The Omni Homestead Resort: Cascades Course
Hot Springs, VA • Public
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Overview
As Wayne Morrison and Tom Paul point out in their massive, comprehensive biography of William Flynn, Seth Raynor was originally consulted about building the Cascades Course but declared the property insufficient. So the then-relative unknown William Flynn got the job and made the most of it. The topography of Cascades is magnificent and its bunkering is superb, particularly the cross-bunkers on the really fine 12th and 13th holes, both strong par 4s. The fourth and eighth are considered two of the great par 3s in the country and Cascades finishes with another par 3, a rarity among top courses. The Virginia gem has hosted eight USGA championships, including a U.S. Women's Open, a U.S. Amateur and two U.S. Women's Amateurs.
About
Awards
100 Greatest: Ranked from 1969-2008. Highest ranking: No. 39, 2003-'04.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2013. 2021-'22 ranking: No. 157.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since our inaugural edition in 2003. Highest ranking: No. 4, 2003-'04. 2023-'24 ranking: No. 40.
Best in State: Ranked inside the top five, 2011-'12, 2015-'22. Ranked sixth, 2013-'14, 2023-'24.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Located in Hot Springs, Virginia, 1 and a half hours hours north of Roanoke, VA, The Cascades Course(William Flynn,1923) is one of two courses at the Omni Homestead Resort, which is the oldest resort in America, opened in 1766. The other course is The Old Course, (Donald Ross, 1892). The course is scenic and has a good mix of doglegs, elevation changes and tree lined fairways. 25 US presidents have visited the resort over the past 250 yrs."
Read More2024
Review
“The Homestead Cascades is a classic mountain design which provides a good test of golf as you meander through the rolling Virginia hills. Conditioning is excellent and the elevation changes and variety holes will force even the best players to think their way around. A true country club experience at a beautiful resort."
Read More2024
Review
“On a difficult site, William Flynn conceived a wonderful course for Homestead guests and for competitors in the dozens of elite championships it has hosted. The course tumbles across, over, and through natural features and areas that the construction crew created with dynamite, steam shovels, and mules. The back nine visits creeks, ponds, waterfalls, and specimen trees and the 3-5-5-3 finish is one to remember. It is not possible to understand Virginia golf without playing the Cascades, a course every serious golfer should see."
Read More2023
Review
“Fun resort course. Multiple elevation shots throughout the course. The more challenging of the two courses at the resort."
Read More2022
Review
“Great scenery - bunkers and greens in great shape. Strategy needed off the tee on several holes. Wide variety of distance changes on par 4s. Weird finish with a 3, 5, 5, 3."
Read More2022
Review
“The Cascades Course at the Homestead takes a hike to get to from pretty much everywhere but is well-worth your time as one of the top public courses in America. Although not cheap, this course is where Sam Snead worked and played and features a beautiful William Flynn layout on very hilly, mountainous terrain. This layout is engaging and the greens are hard to read due to the underlying mountain slope. Holes 12-13 are some of the best back-to-back par fours I've seen. I highly recommend the Cascades and can't wait to go back."
Read More2022
Review
“Great layout, in good shape. A real pleasure, if a little expensive."
Read More2018
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