Henrico County is moving into the professional golf arena after purchasing The Crossings Golf Club in northern Henrico, with an eye at having it developed into a championship-level course.
The Henrico Economic Development Authority announced the purchase of the 268-acre course on Aug. 8. The EDA said it is leasing the facility to local sports marking company Pros Inc., which will provide for major site improvements and operate the course once it is finished.
The finished 18-hole course is expected to be able to host professional tournaments and college and high school play as well as the public. Work on the course is anticipated to begin this year.
“We appreciate the shared vision of all involved to reimagine this facility with an eye on the future to provide a championship-caliber course for residents, visitors and special events,” said Dennis Bickmeier, executive director of the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority. “We look forward to working with Pros Inc. on strategy and building on a legacy of golf in Henrico that is deep and will complement the development and popularity of the game.”
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The Crossings Golf Club initially opened as Ethelwood Golf Course in 1960. In the early 1970s, it operated as a public course called Half Sink Golf Course. A portion was later removed to make way for Interstate 295. The Crossings opened in 1979 and was designed by prolific golf course architect Joe Lee.
Giff Breed, president of Pros Inc., said the company is spending about $11 million to improve the course, which will be lengthened from 6,600 yards to around 7,300 yards. The entire course will be re-grassed, and the greens will change to “ultra dwarf Bermuda grass.”
“We’ll be working with the folks at Virginia Tech to figure out what are the best grasses for this particular climate and hopefully we’ll have a course that can host PGA Tour Champions events, major college invitationals or high school invitationals, or the Saturday weekend warrior,” Breed said.
He said the renovations are on the fast track, with the goal of being open by October 2026. Breed said that if all goes well, that would be Tiger Woods’ first Champions Tour playoff event.
Henrico-based Magnum Economics forecasted that the Dominion Energy Charity Classic created $34 million in economic impact. PGA Tour executive Steve Schenfeld said a high-caliber course in Henrico could provide a significant economic boost and “potentially, a new home for PGA Tour-sanctioned events.”
Sports tourism has been a significant focus for Henrico in the past few years. The county has invested significantly in local parks, the new Henrico Sports & Events Center at the former Virginia Center Commons mall site and land for the GreenCity eco-district, which includes a 17,000-seat arena.
From the Archives: Golf in Richmond
In November 1967, Arnold Palmer was in Richmond for a quick visit. He attended a brunch and news conference, conducted a golf clinic and participated in an exhibition foursome at the Country Club of Virginia. Teamed with Hermitage Country Club pro Mac Main, Palmer lost the exhibition to 17-year-old local amateur Lanny Wadkins and his partner, U.S. and British Amateur champion Bob Dickson. Palmer admittedly paid more attention to entertaining the crowd than to his play.
In October 1954, Gen. Omar Bradley (left) was in Richmond to kick off the Richmond Area Community Fund drive. While here, he played golf in a foursome at the Country Club of Virginia. Charlie Yates, the 1938 British Amateur champion and former Walker Cup standout, was limited to being a spectator after cutting his finger. (The general and the Rev. Holt Souder lost by two strokes to Ed Anderson and Yates’ replacement, Richmond Gray.) General Omar Bradley (left) and Former British Amateur Champion Charlie Yates Yates, Who Cut Left Forefinger, Watched Bradley’s Golf Game at CCV Yesterday.
In October 1954, national amateur champion Arnold Palmer (center) participated in an exhibition on the James River course at the Country Club of Virginia, finishing with a round of 3-over on the par 70 course. He and fellow standout amateur Billy Joe Patton (right), who nearly won that year’s Masters Tournament, were partners in the exhibition. They are pictured with local golf pro Darrell Napier.
In May 1968, the 18th annual Country Club of Virginia Member-Guest golf tournament was held; the winning duo shot 1-under par over three rounds to win by one stroke. The club, founded in 1908, opened its clubhouse in 1910, with the fourth-largest membership (about 1,100) of any country club in the nation.
In June 1968, 18-year-old golfer Lanny Wadkins (left) celebrated his Richmond Golf Association Amateur victory over Bill Wood.
Lanny Wadkins, 10, at the Meadowbrook Country Club.
Lanny Wadkins, holding trophy, returned home wiht the championship award he received for winning the National Pee Wee golf title at Orlando, Fla. He is shown with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Wadkins, and 11-year-old brother, Bobby.
A 1985 file photo of Arnold Palmer.
A 05/16/1970 file photo of Arnold Palmer.
Sam Snead in Richmond, June 1973.
06-17-1981 (cutline): Latest R.G.A. champion gets together with some former tourney winners. (from left): Robert Wrenn, Charlie Kent, Earl Howell, Jimmy Morgan and Bill Tomlinson.
06-10-1948 (cutline): Mrs. C.N. Carter is shown as she blasted out of the creek which runs across the eleventh fairway of the Glenwood Country Club course yesterday. Mrs. Carter got a bit wet, but her game wasn’t at all. She won her third flight quarter-final match in the city women’s golf champsionship from Mrs. Robert Thompson, 6 and 4.
06-12-1969 (cutline): Jim McGuffin chips to 18th green during yesterday’s RGA amateur qualifying.
01-13-1962 (cutline): J.G. “Punkie” Lumpkin Jr., Bobby Neal and Paul Barksdale are among those who advanced into the second round of the Richmond Golf Association’s amateur championship at Meadowbrook Country Club. Lumpkin and Neal represent the host club. Barksdale is from Glenwood. Neal wone the RGA junior championship two years ago.
06-25-1964 (cutline) Semifinalists in city women’s golf play today. Mrs. Glenn Knox, Mrs. Robert Hughes, Miss Jane Mack and Mrs. Wesley Caire (left to right).
05-23-1962 (cutline): Mrs. Howard L. Eller (left) accompanies daughter, Mrs. Gordon P. Street Jr., around course.
06-09-1962 (cutline): Mrs. Hughes Wins, 2 and 1. Mrs. Robert Hughes (left) today captured the Hermitage Country Club women’s golf title with a 2 and 1 victory over Mrs. James Dawson (right). Mrs. Hughes led 4 up after 13 with the help of a front nin 38 but Mrs. Dawson rallied to extend the match to the 17th hole.
06-23-1964 (cutline) Mrs. Wes Clair (left), Mrs. Armistead Williams. Both reached championship flight for first time.
06-18-1962 (cutline): Two newcomers to the championship flight of Richmond’s women’s golf are shown above with medalist. Left to right are Mrs. Benajmin Dennis III of Country Club of Virginia, Mrs. Donald O’Brien, whose qualifying 77 led 104 contestants yesterday, and Mrs. Warren Spear of Richmond Country Club. Qualifying for the championship for the first time, Mrs. Dennis and Mrs. Spear had 84s.
06-27-1972 (cutline): Medalist Mrs. Donald O’Brien, Defender Jane Mack share joke.
05-25-1962 (cutline) Finalists in Women’s Southern Golf Championship. Marge Burns (left) and Clifford Ann Creed in a relaxing moment.
