I Still Have a Grandview Scorecard in My Glove Box, and I Don't Know Why
Now hold on a second. I was cleaning out my truck a few weeks back, and there it was—a folded-up Grandview scorecard, creased down the middle, with a coffee stain on the corner and my old handwriting fading on the front nine. I don't know why I kept it. Maybe I thought I'd need it again. Maybe I just couldn't bring myself to throw it away. Either way, I sat there in the driveway and read every hole like a man reading an old letter.
That scorecard said more about Grandview than any review ever could. Not the numbers—the numbers were never the point. It was the way the holes were laid out, the way the yardages shifted with the mountain, the way a short par-4 could play longer than a flat par-5. So if you've ever wondered what Grandview really asked of a golfer, let me walk you through that old card. And if the course ever opens again, you'll know what you're stepping into.
Why You Should Trust Me on This
My name's Earl Buck Hatfield. I've been playing Grandview since 1982, and I've filled out more scorecards on that course than I've filled out tax forms. I know the difference between what the card said and what the course actually played like, because I walked every one of those holes more times than I can count. I'm not a course designer, and I'm not pulling numbers from some database. I'm just a local who remembers how the mountain changed every shot.
I need to be honest with you, though: the details I'm about to give you are from memory, and memory is a tricky thing. The yardages might be off by a few steps, and the par might have shifted somewhere along the way. But the feel of the course—the way it rose and fell and turned—that I remember like my own name.
What the Old Scorecard Looked Like
Grandview's scorecard was simple. No glossy photos, no GPS coordinates. It was a folded piece of cardstock with the front nine on one side and the back nine on the other. The yardages were printed in small black numbers, and the par for each hole sat in its own little box. At the bottom, there was a space for your score, your playing partner's score, and a reminder to repair ball marks. That was it.
The course played to about 6,200 yards from the back tees, which isn't long by modern standards. But on a mountain course, yardage doesn't tell the whole story. A 350-yard hole uphill plays like 400. A 500-yard par-5 downhill can feel like a par-4 if the wind's behind you. You learned to trust your legs more than the card.
Three Honest Drawbacks to Relying on the Old Scorecard
If you dig up an old Grandview scorecard online or in a drawer, here's what you need to know before you trust it.
1. The yardages may be outdated. Tee boxes move. Sometimes they get pushed back, sometimes they get pulled forward. The course may have changed since 2018, and if it has, those old numbers could be off by a club or more. Use them as a general guide, not gospel.
2. The par might not match the current setup. A few holes at Grandview were always borderline—one year a hole played as a par-4, the next as a par-5. If the course is under new management, they might have changed the card entirely. Don't be surprised if the scorecard you find doesn't line up with the flags you see.
3. The card doesn't show the elevation. This is the big one. A flat 380-yard hole and a mountain 380-yard hole are two different animals. The scorecard gives you distance, but it can't show you the climb. That's the thing you only learn by walking it.
How the Front Nine Played, as I Remember It
The front nine at Grandview was the tighter, hillier side. It started with a manageable opening hole—a short par-4 that let you breathe before the work began. Then the course started climbing, and by the 4th or 5th hole, you were using your legs as much as your arms.
The 5th hole was my personal curse. A mid-length par-4 with a pond on the right, just close enough to catch a fade. That's where I once lost a counterfeit 7-iron head to the water. To this day, I hit a 6-iron off that tee, even if the card says I could reach with less.
The 7th hole was where I hit that deer back in 1985. It's a long par-4 with a wide fairway, but the right side drops off into rough so thick you could lose a small child in it. The safe play was always left, toward the cart path, but I never could convince my younger self to aim away from trouble.
By the 9th, you were ready for a drink. The front nine ended with a downhill par-3 that looked easy but played tricky, because the green was small and the wind off the mountain did strange things to a high ball.
How the Back Nine Played, as I Remember It
The back nine opened up a little. The holes were longer, but the terrain was less punishing, and there were a couple of stretches where you could actually see the next two holes ahead of you. That's rare on a mountain course.
The 14th was my favorite—a short par-4 that rewarded a well-placed tee shot over a long one. That's where I sank the putt in 2012 that made me feel like I finally knew how to play this game. The green had a subtle break toward the valley, and if you didn't trust your read, you'd miss low every time.
The 16th was the postcard hole. A long par-4 that ran along the ridge, with a view that stretched for miles. On a clear October afternoon, with the leaves turning and the sun dropping, it was the prettiest hole in Raleigh County. I don't care what anyone says.
The 18th was a forgiving par-5 that let you finish with a smile. If you had a good drive and a decent second shot, you could reach the green in three and maybe walk off with a birdie. If not, the fairway was wide enough to forgive you. It was a gentleman's closing hole, and it suited the place.
How to Use the Old Scorecard If You Go
If Grandview is open and you find yourself holding an old scorecard, here's how I'd use it. First, compare the printed yardages to the markers on the tee boxes. If they match, great. If they don't, trust the markers—they're the current truth. Second, add or subtract a club based on elevation. As a rule of thumb, every ten feet of uphill adds about ten yards to the effective distance. Downhill, the opposite. Third, don't get married to par. On a mountain course, a bogey can feel like a par, and that's okay.
And if you're new to keeping score, don't overthink it. Just write down your number and keep moving. Maya has a good guide on what to expect your first time on a course, and she won't make you feel bad for not knowing the difference between a birdie and a bogey.
If you're the kind of golfer who likes to keep their card dry and their pencil handy, a simple scorecard holder helps. Here's a search for affordable ones on Amazon. If you're watching your budget, DHgate has cheap options, though the shipping takes longer. It's not necessary, but it beats a soggy card in your back pocket.
Who Should NOT Bother With the Old Scorecard
If you're a numbers-obsessed golfer who needs exact yardages and a GPS watch, then no. Grandview was never that precise, and an old scorecard won't satisfy you. Play a course with modern signage instead.
If you're a beginner who's still learning the basics, the old card might confuse more than it helps. Focus on the fundamentals first, and worry about yardages later.
And if you're just passing through and don't care about the history, then this whole article probably wasn't for you. That's fine. Go play some golf, and may your drives stay straight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grandview's Scorecard
What were the yardages like at Grandview?
The course played about 6,200 yards from the back tees, but the elevation made it feel longer. Some short holes played long, and some long holes played short. The card was a guide, not a promise.
Was Grandview a par-70, 71, or 72?
I remember it as a par-71 or 72, depending on the year and how they set up a couple of borderline holes. I can't swear to the current number.
Did Grandview have a signature hole?
For me, the 16th was the signature—a long par-4 with the best view on the course. Others would argue for the 14th or the 5th. Depends on whether you like beauty or trouble.
Can I still get a Grandview scorecard?
If the course is open, they probably still have them in the clubhouse. If it's closed, you might find an old one online or at a local yard sale. I'm holding onto mine.
How should I adjust for elevation on a mountain course?
As a rough rule, add one club for every ten feet of uphill. Downhill, subtract one. And always check the wind before you trust the number on the card.
Where to Go From Here
If you want to know more about what Grandview was like, read my honest look at Grandview Country Club.
If you're trying to book a round there, my guide to Grandview tee times will walk you through the phone call.
And if you want to walk the course hole by hole before you ever set foot on it, I'm building a hole-by-hole memory map. It's not done yet, but it's coming.