Primland Resort, near Meadows of Dan, Virginia, sits atop 12,000 acres of protected wilderness and offers a rare blend of luxury, outdoor adventure and refined hospitality. Serving as a sportsman’s club, golf retreat, honeymoon destination and upscale hotel, Primland has long drawn visitors—especially since the Highland Course opened in 2006.
On a recent spring visit, the golf course was immaculately groomed and the 27-room Lodge felt prepared to welcome dignitaries. Rooms are spacious and thoughtfully furnished, with draperies pulled back to reveal sweeping mountain vistas. In the Observatory, a powerful telescope invites guests to explore the night sky, with images broadcast on televisions throughout the Lodge.
On the ground floor, the chlorine-free indoor pool and hydrospa offered neatly folded towels and attentive staff. The resort’s 8,134-square-foot spa provides a calm retreat with nature-inspired treatments in a setting that nods to Native American themes. Dining spans refined French-influenced New American cuisine in Elements to a rustic menu at the Stables Saloon, with chefs preparing the freshest meats and seafood.
Outdoor guides stand ready to lead fishing excursions, seasonal hunting trips, horseback rides and ATV journeys along 90 miles of wilderness trails. The sporting clays range, recognized by Esquire among the nation’s top 25, adds another dimension for enthusiasts.
Part of Primland’s allure is its remoteness. Nearby regional cities are a drive away—Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina, lie roughly 58 and 120 miles to the south, and Washington, D.C., is about 300 miles to the north—making helicopter access a convenient option for many guests.
The late Didier Primat, Primland’s founder, envisioned an eco-conscious resort with exceptional amenities, and that legacy endures. The Lodge’s exterior, crafted from recycled wood and stone, mirrors the traditional stone structures of the Virginia hills and blends naturally with the landscape. Three fairway cottages echo the same aesthetic, each featuring kitchens, two bedrooms, vaulted wood ceilings with exposed beams and stone fireplaces. On one visit guests can choose a cottage with a private porch overlooking the 10th fairway; on another, a cozy cabin nestled along the ridge with valley and mountain views. Cabins range from one to seven bedrooms, many with screened porches and gas fireplaces.
Visitors who experience Primland often return—golfers in particular. Since opening, The Highland Course has earned high praise and climbed to No. 13 on Golf Digest’s Best Public Courses in America, ranking No. 1 in Virginia.
Designed by renowned Scottish architect Donald Steel, the 7,034-yard Highland Course follows a ridge at 2,850 feet above sea level. Nearly every hole opens to dramatic views of valleys and distant mountain ranges.
“There is a remoteness about Primland, a sense of escape, that is special,” Steel says. “Golf courses have been built in every landscape imaginable, but only rarely on mountain peaks. Primland sits on top of the world, enjoying scenic views that stretch the vocabulary, and with a course design that is very different.”
Steel made use of the natural terrain as hazards—cliffs and deep woods that leave no second chances—and enhanced the challenge with expansive, Scottish-style bunkers. The greens are large and highly undulating, often surrounded by short-fringed collars that encourage balls to run away from the cup. Careful strategy is required on each hole to set up the proper approach, and strong putting is essential.
“This course design has been a highlight of my career,” Steel adds. “Once I strode over the plateau, with views which reminded me of the highlands of Scotland, I knew this would test the mettle of golfers who want to play courses that would challenge the professionals.”
Hole 1
(536 yards, par 5)
The opening hole foreshadows both the scenic drama and strategic demands to come. The fairway doglegs through a break in a rock ledge and slopes down to an angled green that drops away on three sides. Behind the green the terrain falls into the Dan River Gorge.
Hole 2
(195 yards, par 3)
This demanding par 3 requires a precise carry over a ravine to a green perched on a steep rise. Short shots roll far back toward the tee. Four of the course’s five par 3s demand exact distance control over hazards.
Hole 4
(149 yards, par 3)
Though short, this hole demands accuracy to an undulating green. Just behind it, a large deck hangs over a sheer drop near The Treehouse—a new one-bedroom aerie for adventurous guests who don’t mind heights.
Hole 7
(494 yards, par 4)
Steel describes this as “a hole that has everything—stunning views, an air of freedom, an inviting drive and a green that makes an attractive target but gives nothing away.” Fairway bunkers penalize slightly wayward drives, so pars must be earned.
Hole 10
(463 yards, par 4)
After a front nine filled with ravines and tilted, tree-lined fairways, the 10th opens into a broad field with distant mountain vistas. The dogleg sweeps right around a down-slope covered in tall grass. Although the fairway appears generous, deep bunkers set into mounds on both sides are positioned to catch drives. A long, well-placed tee shot is needed to reach the cross bunkers in front of the slick green. It is the course’s top handicap hole for good reason.
Hole 13 (612 yards, par 5)
The course’s longest hole encourages a confident tee shot, but the second shot must avoid a tall pine that could block the approach. The green stretches roughly 60 yards front to back and is wildly contoured.
Hole 18
(484 yards, par 4)
A strong, accurate drive is required to reach the fairway plateau and earn a final panoramic mountain view to the right. From the plateau the approach plays downhill to a generous green to close the round.
The Highland Course Primland Resort
2000 Busted Rock Road
Meadows of Dan, VA 24120
tel 866 862 0476
www.primland.com