DALEVILLE, Va. – The mountains of Botetourt County are filled with stories. Andrew Green’s started at the base of North Mountain.
“I came to the game right here at what was then Botetourt Country Club, and I remember somewhere between seventh and eighth grade was like the keystone moment of wanting to take on the game, and so right here is the foundation,” he said.
The foundation, that laid the groundwork for Green’s high school career, a Don Holliday scholarship, and eventually leading to a degree from Virginia Tech.
But it wasn’t even par he was chasing.
“And then I really fell in love with actually, golf course maintenance, right here, so I learned to mow all kinds of things, all the greens, fairways, rake bunkers, did a lot of string trimming, a lot of manual labor, but what a great place to learn the game of golf.”
After graduating, Green spent 14 years building golf courses before starting his own firm.
His mission was trying to create the most interest, unique, golf possible. Which makes his background playing in Botetourt County ideal for course design.
“It’s not flat here by any means, so you know, you get the ball above and below your feet, you play uphill, downhill, across the slope, but it teaches you to play with different golf shots, and it teaches you a wealth of knowledge about the game.”
Knowledge he applied to his biggest project to date - a 7-year revitalization project of historic Oak Hill Country Club in Buffalo, all in preparation for hosting May’s PGA Championship.
“I got the commission for Oak Hill fairly early, and they were really looking for a kind of humble take on the restoration effort, and I think I provided a little more of history, a little bit of science and art and trying to blend those things together to protect what an amazing golf experience that place offers.”
In a game of inches, success to Green looks a lot different compared to success by the pros.
“I have to tell you, I have a poster in my office of Scottie Scheffler saying, ‘I mean sixth is probably the hardest whole I’ve ever played.’ That’s a little badge of honor, not that I’m trying to be evil, but certainly that it was a challenge and that it’s made good golf shots. The players are so good, to give them a test they aren’t used to week in and week out, makes it a challenge.”
On July 4th weekend, Green returned to his home course to play 18 with his son. The man from Daleville, Virginia, now designing courses for one of the most prestigious golf employers in the world, is a reminder that just because you leave Botetourt, doesn’t mean Botetourt leaves you.
“There’s a level of perseverance in this community that’s palatable, right? And just keep charging forward. There were certainly some days where I thought I needed to change directions but it’s a dream ride that’s for sure.”
A dream ride, on a golf cart, born and forged in the mountains of Botetourt County.