THE RIVER REPORT
PETE DYE RIVER COURSE OF VIRGINIA TECH
YOUR CLUB
HOURSOFOPERATION
PRESTON’SRESTAURANT*
Monday I CLOSED
Tuesday I CLOSED
Wednesday I 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (Bar 10:00 am - 7:00 pm)
Thursday I 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (Bar 10:00 am - 7:00 pm)
Friday I 11:00 am - 8:00 pm (Bar 10:00 am - 8:00 pm)
Saturday I 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (Bar 10:00 am - 7:00 pm)
Sunday I 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (Bar 10:00 am - 5:00 pm)
GOLFSHOP*
Monday-Thursday I 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday-Sunday I 6:45 am - 6:00 pm
PRACTICEFACILITIES
Open 30 minutes prior to first tee time
Closes at dusk
Sundays I Closed from 5:00 pm
CLUBNUMBERS
Main Office
Golf Shop
Restaurant
Special Events
*Hours are subject to change
540.633.6732
540.633.6732
540.633.2667
540.633.1807
Kari Kendall | General Manager foh@petedyerivercourse.com
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
JC Botero | Executive Chef chef@petedyerivercourse.com
GOLF
DJ Shively | Resident Golf Professional dj.shively@petedyerivercourse.com
GROUNDS
Greg Caldwell | Golf Course Superintendent greg.caldwell@petedyerivercourse.com
THE CORNER OFFICE
Dear Members,
Welcome to The River Report!
It’s been a busy and exciting season of change and fall hasn’t even arrived yet! We’ve experienced a number of positive, forward-moving transitions, and we’re thrilled about all of them.
In August, I stepped into the role of General Manager, and Michael has transitioned to another McConnell property at Smith Mountain Lake, Water’s Edge. DJ has taken on a much larger role in golf operations and is continuing the fantastic momentum that he and Michael began. Chef JC has wowed us with his creativity and introduced a series of sold-out events through his “Evening With the Chef” series. And Greg well, Greg makes the grass grow! He and his team have done an exceptional job maintaining our grounds to the highest standards all summer long.
The endless support and encouragement I’ve received have been both humbling and deeply appreciated Since my arrival last August, I’ve been welcomed with open arms. Your continued support has never wavered, and I thank each of you for that.
I am committed to delivering the best possible experience to every member and guest who steps onto this property. It’s a true joy to come to work each day, and I look forward to what lies ahead for all of us.
As we slide into the cooler months, join us for upcoming events. September brings Septoberfest, October brings Oysterfest, and music still to come on the terrace with the beautiful New River as our backdrop.
Keep your eyes on the bulletins around the Club, the website and social media pages for all our events.
Thanks again for your continued support,
Kari Kendall General Manager foh@petedyerivercourse com
ON THE LINKS
Dear Members,
As we transition into the vibrant fall season, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our members and guests for making the summer months such a memorable time at the River Course. With the leaves about to turn and the temperatures starting to cool, we hope to see you all out here to close out the 2025 golf season in style.
Before we dive into what’s ahead, let’s take a moment to recognize our tournament winners from July and August. �� Congratulations to Our Champions!
July – Member-Guest Tournament: We were thrilled to host another successful Member-Guest event filled with camaraderie, competition, and great golf. A huge congratulations to our 2025
Overall Champions: Scott Lucas & Todd Ulman.
Thank you to all participants for making this one of the highlights of the season. Your sportsmanship and enthusiasm truly define the spirit of this event.
August – Club Championship: Our annual Club Championship was a fantastic display of skill, strategy, and determination across all divisions. Congratulations to the following champions:
Men’s Gross (Overall Club Champion): B. Davis
Men’s Net Champion: Jared Linkous
Senior Men’s Gross Champion: Danny Hopkins
Senior Men’s Net Champion: Michael Burton
Super Senior Men’s Gross Champion: Frank Washburn
Super Senior Men’s Net Champion: Al Wojtera
Women’s Gross Champion: Margaret Mullins
Women’s Net Champion: June Washburn
A round of applause to all who competed Your commitment to the game and of play at The River Course
�� Upcoming Events – September & October
September 27 – Ryder Cup
Top performers from our Men’s League and Summer Match play will face off against one another in a Ryder cup format
⛳ A Note of Thanks
I also want to extend a sincere thank you to all members for your support and patience during the recent transition in leadership Taking on this role has been an incredible honor, and I’m genuinely thankful for the encouragement, thoughtful conversations, and continued engagement from each of you Your support has made this transition smooth and meaningful and I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place
If you have any questions or would like to register for upcoming events, feel free to visit the Golf Shop, call us at 540-6336732, or email me at dj shively@petedyerivercourse com
See you on the tee!
Warm regards,
DJ Shively
Resident Golf Professional
dj shively@petedyerivercourse com
Summerintherear-viewmirror
Noquestionithasbeenawildsummer.TheheatstartedearlierthannormalinJuneandwefinishedJulywith9+inchesof rain,abouthalfofthatcominginthelast10days.Augustlookstofinishwithafewlowtemperaturesinthe40s!
Nowwithgreensaerificationfinished,cheerstoagreatfall!PleaseenjoysomeofthepicturesIhavetakenthissummer.
GregCaldwell
Superintendent
greg.caldwell@petedyerivercourse.com
WHAT’S COOKIN’?
As another summer comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on what a ride it’s been. It’s been a season of change and growth for me personally, but overall, a truly great summer. One of the highlights was hosting “Evening with the Chef”, where I had the pleasure of sharing my passion for Latin cuisine. Coming up, I’m excited to showcase a Caribbean-inspired dinner, and I’m also working on refreshing the menu think hearty soups, flavorful stews, creative wings, sandwiches, and more
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s made my journey here as your chef such a memorable one. I’m looking forward to many more meals together!
Huge shoutout to my kitchen team for consistently showing up and giving 100%, and a special thanks to our new GM, Kari Kendall, for inspiring us to bring our best every day.
Chef JC Botero Executive Chef chef@petedyerivercourse com
CLUB EVENTS
SEPTOBERFEST
Saturday, September 27
A great menu of German food and fun! All are welcome.
OYSTERFEST
Saturday, October 18 Noon-8pm
Oysterfest is back! Join us for our annual Oysterfest featuring craft beer and live music! For more information, please call 540-633-2667.
TAILGATE-TO-GO
Make every game worth tailgating for! Our Tailgate-To-Go menu is great for inhouse entertaining or taking food to the game! Call by 5pm the day before your game and let us know when you want to pick it up. This is great for Thursday night football, Saturday football, and NFL games!
Save the stress and hassle of doing it yourself. Make the call and enjoy the food!
540-633-2667
INSTRUCTION
END OF SEASON GOLF TIPS
��
♂ Golf Tip of the Month: Nail Your Alignment Like the Pros
If you've ever hit a shot that felt perfect but still ended up offline, your swing might not be the problem your alignment might be.
Many golfers unknowingly set up aimed slightly left or right of their target. The result? Compensations in the swing and inconsistent ball flight The good news is that proper alignment is one of the easiest fundamentals to fix and it starts with how you aim
�� Step 1: Pick a Precise Target
Rather than aiming “somewhere down the fairway,” pick a very specific target like a tree, a flagstick, or even a small sign in the distance. The more precise, the better your aim.
�� Step 2: Draw an Imaginary Line
Once you've chosen your target, imagine a straight line running from the ball to that target. This is your target line the path you want the ball to start on.
�� Step 3: Find an Intermediate Target
Now, pick something small on that line that’s just a foot or two in front of your ball a blade of grass, a broken tee, a discoloration on the turf This is your intermediate target It’s much easier to line up your clubface to something close than to something hundreds of yards away
�� Step 4: Set the Clubface First
Before you take your stance, set the clubface square to your intermediate target. This ensures that your face is aligned exactly where you want the ball to go.
�� Step 5: Step Into the Shot
With the clubface square, now build your stance around the club: Align your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line (imagine railroad tracks ball on the right rail, your body on the left) Keep your focus on that intermediate target as you set up it keeps your alignment consistent
�� Pro Tip: Always Align Clubface First
Many amateurs step into the ball, get comfortable, and then try to adjust the clubface. That’s backwards. Clubface alignment dictates body alignment, not the other way around.
⛳ Final Thought:
A few extra seconds spent aligning properly can save you strokes throughout your round. Practice this process on the range and make it part of your routine With consistent alignment, you’ll swing with more confidence and start hitting more greens
DJ Shively
Resident Golf Professional
dj shively@petedyerivercourse com
Love is in the air at the River Course
Surprise proposal’s
BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT WITH US
From birthday parties to anniversaries, baby showers, and graduation parties, the clubhouse at Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech offers an unforgettable setting for your next event. Overlooking the historic New River, our elevated terrace and banquet rooms provide breathtaking views of the course and surrounding landscape.
Whether you're planning an intimate celebration or a large-scale event, our flexible indoor space can accommodate groups from 10 to 200 guests Partitioned layouts are available to better serve smaller gatherings, while the full room can be configured to meet the needs of corporate functions, receptions, and more
Amenities & Features:
Panoramic river and golf course views
Wi-Fi and modern AV technology
Microphone, projector, 52" LCD monitors, podium, and sound system
On-site event coordination and setup support
To book your event today, email foh@petedyerivercourse.com or submit an event inquiry using the button below
EVENT INQUIRY FORM
PDRC buzz
Never miss out on a club event, the latest McConnell Golf news or the chance to share your member experience Stay connected to Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech and McConnell Golf on social media and join the conversation today
@rivercourseofvt
Our Pete Dye layout continues to shine in the latest rankings from Golfweek and Golf Digest These recognitions are a testament to its unique design and the dedicated team that brings it to life
Read more via the links below Golfweek: bit.ly/pdrcgolfweek2025 | GolfDigest: bit.ly/pdrcgolfdigest2025
