Belmont, First Tee earn VSGA award

Belmont Golf Course recently was selected as the recipient of the Virginia State Golf Association’s Grow the Game Award, the organization announced Jan. 15 during its annual meeting at Willow Oaks Country Club.

The award recognizes the positive impact and efforts made to grow the game of golf in Virginia. Belmont and its operator, First Tee – Greater Richmond, were cited for their efforts to renovate, restore and reimagine Belmont, which reopened to the public last May following its transformation from an 18-hole course to a 12-hole course with a six-hole par-3 and an 18-hole putting course.

“We are thrilled to be named the recipient of this year’s VSGA Grow the Game Award,” First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider said. “The transformation and renovation of Belmont has been a true team effort and First Tee – Greater Richmond is proud to be the stewards of such a special place. We look forward to the future and know the new Belmont will help deliver on our vision to strengthen the character of our community.”

After being selected to operate the property through Henrico County’s RFP process in 2019, First Tee – Greater Richmond, in partnership with Love Golf Design, sought to reimagine World Golf Hall of Fame architect A.W. Tillinghast’s 1917 course design.

Belmont has witnessed some 24,000 rounds played in seven months, and more than 400 area youngsters attended First Tee – Greater Richmond’s evidence-based camps, programs and clinics in the summer and fall.

Belmont is the only golf course in Virginia that has hosted a men’s major championship (the 1949 PGA Championship, won by Sam Snead) and one of only two Tillinghast courses nationwide that has hosted a major and is currently open for public play; the other is Bethpage Black in New York.