Golf Courses Near Charleston, WV

Located on the Kanawha River and at the convergence of three interstates (I-64, I-77, and I-79), Charleston is the capital of West Virginia and its most populous city. Though the city’s Appalachian Mountain setting presents endless outdoor recreational possibilities, golf is decidedly underrepresented. Berry Hills Country Club, a private course, is the only full length 18-hole course in Charleston. Two muni facilities list a Charleston address but neither is a regulation course and neither takes tee times—you just show up and play. Coonskin Golf Course, located in a park near the airport, is an executive par-3 course that has been reduced to 9 holes. The 9-hole Cato Park Golf Course has regulation length holes but it is not kept up to typical golf course standards and it is not open on weekends. Little Creek Golf Course over in neighboring South Charleston is a facility that does take tee times. The sporty layout rambles on hilly terrain with lots of elevation changes and nice mountain views. Little Creek hosts many local tournaments. Another course to consider is Big Bend Golf Course in Tornado, a dogleg-laden layout with water in play on five holes.

Charleston is a beautiful riverfront city. The Charleston State Capitol building, rising up on the banks of the Kanawha River with its 300-foot dome covered in 22-karat gold leaf, is the most recognizable building in West Virginia. The Capitol building is located in the city’s East End Historic District, the usual starting point for an exploration of Charleston. It’s an area filled with mansions, a couple of museums, and Appalachian Power Park—the home of the minor league Charleston Dirty Birds baseball team. The heart of activity downtown is tree-lined Capitol Street, where numerous historical buildings house cafes, galleries and boutiques. The indoor/outdoor Capitol Market is near the end of the street. Since Charleston is the capital of Wild, Wonderful West Virginia, visitors often come because of the opportunities to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain surroundings. Kanawha State Forest is just a few miles outside of town and boasts prolific wildflowers and birdlife along with hiking and mountain biking trails.