Virginia Beach National Golf Club
Virginia Beach National Golf Club could soon undergo one of the most significant golf course renovations in its history, with a proposal that would preserve the public course while investing more than $38 million in course improvements, infrastructure, and golf amenities.
The proposal, currently under consideration by the City of Virginia Beach, comes from The Dragas Companies, which plans to purchase the property and partner with nationally recognized golf industry leaders to restore the course while maintaining public access.
If approved, construction is expected to begin in late summer 2027, with the renovated course reopening in the fall of 2028.
One of the most notable aspects of the project is the selection of golf course architect Timothy Liddy to oversee the renovation.
Liddy spent 28 years as a senior associate with legendary architect Pete Dye, the original designer of Virginia Beach National. Throughout his career, he has directed the construction or renovation of more than 30 Dye-designed courses and has built a reputation for preserving the strategic character of classic layouts while adapting them to modern maintenance practices and today’s golfers.
The renovation is expected to include a partial redesign and complete refurbishment of the 18-hole championship course while maintaining the distinctive architectural features that have defined Virginia Beach National since its opening. Improvements are planned to enhance playability, improve course conditioning, and position the facility for long-term success.
Beyond the golf course itself, the proposal includes significant infrastructure upgrades that directly impact day-to-day golf course operations.
Plans call for:
For golf course superintendents, investments in irrigation, maintenance facilities, and supporting infrastructure often provide long-term operational benefits that extend well beyond aesthetics. Improved irrigation efficiency, modern maintenance operations, and updated infrastructure can reduce labor demands while enhancing turf quality and playability.
To guide the property’s future, The Dragas Companies assembled an experienced leadership team that includes both Timothy Liddy and Century Golf Partners.
Century Golf Partners manages public, resort, and daily-fee golf facilities throughout the United States, including PGA West and the Walt Disney World golf portfolio. The company brings extensive experience in golf operations, agronomy, hospitality, food and beverage management, and sports tourism.
According to the proposal, Century Golf Partners will oversee operations at Virginia Beach National, with the goal of elevating the facility into one of the premier public golf destinations in the Mid-Atlantic.
Liddy’s recent work further underscores the team’s credentials. His renovation of The Stadium Course at PGA West helped prepare the venue for the 2026 American Express PGA Tour event, won by World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. The project also earned industry recognition, with Liddy’s redesign of another Pete Dye course, The Farms in Rancho Santa Fe, featured on the cover of Golf Course Architecture magazine earlier this year.
While the overall proposal includes residential development on a separate portion of the property, The Dragas Companies emphasized that Virginia Beach National would remain a publicly accessible golf course.
The agreement also includes a 99-year repurchase provision allowing the City to reclaim the property should it ever cease operating as a public golf course, helping preserve affordable public golf for future generations.
If approved, the renovation would represent one of the largest investments in a public golf facility in the region.
For golf course professionals, the project highlights a growing trend across the industry: combining respected golf architecture with investments in irrigation, maintenance facilities, and operational infrastructure to create more sustainable, efficient, and competitive golf properties.
Rather than simply restoring an aging facility, the proposal aims to position Virginia Beach National for decades of successful public golf while preserving the Pete Dye character that has made the course a fixture in the region’s golf community.
Source: The Dragas Companies.
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