The 30th anniversary celebration honored BCG's exceptional team members and facilities across the country by recognizing their guest and client satisfaction, operational excellence and business performance, all while holding true to the Billy Casper Golf company values. These national awards identify the "best of the best" in various categories including "General Manager of the Year", "Superintendent of the Year" and "Facility of the Year".

"Our Buffy Awards recognize the hard work, devotion and passion of our outstanding employees," says Alex Elmore, BCG president. "We are thrilled to celebrate our high performing teammates who represent the greatest team in golf."

Chairman's Award, Operations: Sandra Colareta, vice president of contracts & risk management, received the highest honor with this year's award. Sandra has served BCG for 13 years, initially joining the team in 2005 as contracts administrator and now guiding the risk management department at the Virginia Support Office (VSO). She was proudly recognized as the second female winner in company history.

Chairman's Award, Superintendent: Juan Perez, superintendent of The Club at Eaglebrooke, was the joyful recipient of this award. He and his family's loyal dedication to BCG spans over 11 years. A detailed story on their service to BCG was recently featured in the company's Casper Quarterly newsletter written in November 2018, Issue 7, pages 15 - 17.

ACE Award: Prince William Golf Course in Nokesville, Virginia earned the Buffy Award for embodying the spirit of treating each guest to a well-conditioned golf course, friendly and welcoming service, and genuine respect for each person's time.

Superintendent of the Year: John Spiwak from Eastpointe Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida took home the Buffy Award for going above and beyond in all areas of agronomic management. Respected by his co-workers and peers, Spiwak oversees the club's two Tom Fazio-designed championship courses.

General Manager of the Year: Danny Ackerman of Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virginia earned the Buffy Award as the premier industry role model to emulate. Wheeling's native son and his team overcame record rainfall and a city-wide summer water shortage to uphold the resort's two championship courses designed by legends Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

Facility Top Performer: Ka'anapali Golf Courses - the 36 holes of breathtaking golf on Maui, Hawai'i, earned the sought-after prize as BCG's most successful facility based upon financial performance.

Facility of the Year: Clocktower Café / Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course - the well-respected public course in Chicago, won the distinguished award for best all-around service, operations, agronomic conditions, and financial performance.

Virginia Support Office ACE Award: Bonnie Paigo, director of payroll, in the VSO received this award for her continuous and outstanding support of local and national employees. Paigo is highly respected by her peers, as well as the people she supports every day.

In 1900, Cleveland industrialist Earl Oglebay purchased a stately mansion surrounding 750 acres to serve as his summer home. For the next 25 years, Mr. Oglebay spared no expense in turning his property into a beautiful country estate and model farm, which included extensive research in soil culture and crop rotation.

Upon his death, the philanthropist willed his property to the City of Wheeling for as long as they "shall operate it for public recreation." The picturesque estate has since expanded to 2,000 acres of year-round recreational activities and exceptional overnight accommodations.

Today, Wheeling Park is studied by planners worldwide as the only self-supporting public municipal park in operation in the United States. As part of Oglebay's dedication to offering first-class public experiences, their price levels remain reasonable to the everyday guest.

In a state not typically acclaimed for its golf courses, Oglebay is truly a diamond in the rough. The Jones Course previously hosted the West Virginia LPGA Classic for 11 years. The Palmer Course, Oglebay's second championship design, possesses all the characteristics of a modern resort course, and the Crispin Course - Oglebay's original design - is perfect for players of all skill levels.

Oglebay is one hour's drive from Pittsburgh and easily accessible from Columbus, Charleston (W.V.), Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit and numerous Midwest and Northeast metropolitan areas.

For more information, visit www.oglebaygolf.com.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property The Greenbrier Sporting Club is the private equity club and residential community organized for the purpose of offering memberships to those that purchase real estate at The Greenbrier, America's Resort. Members of The Greenbrier Sporting Club not only enjoy complete access to everything The Greenbrier has to offer, but they also enjoy private amenities unavailable to hotel guests, which include two distinct lodges and outdoor pools, two restaurants, a fitness center, an equestrian center, an eastern-inspired spa and The Snead, a members-only golf course. The Snead opened in 2004 and is the only Tom Fazio design in West Virginia.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course? The golf course conditioning is second to none, perfectly manicured.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course? The greens complexes are very severe. Therefore, it is a second shot golf course. Approach shots must be extremely accurate to find the correct portion of the green to play from.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course? When The Snead Course opened in 2004, it was voted #3 in Golf Digest's list of "Best New Private Golf Courses in America." We are always ranked among the best in the state by Golf Digest & Golf Magazine.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole? #16 - The tee shot is from an elevation of 85 feet above the fairway, with beautiful vistas in every direction.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It? #14 is a wonderful, natural design par 4, which crosses Howard's Creek and remains down the entire left side. The hole is well bunkered and has a terrific greens complex. Must drive it straight and hit a lofted iron to hold the green. Putts can be very deceiving on this green.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole? Moscow Mules are among the favorites of the members.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score? PGA TOUR Player, Bubba Watson, shot 60 from the back tees.

Back Tee Stats Par: 71 Yardage: 7,025 Slope: 137 Rating: 74.3

More Information The Greenbrier Sporting Club ( The Snead ) One Sporting Club Drive White Sulphur Springs, WV, 24986 www.greenbriersportingclub.com

The unfortunate part is that Oakhurst Links, saved by a purchase by Jim Justice, owner of the Greenbrier Resort, was closed for the season a week into November. Playing this unique layout was not an option.

Some history: Oakhurst Links was a golf course from 1884 until at least 1912. Then Russell Montague, owner of the property, converted it into a horse farm. Just a few of Montague's neighbors played the course way back when, and a book - "Oakhurst: The Birth of America's First Golf Course' by Paula DiPerna and Vikki Keller (Walker & Co., 2002) - detailed the early history of the place.

Sam Snead, long a resident of the area, urged the restoration of the course and - with the help of architect Bob Cupp - it was re-opened as a 2,235-yard nine-holer in 1994. There was some initial curiosity about the place, and players were equipped hickory-shaft clubs to play it the way Montague and his neighbors did. The curiosity didn't last long, however, and the course was closed off-and-on, including during our first visit in 2010.

Searching for the course then was an adventure in itself. A stop in this small town just over the West Virginia line was unsuccessful. The own is home to the Greenbrier, which bills itself as "America's Resort' and hosts an annual PGA Tour event. Still, four years ago most of the locals - including some Greenbrier employees - had barely heard of Oakhurst. That was surprising, since it's only a 10-minute drive from the big resort and there were landmark plaques in the town.

We followed the signs to Montague Road and apparently got within a mile of the place before a fallen tree on the narrow road curtailed any further travel.

Fast forward four years, to this November. Oakhurst had been closed off and on since our first visit and Justice eventually purchased it from long-time owner Lewis Keller. The price wasn't disclosed but it satisfied a $700,000 lien on the property, according to published reports.

Greenbrier has been marketing Oakhurst to its guests, and many have played it. Our visit, though, indicated it was a tough sell.

The road to the poorly-marked course is narrow and winding, through a subdivision. We found a nearby course, Valley Lo Country Club, before we could locate Oakhurst. Once there, we saw sand tee boxes, like those used in the early days of American golf, and could spot a few greens. We couldn't figure out the layout without tee markers, however, and the clubhouse was in need of repair, with paint peeling in several places.

A neighbor reported that golfers were playing the course again during the summer, but not enough of them to stall a mid-October closing for the season. Still, it'd be a shame to lose this piece of American golf history. Judging by the golf history books, it was about the only layout played in the U.S. prior to the opening of Chicago Golf Club - America's first 18-hole course - in 1892.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property We have 54 holes of world class Championship Courses, each with significantly different characteristics. All three courses are fun to play for all ages and handicaps alike.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course? Each course has different characteristics which makes you play each course differently. The Cobb Course has extremely large greens with subtle undulation. Be sure to choose wisely on your approach shot or you could have a 150 foot breaking putt. Stonehaven allows ample landing area off the tee but plenty of bunkers and ponds that you must navigate to play the course. Like Woodhaven you must also learn how to judge significant drops in elevation. Balls travel farther in the air with an 80 foot drop from tee to green! Woodhaven is similar to Stonehaven in that there is ample landing area off the tee. What sets Woodhaven apart is there are little to no houses around the course and lots of trees and rock outcroppings. Focus your attention to the wide fairways...not the gunge that is outside of them. While most of the holes on Woodhaven are very playable, you must focus on a few! This is a course where the more you play it, the better you play it.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course? Cobb and Stonehaven have consistently been in the top 5 courses in the state rated by Golf Digest and Golf Week magazines. Woodhaven will surely join the group to make a trifecta.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole? #16 on Stonehaven puts you on top of the world. The view from the top of the hole gives you a wide range of the beauty of West Virginia as well as the local ski resort 8 miles to the south.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Why? Any Tips to Play It? #5 on Cobb is my favorite hole because it is a great risk reward par 5. A lot of matches have been altered on this hole. A small pond separates the first half of the hole to the second. If you don't hit a good tee shot, that pond will haunt you!

Must Have Dish or Drink at the 19th Hole? Absolutely! After your round, stop by Bunkers Sports Bar to settle your bets. Flat screen televisions everywhere you look with all of the important games on. Good food and lots of fun...what's better than that?

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score? Rod Pampling shot a 64 on the Cobb Course in a recent PGA Tour Qualifier for the Greenbrier Classic. The low round on Stonehaven is 65 And Woodhaven's low round is a 68 shot by John Ross - Senior Tour Player.

Course Stats From The Back Tees Cobb Course - 7151 yardage 74.8/143 Stonehaven Course - 7203 yardage 75.0/145 Woodhaven Course - 7122 yardage 75.1/149

Contact Information The Resort at Glade Springs 255 Resort Drive Daniels, WV 25832 304-763-2000 www.gladesprings.com

In 1960, the resort opened featuring 200 guest rooms, and 13,000 square feet of conference space. The property also encompasses a gated community sprawled over 1400 acres. Today the development comprises of 450 homes.

The Cobb Course When Mike James, Director of Golf, first set foot on property he thought the place was special.

"While the two new courses steal all the accolades the classic course has stood the test of time. I love the new courses but I always seem to gravitate back to this course," Mike said.

Designed by noted architect George Cobb. The course features rolling fairways, mature hardwoods and sand bunkers as big as the state of West Virginia. Many of the greens are three club differentials. Locals will tell you that it is better to error on the side shorter. Longer on these greens will give you headaches.

Notable Holes #5 - A sweeping dog leg right par-5 that is reachable in two. A large pond hides after the bend that should not come into play. The elevates green is protected with the large signature sand bunkers.

#10 - Mike James gushed about his favorite hole, "Number 10, reminds me of Augusta. A long par-4 dog leg left. Your second shot is demanding with huge traps in the front and left.

While I have never set foot on the hallowed ground, I took his word for it. The hole is stunning from tee to green. Your second shot needs to stick the green or you will be in the beach.

#16 - The signature hole requires carrying a ball over three water features. On the tee a well struck drive is needed to fly a fairway hugging pond twice. Before you swing out of your shoes, any ball over the hill will flirt with a another pond. James chuckled, "I have not played too many par 4's that require carrying 3 water features."

If you have aqua phobia the hole is no laughing matter.

Dining Options Bunkers Sports Bar is casual dining and features traditional clubhouse fare from burgers to pizza. For more upscale dining Glades Grill serves American Cuisine in a resort casual atmosphere.

Stonehaven Course

Woodhaven Course

This course prides itself on offering a majestic view of the gorge, in addition to spectacular mountainous terrain scenery. Created for the specific purpose of complementing Glade Springs' signature golf courses - the Cobb and the Stonehaven - the Woodhaven Course is designed with returning nines with shelters at the farthest extremes of the routing. The course follows a path through stunning rock outcroppings, and a breathtakingly beautiful forest of maple, beech, oak, hickory, and huge rhododendrons

Golf Packages

Lodging options include rooms and suites in the Inn; two room executive suites; four to six bedroom Chestnut Hill Lodges; and two and three bedroom Villas or Manor Houses which allow groups to choose one bedroom, a floor of four bedrooms or the entire house. All have wifi

When To Go

For value hunters...The Cobb course is open year round and a round is free with stay.

The Resort at Glade Springs 255 Resort Drive Daniels, West Virginia 25832 877-423-3317 www.gladesprings.com

The Resort at Glade Springs was established in 1960 with the original Cobb Course opening in 1972. Some fifty years later Glade Springs boasts of 200 guest rooms, 13,000 square feet of conference space, and 1400 acres of a gated community dotted with 450 luxurious homes.

The Cobb Course features rolling fairways, mature hardwoods and sand bunkers as big as the state of West Virginia. Many of the greens are three club differentials and remember it's better being short of the pin than deep. The 16th hole on The Cobb Course acts as the signature hole and requires carrying your ball over three water features. On the tee a well struck drive is needed to fly a C-shaped lake. Before you swing out of your shoes, any ball over the hill will flirt with a third lake. Head Professional Mike James chuckled, "I have not played too many par-4's that require carrying three water features." If you have aqua phobia the hole is no laughing matter.

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Photo Slideshow

The mountainside gem flows effortlessly through the hills and valleys of the surrounding skill hill. "During construction, they moved less than 375,000 cubic yards of dirt. We like to think Gary designed the course and Mother Nature built it," chuckled Galford.

At an elevation of 4848 feet above sea level, Snowshoe Mountain Resort offers golf enthusiasts a mountaintop Village to enjoy throughout their visit. Featuring 1,400 comfortably appointed rooms, the Village is also home to numerous restaurants options and stunning sunsets.

Notable Holes

Hole #4 - The fourth hole features the most dramatic elevation drop. The best advice Galford gave was to let you playing partners tee off first to see how the wind and elevation will affect the ball. The fairway descends 250 feet below the tee and tee shots will average a hang time of 15-20 seconds.

Hole # 5 - The number 1 handicapped hole climbs back up the ridge. From the tee, you will have to negotiate a mature tree sprouting from the middle of the fairway 220 yards out. Pick a side that will position your second shot to layup in front of a stream cutting at base of the hill. Note there is more room to left. As an aside, from the tee box you have a distance view of the skill hill and mountain lodge. At that moment you are nearly 1600 feet below the mountain village

Hole #9 - A classic risk versus reward hole awaits at this drivable par four. Before reaching for a club, look for the stick as the hole features dual greens. Ed shared that in the inaugural round Gary Player called every shot before he hit it. "On this hole Gary called a green ball and stuck it close. He rimmed his eagle putt to which he announced a birdie is a great score on this hole," Ed recalled.

Hole #13 -Gordon McHugh, Head Pro claimed this as his favorite. "This hole is my favorite because double dog leg left par 5 that offers up some risk versus reward opportunities. If you bomb a driver you have a decision to make. If you think you can hit a 200 yard, all-carry shot over water you will get home in two. When I go for it, it feels like golf's version of kicking a field goal," smiled Gordon.

Trust me, the safer play is to bail out to the right and give yourself an angle for your third shot.

Recent Accolades

Golf Digest 2008/2009: 4.5 Star Rating (5 Stars possible)

Golf Week Magazine 2007: "18th Best Resort Course in the Nation"

Golf Week Magazine 2006:"Ranked #1 Public Access Course in West Virginia" - Fifth straight year receiving this number one ranking

Golf Week Magazine 2006:"Ranked #17 in the Top 40 Resort Courses in America"

Golf Week Magazine 2006: "Ranked #84 in the Top 100 Modern Golf Courses in US"

Washington Golf Monthly 2006:"One of the 100 Must Play Golf Courses in the Mid-Atlantic"

Travel & Leisure Golf: Rated in the Top 25 of the "Best 100 Courses to Play Under $100"

How To Get There

Useful Coordinates Inn at Snow Shoe 38.4159 North 80.0366 West

Mountain Top Check-In 38.4018 North 79.9936 West

While the road to the resort is winding and weaving, it is absolutely worth the drive.

The Skinny

Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain

Photo Gallery

The Arnold Palmer Signature Course is a 7,149-yard thrill ride through the rolling terrain of North Central West Virginia. Perched high above the property the first tee provides a "wow factor" that will have you reaching for your camera. While the panoramic views of Stonewall Jackson Lake are stunning, the pristine conditions, jaw dropping elevation changes and demanding shots needed to tackle the course will form your lasting impression.

Notable Holes

After a long pause and some deep thought, he shared the following:

Hole #7 - "I love this hole and how it sets up from my game," beamed Hearnly.

I realized on the tee, Randy must be a long ball hitter with a draw. The monstrous par 5 offers generous landing areas guarded by a lateral hazard running the length of the right side. The second shot is demanding as the fairway narrows bending to the left. The approach must be precise as you climb to an elevated humpbacked green. Three good swings will be needed to reach this 580-yard beast in regulation.

Hole #14 - "Number 14 proves you do not have to have 400 yards to have a great par 4. Big hitters will be fooled with thoughts of driving the green. Put the driver away and attack the hole with a well-placed tee shot leaving around 100 yards. If you are going to birdie this hole it will be with your putter not your driver," shared Hearnly.

Hole #17 - Arnold Palmer has deemed this hole in his top 18 holes ever built. The fairway rapidly slopes downhill to a marshy ball swallowing grave. To get a clear look at the green for your second shot favor the right side to avoid a petrified tree protruding from the wetlands. Rumor has it Palmer and the management debated heavily on whether to leave or remove the tree, 10 years later it still stands.

Recent Award and Accolades

Food and Lodging

Lakeside Cottages The saltbox style cottages feature a vaulted ceiling with exposed cedar post and beam wood framing, stacked stone gas fireplace, hardwood floors, area rugs and Mission style rustic furniture. A French door opens out to a private deck with a gas grill and outdoor furniture overlooking Stonewall Jackson Lake or the surrounding woodland and the natural beauty of the resort park grounds.

The Adirondack Lodge The Stonewall lodge features 198 lodge guest rooms that marry rustic elegance with modern pleasures. Every room has a magnificent view of either the Lake, the mountains or the golf course.

Restaurant Options The resort features three unique restaurants offering seasonal menus. Stillwaters and TJ Muskies are located on the lower level of the resort and treat guests to scenic views of the lake and mountainsides with a choice of indoor or patio seating. Lightburn's is located inside the clubhouse, perched atop the resort property overlooking the spectacular Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course.

The Skinny

More Information

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In terms of places, I was fortunate enough to play the top five golf courses in the Mountaineer State and we're pleased to say the state of the game has never been better. Below is a recap of a five day whirlwind trip around a 200 mile radius from Charleston.

Glade Springs Resort- Daniels, WV

The success of the resort and the subsequent increased demand for golf resulted in the addition of the Stonehaven Course (2003), and the Woodhaven Course (2010). The Stonehaven Course is built on a spectacular mountain venue that boasts 30 mile views throughout and immaculate conditions. The 601 yard par-5 16th hole plays at least three clubs downhill off the tee and offers one of the best views east of the Mississippi.

Head Professional Mike James, a Wisconsin native who was sporting a sweet pair of Wisconsin Badger FootJoy shoes when we met him, discusses what makes Glade Springs Resort the ultimate getaway. "From my perspective, when I travel with group of friends and members, it is extremely appealing (and convenient) to have variety," explained James. If you ask the question to Pinehurst why they have so many courses, they may say that they need more holes to accommodate their golfers. While this may be true in part, I believe they also need to give their customers variety. The top resorts in the nation provide multiple courses that provide a variety of challenges and characteristics to keep players interested. I believe we provide that at Glade Springs," stated James.

The non-golf highlight of our visit was getting a tour of Glade Spring's state-of-the-art fitness center and spa that happens to also house a movie theater and regulation basketball court. I usually expect to be humiliated in only one sport on these trips, but I got twice the rejection in this case. Finally, it's important to note that Glade Springs is not only a guest resort, but a full-service community that features one palatial estate after another that creates a thriving mini-city. For more information on Glade Springs Resort including their amazing Stay and Play packages, visit www.gladesprings.com or call (855) 802-3080.

Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, WV

If you're a golf aficionado you'll be interested to know that the Greenbrier is the only resort in America to have hosted both the Ryder and Solheim Cups and both Sam Snead and Tom Watson have been appointed golf professional emeritus. If you're a history buff you'll be enthralled with the myth-turning-into-fact-story of a Cold War military bunker cleverly hidden in the West Virginia Wing. The two-hour tour is a bucket list must, even if you've seen the History Channel.

And if that wasn't enough, the 1914 C.B. McDonald TPC Old White Course has hosted the PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic since 2010. In the tournament's inaugural year, Stuart Appleby became only the 5th player in history to shoot 59 during his stunning come-from-behind victory. Old White may be the patriarch of courses, but Greenbrier is also home to two other outstanding tracks. The Greenbrier Course, originally designed by Seth Raynor in 1924 was redone by Jack Nicklaus in 1977, could also host a Tour event and The Meadows Course is a Dick Wilson/Bobby Cupp design that was dramatically upgraded in 1999.

The greatest compliment MGM can give The Greenbrier Resort is that boredom will never be an option thanks to the bevy of activities one can enjoy. "The Greenbrier offers a wide variety of amenities from the traditional, such as golf, tennis and swimming, to the unique such as our Cold War era bunker tours, our elegant, underground Casino Club and live musical performances by our very own Greenbrier Entertainers," stated Director of Sales Lynn Swann. "Here, guests can enjoy exhilarating activities like kayaking, off-road driving and falconry, or relax in our Spa, enjoy afternoon tea or walk along our Meditation Trail. Our Presidents' Cottage Museum and historical tours offer glimpses into our rich and interesting history, which follows the history of our country," concluded the stunt double of the Pro Football Hall of Famer by the same name.

I have been fortunate enough to travel the nation in search of distinctive golf destinations the past 10 years, and without question there is only one Greenbrier Resort. For more information on The Greenbrier Resort, visit www.greenbrier.com or call (855) 453-4858.

The Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain Resort

The 7045 yard, par 72 Gary Player design is mountain golf at its finest. Each hole is set in its own wooded area with no parallel fairways that creates a sense that's it's just you and the course. The Raven features two of the finest risk/reward holes in the nation, including the 548 yard, par-5 13th. The green is protected by a huge stand of pine trees with just enough of an opening that makes you want to go for broke. The 433 yard par-4 4th is highlighted by a 200 foot elevation drop from tee to green and the potential of hitting your drive close to 350 yards thanks to the thin mountain air. I recommend heading to http://www.snowshoemtn.com/golf and doing a flyby of the golf course online. Our guess is your next stop with be to one of those fancy travel websites to find the best deal on a flight to West Virginia!

Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, WV

Randy is 100% correct about the signature Arnold Palmer design, as it's an isolationist's dream. The King did an amazing job of letting the land dictate tee and green locations on the 7149 yard, par 72 layout. The par-5's are phenomenal, including the 12th and 18th holes that both demand uphill approach shots to cleverly guarded putting surfaces. With green fees never exceeding $100, Stonewall Resort has positioned themselves for full tee sheets. Their Golf, Lunch, and More package for $125 on weekdays and $145 on weekends includes 18, lunch, and a replay round afterward - now that's an MGM approved deal for sure! For more information on Stonewall Resort, visit www.stonewallresort.com or call (304) 269-8885.

West Virginians are a proud, hospitable people, especially when it comes to their top five golf properties in the Mountaineer State. And when it's all said and done, it's the people and the places that make West Virginia distinctive. For more information on all that West Virginia has to offer, visit www.wvtourism.com or call 1-800-225-5982.