Battlefield Golf Club

Origins

Battlefield Golf Club at Centerville was developed in Chesapeake during the 2000s and opened in 2007. Golf-course references consistently identify Robert J. "Bobby" Holcomb as the designer.

The project produced an 18-hole public course in a part of Hampton Roads where the natural landscape does not contain the pronounced elevation normally associated with the club's rolling appearance. Instead, much of the terrain was shaped during construction. The finished course was promoted as a links-style alternative to more heavily wooded courses in the region.

Design Philosophy

The club describes an intentionally open layout built around rolling hills, undulating fairways and tiered greens. Water hazards and bunkers are positioned throughout the routing, while approximately 35 to 40 feet of elevation change was created across the property. The par-70 arrangement contains five par threes and three par fives, with the remaining ten holes playing as par fours.

Its current official scorecard extends to 6,229 yards from the Blue tees. Rather than relying on dense tree corridors, the layout uses elevation, exposed playing areas, water and contour to create variety from hole to hole.

Development

A distinctive part of Battlefield's construction was its use of coal-combustion material as engineered fill. S. Environmental Protection Agency describes fly ash as having been used to contour the course.

Concerns about possible environmental impacts led to federal investigation after the course opened. In April 2010 the EPA reported that residential wells near Battlefield had not been impacted by the fly ash and concluded that adverse health effects were not expected from exposure to surface water or sediments at the site. EPA records list Battlefield Golf Club as a non-National Priorities List site.

Recognition

Battlefield is promoted by the Chesapeake Convention & Visitors Bureau as one of the area's distinctive public golf layouts, particularly for its manufactured elevation changes, open links-style character and tiered greens. The club also annually hosts a large military fundraising golf tournament supporting the Folds of Honor Foundation.

Today

Battlefield remains an 18-hole public golf facility serving Chesapeake and the wider Hampton Roads area. Golfers can book by telephone, in person or through a limited online tee-time inventory. The club publishes weekday, weekend, junior, senior, military and twilight-style pricing and also sells five-day and seven-day memberships.

Practice facilities include a full-size driving range, putting green and chipping area, while PGA professionals provide instruction and the club operates junior golf camps.