Captain's Cove Golf & Yacht Club
Captain's Cove Golf & Yacht Club offers a strategic 9-hole layout with multiple tees for a full 18-hole experience. Challenging water hazards and well-maintained greens make it a test of precision along Virginia’s scenic Eastern Shore.
Course Overview
Captain's Cove Golf & Yacht Club, located in Greenbackville, Virginia, offers a distinctive 9-hole course designed to challenge golfers through precision and strategy rather than sheer length. The layout presents multiple tee boxes that transform the front and back nines into a full 18-hole round, providing variety and replay value. Water hazards are a defining feature here, with ponds scattered throughout the course demanding accurate shot placement from tee to green. The first hole immediately signals the tests ahead, featuring water flanking both sides and a narrow landing zone for the second shot that quickly sharpens your focus.
The course embraces a parkland style, with fairways bordered by gentle mounds and small traps that require well-judged approaches and thoughtful club selection. While not excessively long, the presence of water and strategic bunkering means that golfers must value control over power. The greens are maintained in good condition, rewarding precise putting and adding a nuanced challenge to scoring.
Players appreciate the course’s layout for the engaging mental game it encourages, suitable for low and mid-handicap golfers who enjoy a course where course management is critical. Although there is no driving range, a small putting green is available for pre-round warm-up. Walking is feasible but the distances between holes and the terrain suggest using a cart for comfort and pacing.
Amenities onsite include a marina and a casual restaurant, enhancing the day’s experience, although food and service have received mixed reviews over time. The atmosphere fosters leisure alongside competitive golf, with proximity to Chesapeake Bay providing occasional coastal breezes that can influence club choice and shot shape.
For those planning a visit, sturdy footwear and a precise game will serve well. Navigating the water hazards requires patience and an understanding of how to use the course’s contours and hazards to your advantage. Captain's Cove offers a compact yet tactical golf experience within a serene waterfront setting, ideal for players looking to hone accuracy and enjoy a quiet moment along Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Course Highlights
Signature water hazards create strategic challenges on nearly every hole, especially the first, which demands accuracy to avoid ponds lining the fairway. Multiple tee boxes allow flexibility for various skill levels. The course’s location near the Chesapeake Bay brings cooling coastal winds and a unique waterfront ambiance. A small putting green is available for practice, though no driving range exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Reviews
Kevin the carpenter
A friend brought me here, he is a member. There's a lot of water on this course. I think I found most ponds with my balls. 9 holes with multiple sets of tees. Greens are in pretty good shape and the layout is challenging. It was early April so the rough was probably shorter than normal. The fairways were fine. No driving range and small practice putting green. Carts are fine no GPS. GPS would have helped a lot with distances to water.
Bruce Babcock
Artisans and farm market.
rob dav
Dues are high and millions are going developers interest
Sean Crook
Golf review: Fun, tricky, and well-kept course. Hole #1 is a doozy, with water on either side and a very small landing area for your second shot. Giving you a taste of the many hazards you'll encounter during a round. Be prepared to address fairway and green side traps, mounds, and ponds and bring your precision shots. Consisting of only 9 holes, there are different tee boxes for the front and back 9 for a full 18. I'd recommend taking a cart because the walk between holes can get long. I had a great time at Captain's Cove, only a short 25 minute drive from Chincoteague.
Eric Schmidt
We’ve been so many times and this has changed menus, chefs, and management so many times that we don’t bother going anymore. It’s difficult to get consistent quality food and service here. The food is okay. The service is so-so. The venue has a nice view but that’s about it really. Three starts, no more, no less for a blasé place right down the street from me that I should eat at more often but it’s just so lack-luster it’s not really worth my time, energy, or money. 🫤
Tech Support
Nice planned community with homes for sale, for rent, and there are building lots available. Not sure about diversity. Receptionist at management office seemed disturbed and annoyed when one of our hedge fund owners inquired about building a new home in the community, as they were too busy. We were looking to build 4-6 homes. The docks are good for pontoon and fishing boats. It's not the place for Sea-Ray, or 35' yachts and above in my opinion. The community has lots of amenities such as a marina with a restaurant, a golf course, basketball, tennis and other activities. We visited the county office and were told that although the county issues building permits, Captains Cove has their own regulations and codes. If you're looking to build a $1mil plus home or higher, it doesn't appear this would be the place.
Ted Althoff
meh...
Michael Hirvela
This place openly discriminates. Look at the reviews on yelp and see other experiences. We had security called on us for letting our dogs out of the car and letting them use the facilities in the grass next to our house as soon as we got out of the car after a 6 hour drive. There were no signs posted and we cleaned up after the dogs. Mind you this was a vacant lot next to our home not a resident lawn. Security came and immediately revoked our guest passes that we lost out $300 on because we walked in the grass with the dogs. Once we entered the home and saw the sign we realized the error. We explained that we had not been in the house to even see the policy but that didn’t matter, despite multiple residents allowing their dogs to use the vacant lot and even wander into our property. The residents are friendly until they realize you are a renter. Once they know you rent they treat you terrible. I can’t speak to the golf, but food we had was equivalent to some you might get a mall food court. The rental company was great and even commented that they have these problems often. The house was great and the owners had taken great care to make sure the home was accommodating. For those that think this is just sour grapes take a look at the policy that we were greeted with….doesn’t give you a warm fuzzy feeling on a relaxing vacation.
Mary Boldt
Kevin the carpenter
A friend brought me here, he is a member. There's a lot of water on this course. I think I found most ponds with my balls. 9 holes with multiple sets of tees. Greens are in pretty good shape and the layout is challenging. It was early April so the rough was probably shorter than normal. The fairways were fine. No driving range and small practice putting green. Carts are fine no GPS. GPS would have helped a lot with distances to water.
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Course Details
Access & Location
3323 Dock Ct, Greenbackville, VA 23356, USA
Captain's Cove Marina Clubhouse and Grill
Walking allowed; course has moderate elevation changes and some longer carries between holes. Comfortable walking shoes are advised.
Open to the public with tee time reservations recommended on weekends and holidays.
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