Sometimes there's nothing better than a sunny day out on the links and we are blessed to have some fantastic golf courses here in Virginia's Blue Ridge.  As an avid golfer, I wanted to share my three favorite courses in the area (in no particular order) ...

• Blue Hills Golf Course

Located just off 460E in Roanoke, Blue Hills GC offers nice wide fairways (for the most part) and quite a few flat putting greens.  One hole features a pond to play over to reach the green and another offers a creek to be wary of. Also, several holes offer fantastic views of the Roanoke Valley. Overall, this a forgiving and enjoyable golf course.

• Hanging Rock Golf Course

Another course in the valley I like to play is Hanging Rock in Salem. This is another location that offers a close proximity and great views. Most of the holes are lined with woods and steep hills, so those looking to improve their score need to hit the ball straight and keep it in the fairway. The ground here is hard, so a player can get a lot of roll (which is good as long as it rolls straight!). There are a lot of elevation changes on the course, which makes it fun to play.

• Great Oaks Country Club

And last (but certainly not least) is Great Oaks Country Club, a hidden gem in Floyd, VA. It's a bit of a drive from Roanoke (about 45 minutes) but well worth it. The course is always lush and kept in excellent condition. The scenery is also beautiful (though not a lot of long views like other courses in the area). There are no houses on the course, so it very much feels like you are away from everything and in the woods. The front 9 holes are a little longer and open while the back 9 holes are a little shorter, but with tighter fairways.  All in all, it is a very peaceful and enjoyable course to experience.

While these are three of my favorite, there are many other wonderful golf courses in the area that allow you to enjoy the natural scenery and hilly terrain of the mountains that test your golf skills (and patience!).