Pikewood National Golf Club has never played host to a major event.
According to Golf Digest, that should change in the future.
The prestigious property residing on the border of Monongalia and Preston County was named one of 13 “amazing courses” that should step up and host elite competitions for the first time by Golf Digest earlier this month.
In May, the same publication selected Pikewood National 30th on its list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
“What they wanted to do was sort of pinpoint courses that have not held a major event, and by a major event, I think they’re talking about more than just a PGA TOUR event and something that might be sponsored by the USGA,” said Bob Gwynne, co-architect and developer of the course with John Raese, on a recent edition of CityNet Statewide Sportsline. “I don’t think the USGA has ever held a major event like the U.S. Amateur in West Virginia. The article names several of the most famous clubs in America, many of which have never held a major event and suggests different venues.”
Pikewood National Golf Club, which has an invitation-only membership policy, was named Golf Digest’s Best New Private American Course in 2009.
“We were thinking if we could just get fifth or something that would be great,” Gwynne recalled.
Since then, a course that opened what became its back nine in 2004 has continued to earn praise on national and international rankings.
In the most recent piece outlining Pikewood National as one of the aforementioned 13 courses, Golf Digest wrote: Since its debut on our national rankings 10 years ago, the West Virginia design has improved its rank on every edition of our of America’s 100 Greatest List. At nearly 7,700 yards with many elevation changes and difficult walks, this would be a tremendous venue to test the world’s best amateurs at a U.S. Amateur. The USGA would just need to figure out a second venue to co-host for the first few days. Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport is also in Golf Digest’s top 50, but a 45-minute drive.
“Pikewood has all the challenges that the young guys in the U.S. Amateur can handle to a degree and it would be a great place for that,” Gwynne said. “Other USGA events like Walker Cups show some promise for a course like Pikewood.”
Gwynne noted that USGA events often select their host venues at least a decade in advance.
“There’s been some opportunities maybe for us to showcase our place,” Gwynne said. “The Palmer Cup was interested, but they changed their format and said it probably wouldn’t be a good fit when they did that. It’s difficult to get into that rotation, but even if it’s 10 years out, to the extent that they would select Pikewood, and particularly what they’re suggesting here is a USGA event, that would really be a great thing for Pikewood, our community and the state of West Virginia.”
Among the 12 other courses Golf Digest highlighted as potential new hosts for elite competitions down the line, there are 10 in America, one in Northern Ireland and one in Scotland.
“The other courses are pretty well known and some are historical as well,” Gwynne said. “Chicago Golf Club is one of the first courses ever in the U.S. and other courses like Fishers Island are rated in the top 10. Cypress Point is rated three right now. We’re right in with that kind of company, which is pretty amazing for a course that’s only been around for our time period.”
Should Pikewood National host one of golf’s more well-known events down the line, Gwynne believes it would bring great exposure to North Central West Virginia and the state as a whole.
“One goal of ours is to continue to provide the highest quality golf experience of anywhere in the world,” he said. “In addition to that, by getting recognition like these articles suggest, it would do something for not just Pikewood, but the state of West Virginia to say that the state is going to host a major USGA event. Part of our focus going forward is being recognized as one of the most beautiful golf courses in America. It shows off everything that’s great about this state. You have great views, great rock formations, waterfalls, beautiful wooded areas, streams. It’s one of those things that we need to continue to promote and in the process, promote West Virginia.”