White Sulphur Springs, WV
The Greenbrier
America's Resort — Macdonald's Old White, sulphur springs and a Cold War bunker.
americas-resortbunker-tourmacdonald-classicryder-cup-history
The place
The Greenbrier calls itself America's Resort and has the guest ledger to argue it — presidents, royalty and Sam Snead, who was the head pro here for decades. The golf is led by The Old White, C.B. Macdonald's 1914 design with its Redan and Biarritz template holes, which hosted the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic for a decade; The Greenbrier Course staged the 1979 Ryder Cup. Off the course, the place is pure theater: Dorothy Draper's riotous interiors, the sulphur springs, a casino in the basement, and tours of the once-secret Cold War bunker built to hide Congress.
The courses on property
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Old White | C.B. Macdonald & Seth Raynor | The 1914 template classic — Redan, Biarritz and a decade of PGA Tour history. The must-play. | resort |
| The Greenbrier Course | Jack Nicklaus redesign | Host of the 1979 Ryder Cup — the sterner championship counterpart. | resort |
| The Meadows | — | The relaxed third course through the valley — the easy-swing day. | resort |
Where you crash
The resort
The Greenbrier
The grand white hotel itself — Dorothy Draper color, springs and spa, a casino downstairs, and two centuries of guest-book history.
◆ The private house
The Private House
One of the resort's estate homes or legacy cottages on the grounds — full kitchens, porches and the crew under one roof, with every resort privilege attached.
4-7 BR · sleeps 8-14 · ~$1,500–$5,000/nt
The 5-day plan
- 1
Arrive in the mountains
AM Road-trip day into the Alleghenies — arrive by afternoon.
PM Check in, walk the grand halls, springs soak, dinner in the main dining room.
- 2
The Meadows & the bunker
AM Ease in on The Meadows.
PM The Cold War bunker tour — mandatory — then casino night downstairs.
- 3
The Greenbrier Course
AM The Ryder Cup course — match-play practice for tomorrow.
PM Spa, sporting clays or falconry; steak night.
- 4
The Old White — the Cup
AM Macdonald's templates for the team match — the Redan takes prisoners.
PM Trophy dinner, cigars on the veranda, one last casino run.
- 5
Springs morning & home
AM A farewell nine or a last springs soak, then the mountain drive home.
Why it wins
A C.B. Macdonald masterpiece that hosted a decade of PGA Tour golf, a hotel that has welcomed presidents for two centuries, and a declassified congressional bunker under the ballroom. No trip on the list mixes golf and spectacle like it.
Booking notes
Golf access comes with a resort stay — book The Old White first and reserve the bunker tour when you book the rooms. Jackets appear at dinner in the main dining room; pack accordingly.