Worldgolfer's Golf Course Reviews

Designer: Michael McCartin (2015)

Location: Sperryville, Virginia

History: Designed in 2015 by Michael McCartin, the 9-hole Schoolhouse Nine is the first and only golf course in Rappahannock County Virginia.

Conditions: 4/10, A decidedly low-frills affair, the conditioning at Schoolhouse Nine is mediocre at best with slow, bumpy greens with lots of ballmarks and shaggy teeboxes.

Value: 10/10, Schoolhouse Nine offers excellent value at $15 for unlimited play on weekdays and $20 on weekends. Don’t be surprised if there’s an honor box when you arrive either!

Scorecard:

Tee                     Par         Yardage         Rating          Slope

N/A                     27           1216               N/A                N/A

Hole Descriptions: Affordable 9-holers and par three courses are vital to the game of golf as places where beginners are able to enjoy the game in a relaxed and fun setting. This is something I’ve become acutely sensitive to while trying to teach my wife how to play. As the only course in the entire County, Schoolhouse Nine is an especially crucial executive course that provides a fun, interesting round for golfers who otherwise wouldn’t have any options. Built in a minimalist fashion with a cult-like following, this rural course has been on my radar for some time and the perfect opportunity to see it came after hiking Shenandoah Park one weekend with my wife and dog.

Situated at the base of the National Park and Blue Ridge Mountains, The Schoolhouse Nine sits in a small, open field in a beautiful setting. The course is not upscale by any means with an honor box in the Pro-shop and golfers of all abilities waiting their turn around the 1st teebox. While the teeboxes and rough are minimally maintained, the greens and bunkering really elevate The Schoolhouse Nine above comparable short courses. It’s clear the architect had some interest and knowledge of classic architecture and elements like the Principal’s Nose bunker at 3 and wild greens at 2 and 9 make it an interesting course for all golfers. In addition to the compelling setting and architecture, the overall vibes here are absolutely off the charts. Kudos to Michael McCartin and ownership for creating such an important par 3 course!

The Schoolhouse Nine opens with an 153 yard par 3 over level terrain. Expect an audience here, as the restaurant patio is directly behind this teebox. This one-shotter essentially plays in an open field along the edge of the property, with trees down your right and a severe, two-tiered, back-to-front sloped green.

The 2nd hole is probably my favorite on the course at 141 yards. Again playing in an open field, this green is absolutely nuts and is very wide, with a higher right portion and significant slope from right-to-left. The further left you go, however, the ball starts to move back to the right. Bunkers defend the green short on either side.

At 165 yards, the 3rd is probably the most difficult hole at Schoolhouse Nine, playing level between meadows to a small, subtle green. The defining feature of this hole is a Principal’s Nose bunker about 40 yards short of the green that appears closer to the green than it actually is.

The 4th hole plays back over the 3rd green at 132 yards. This is a pretty straightforward par 3 with a back-to-front sloped green defended by a large right bunker.

The 115 yard 5th plays downhill and somewhat blind to a small green that slopes right-to-left.

The 6th hole is a cute little 87 yard par 3 running along the edge of the property. This putting surface is very narrow and slopes mostly front-to-back, forcing you to be precise with your distance control.

At 85 yards, the 7th is the shortest hole at Schoolhouse Nine, but one of the better holes on the course, running uphill to a perched green. This green also slopes front-to-back, with two tiers and a back swale leading to some difficult putts.

The 8th and 9th holes are more traditional par threes and take you back to the clubhouse through the flat meadows. The 8th plays at 167 yards to a large green containing a vertical ridge and defended by two fronting bunkers. The 9th is the longest hole on the course at 171 yards and features a kidney-shaped, heavily undulating green lined by a front left bunker.

General Comments: There’s no range here, but there is a large practice green near the 1st tee that simulates the types of greens you’ll find on the course. The clubhouse doubles down as a restaurant as well and was absolutely bustling when I was there. The course is a really enjoyable walk, and true to its inclusive mantra, Schoolhouse Nine is open for dogs too!

Verdict: The low-frills Schoolhouse Nine is far from upscale but provides an architecturally interesting 9-holes in a beautiful setting as the only course in Rappahannock County. Affordable, friendly, and relaxed, the vibes here are phenomenal and the game of golf needs more courses like this!