We don’t usually play courses that are less than 18 holes. However, occasionally, we have found smaller courses that fill a need. One example is Ravens Ridge at Adventures on the Gorge in Lansing, West Virginia. We had played Wonderland earlier and decided to play the shorter course to round out our day.

After a short walk into the woods from the parking lot, there is a picnic table at the first tee. The first hole plays slightly downhill with a bend to the right. The course is in the woods, with beautiful greenery everywhere. Roots cover the ground, so watch your step.

The second hole plays along the edge of the New River Gorge, with the basket a straight shot from the tee. The highlight of the course for me comes between the second and third holes. There is a trail to the left of the basket. The small, treacherous trail winds down the side of the gorge to a rock outcropping. I would not suggest following this trail if it is very wet, but when you make it to the rocks, the reward is a spectacular view of the bridge and water below.

As you approach the third tee, follow the path to the left for another stunning view of the gorge. This path is less intimidating as it is not as steep. The third hole plays uphill and has the challenge of trees in the middle of the fairway.

There is another picnic table by the fourth tee with the basket down a hill. The fifth hole is the longest hole on the course. Unfortunately, a large tree was down over the fairway after a recent storm when we played, making the hole significantly more challenging.

The sixth hole plays uphill, with the basket sitting on a ledge. Bad things could happen if you overshoot the basket. As we walked to the seventh hole, we found a rest area with a covered bench and a tire swing. It is a lovely spot to hang out in the woods. You can see the bridge through the trees as you play the downward slope on seven.

The eighth hole again has the challenge of throwing around trees. The final hole has a bench and is a long, downhill shot with a sharp left turn.

The course was not long. It took the three of us just over an hour to play, but I’m sure we could have played a faster game if we played straight through instead of taking all my nature breaks. It is not a difficult course, but there are enough challenges to keep it fun.

I finished at 13 over, Joe scored three over, and Chris was the winner with one over par.