainly test your skills and offer an inherent beauty like no other course in Virginia.
The 10th is the longest hole on the course, and the first of three par-5 holes on the back nine. One of Davis Love III’s favorite holes, he personally directed the shaping of the fairway to open up the view of the green for the long player. The green may be one of the most memorable at Birdwood with a deep swale bisecting the front half.
One of the most beautiful holes on the course, the 11th is reminiscent of a few of Dye’s picturesque par-3 holes at Whistling Straits. From the tee, there seems to be nowhere to land the ball but the green. Bunkers that help offline shots and a gentle green make this hole play a bit easier than the golfer initially anticipates.
Probably the most popular hole at Birdwood, the tee shot from the top of the ridge of number 12 has the benefit of one of the widest fairways on the course. Going for the green in two could leave the player with a tricky chip from the collection area left of the green.
The “buried elephant” in the middle of the 13th green was a design change from the original concept of having a bunker in the middle of the green like the 6th at Riviera. The green contouring is the trick to this par-3, where two-putts are a challenge.
The 14th is one of the most challenging holes on the course. The native area to the right of the fairway is now more in play on the approach shot. The view of the iconic water tower at the Birdwood Mansion comes into view from the green.
The last of the challenging par-5 holes, the 15th requires a tee shot through a chute of trees, and the fairway seems to get narrower all the way to the green. The creek on the right is a challenge to wayward approach shots. The smallest bunker on the course guards the front right pin placement.
Davis Love III wanted a legitimate drivable par-4 late in the round to give the player one last chance at birdie. The catalpa tree to the right of the green is one of the oldest on the course and impacts shots from as far out as 125 yards. The small pot bunker in the middle of the fairway provides a risk or reward to the tee shot, but the view across the pond of the Birdwood Mansion is one of the most photographed spots on the course.
The final of a diverse collection of par-3 holes, the 17th is guarded by the beautiful wall that was built from the native rock removed during construction. The water tower and the Birdwood Mansion built between 1819 and 1830 make for a memorable setting.
The final hole on the course is long, uphill and plays into the prevailing wind. One of the few truly uphill approach shots on the course adds drama to the closing hole. Par is always a good finishing score on the 18th at Birdwood.