Golf with shoreline views – and so much more – at The Water’s Edge Country Club
It is hard to believe The Water’s Edge Country Club at Smith Mountain Lake is now a part of the McConnell Golf portfolio.
Since first visiting Smith Mountain Lake in the mid-90s, our family has enjoyed many summer weekends there making great memories. It always amazes me when people ask, “Where is Smith Mountain Lake?” Only two hours away from Raleigh, up Highway 86 to Highway 29 and along several country roads, you can enjoy a prestigious golf course on a mountain lake with 500 miles of shoreline.
Along more than 13 miles of the Smith Mountain Lake shoreline is The Water’s Edge Country Club golf course, designed by R.F. Loving Jr. Dating back to 1988, with a renovation in 2007, this golf course is one of the most scenic you will ever play.
While every golf hole is different, the three holes to spotlight are No. 6, 7 and 18. Once you get on the tee box to Hole 6, you will realize how special this mountain lake golf course is to play. Everything you see is what you get on this straight par 4 with the pristine lake view in the background.
Next comes the signature Hole 7 with the island green. This par 3 green is surrounded by nearly 360 degrees of blue water. It is just as popular for boaters as it is for golfers. Odds are you will have a crowd of people watching your shot, hoping your ball will splash so the boaters can be one golf ball richer.
Now, arguably, one of the best finishing holes out of any McConnell Golf property is here at The Water’s Edge. Hole 18 has an amazing elevated tee box with the clubhouse behind the green and mountain range in the distance. The second shot is an intimidating one as you have to add extra club to hit the uphill green above you. You will be happy to finish with a par here.
Life at Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake is a manmade lake, created in 1963 when the Appalachian Power Company built a massive hydroelectric dam, making it the largest lake located completely within the state of Virginia. It encompasses more than 40 miles of clear blue water and wide open spaces. It is easy to leave your boat on cruise control while enjoying the scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.
This lake gets as deep as 250 feet and is a haven for fishing. Smith Mountain Lake consistently ranks as one of the best lakes for bass fishing, containing multiple state records of striped bass weighing around 50 pounds.
Beyond all of the water sports to enjoy, there are plenty of great sites to see and restaurants on the water to visit. If you like Mexican food, Los Amigos at The Crazy Horse Marina is a must with live music during the summer weekends – freshly-squeezed margaritas are their specialty! One of the most popular spots boaters like to go is Bridgewater Plaza, where you will find shops, restaurants, an arcade and even miniature golf. This place lights up on the Fourth of July, bringing boaters from all over to view the fireworks show.
We are excited to have The Water’s Edge Country Club join the McConnell Golf family, but golf is just a fraction of the fun. Smith Mountain Lake is a great destination to take your family. To learn more information about The Water’s Edge and all of its amenities, reach out to your home club professional staff for accommodations.
McConnell Golf acquired The Water’s Edge Country Club in Penhook, Virginia in December 2020. Beyond its 36,000-square-foot clubhouse, The Water’s Edge members enjoy an extensive variety of amenities including golf, tennis, swimming, fitness, boating, fishing and horseback riding. McConnell Golf President & CEO John McConnell first started playing at The Water’s Edge with friends in the early 1990s. It has been his family’s ‘home away from home’ for 25 years. With the addition of this new property, McConnell Golf now owns 15 clubs and operates 17 courses total.