In the heart of the lush Virginia countryside stands Keswick Hall just outside of Charlottesville.
Tucked in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the scenic 600-acre luxury resort founded in 1912 has something for everyone. From tennis facilities with clay courts, to pickleball, to an exquisite spa with various wellness amenities, to an infinity pool overlooking the Pete Dye-designed Full Cry Golf Course, you’ll find something to delight your senses. Speaking of which, there too is the on-site Marigold Restaurant by Jean-Georges.
It all rests in a picturesque countryside setting with historic farms and a gorgeous Monticello wine trail meandering through the countryside with over 40 wineries within short distance from the main resort.
A trip to Keswick Hall is sure to meet the aims of whatever you are looking for, including great golf.
Resort Lodging: What does it feel like when you’re a guest? You walk into your room (one of 80 on the property) and you’re immediately greeted with a serene color palette as you open the door. A lot of whites and creams, blues and “a lot of nature coming in,” Keswick Hall General Manager Louis Shapazian says. “Our beds are featured from Duxiana mattresses. A really high-end brand along with white linens.”
It all feels luxurious without being over the top. The warmth resonates even more when you notice the crackling sound of a log burning on your TV screen.
Just steps outside, the natural landscape seems to jump out at you.
“All of our public spaces try to bring the outside in. Expansive windows, and kind of a serene, calm color palette helps that on the inside,” Shapazian explained. “So you can be really captivated for whatever season you’re visiting.”
Dining: There are three main options for dining on site at the resort. The Counter is a grab-and-go spot with coffee, pastries and snacks. Another one is Crawford’s, which is named after Keswick Hall’s original owners, and then the crown jewel of the property—Marigold Restaurant by Jean-Georges. The latter presents an eclectic design that gives a coastal California feel from the 1950s with bright blue colors and booth seating that contrasts the wooden finish on the interior.
There’s a gorgeous courtyard and quaint outdoor fireplace at the Marigold and the French version of bocce ball called Pétanque gives a fun option for you and your partner for an after-dinner game.
Gems at Marigold that will have leave your taste buds craving more include the roasted cauliflower dish. It’s one of the chef’s specialties and is a perfect combo of zest mixed with a spicy turmeric tahini sauce and pistachios. The restaurant’s vegetables are sourced only a couple miles down the road at their Oakdale Farm and the menu adjusts accordingly with what’s in season. The Sriracha tenderloin was another favorite complimented by mouth-watering grilled Brussels sprouts. While most of us Northern Californians can agree the best Pinot Noir wines hail from Sonoma County, there are some delectable varieties available at Marigold. The restaurant also offers a solid lineup of tasty craft cocktails and local beers on tap.
Golf: The par-72 Full Cry Golf Course is in two words, a treat. The second to last of late legend Pete Dye’s designs, the gorgeous layout has a very open feel to it and gets its name from the local fox hunting term when hounds are united in their howling in a line for a fox. Golfers tee off and head away from the elevated clubhouse and resort, meandering through a mix of treelined and exposed dogleg fairways before eventually arriving at the stunning par 4 ninth which brings you back toward home, with the Keswick Hall perched high in the background. In a fitting homage to Virginia’s rolling countryside, there’s barely a flat lie to be found on these sloping fairways. This feature adds a lot of excitement to the round and literally keeps you on your toes.
“That’s somewhat characteristic of this part of Virginia itself, we definitely have that here with Full Cry,” Director of Golf and General Manager Rob McNamara said. “You definitely have to learn to play some different shots on slopes. Every hole has a bail out zone too, and every hole has an open entry, an area where you can get the ball on the green, where you don’t have to go over a sand trap, a hazard to get it on the green…so it’s got some areas where you can run one up.”
There’s certainly a touch of links to some of the approach shots. Who says you’ve got to hit Rory McIlroy sky-high iron approaches into all the greens? Full Cry offers numerous option on approach shots, and that’s always a creative challenge to embrace.
“You have seven or eight what you might call signature shots out there, spectacular shots,” McNamara says. “Just stunning views to take in.”
One of the most captivating of these is your tee shot on the elevated par 4 18th, looking down toward a lake in the foreground, the right to left meandering fairway in the middle, Keswick Hall perched in the background with some of the Blue Ridge mountains still beyond that. It’s a sight to behold.
“We host the U.S. Open Local Qualifying Event here every year, so it can certainly tests a high caliber player, and the design also makes it really fun for the recreational golfer to come out and have an enjoyable time too, so it’s a nice balance,” McNamara said.
The bunkering on the course is exquisite, and you’ll find a lot of the signature Pete Dye features like railroad-ties and retaining walls with planks. The greens are expansive and quite undulating, but fair.
Spa: Keswick boasts an incredible 1,400 square-foot day spa. And the building is set on the edge of a forest with beautiful views of nature outside. It features sound baths, facials, manicures, pedicures, and massages. “We like to call it getting back to nature. The Overlook room, offering spectacular views of the forest surrounds is gorgeous,” Shapazian said.
Grab some green tea, read a magazine or book, and just unwind as you wait for your massage.
Infinity Pool: You’ll see the steam coming off the water in the morning. It’s a heated pool, so it’s in the upper 80s, even in the wintertime. The pool elegant area provides live music, s'mores, and activities of all kinds from winter through the fall.
For more information, please visit Keswick.com