This MyGolfSpy Experience takes place in my homestate of Virginia. Virginia has been my home for 23 years now. I love it. You would, too. Coastal living, the artistry of our state’s capital, the breathtaking serenity of the Shenandoah mountains and the rich history of our nation’s birthplace.
Nestled in the heart of Virginia is the state’s hottest new golf course, Cutalong at Tributer Resort. Tributer Resort brings a west coast vibe to the east coast, thanks to Reef Destinations, the developer of the resort.
Reef Destinations’ portfolio consists of Black Desert Resort, Marcella, Cornerstone Club and Sweetens Cove.
Tributer Resort
When you pull into the property, there are just a few houses. Although the residential vision is still a work in progress, there are villas, cottages and a world-class clubhouse.
Tributer Resort is close to Lake Anna, a summer getaway destination. The lake and surrounding area offer outdoor activities for people of all ages. Another selling point is Tributer Resort’s proximity to major cities. Washington D.C. and surrounding Charlottesville, Richmond and Hampton Roads are less than three hours away.
Cutalong at Tributer Resort
When I play a new golf course, I ask, “Could I play this course every day?” Cutalong leaves no doubt as to the answer. Yes, I would, but why?
Homage to the golden age of golf
Tom Clark took on the enormous challenge of designing Cutalong. Clark is no stranger to designing golf courses in Virginia. There are several courses near MyGolfSpy HQ that he has had a hand in: Cedar Point Club, The River and Woods courses at Kingsmill Resort, and the Yorktown course at Williamsburg National. He resides about 90 minutes from Cutalong.
Clark pays homage to the Golden Age of golf with his creation of Cutalong. It takes inspiration from iconic golf course architects Charles Blair Macdonald, Donald Ross and Alister MacKenzie as it weaves through historic mining terrain. The specific golf course Clark takes inspiration from is Macdonald’s work at National Golf Links.
There are influences of all three renowned architects here. All of the green complexes draw inspiration from them as do the routing and bunkering. It’s a modern layout with an unmistakable influence of one of golf’s greatest design eras.
The 12th hole is a signature “template hole” of Macdonald. The green’s shaping is from front-left to back-right and features a huge swale in the middle. Visually, it is confounding and you best make sure you hit the ball in the right place.
The 14th hole is the “mine shaft” hole. This is a true risk/reward hole. It features a split fairway and if you have the courage to take on the left side, you’re rewarded with a better angle and a chance to get home in two on this challenging par-5. Take the safe route to the right and you’ll be questioning your decision immediately.
The modern blending of three famous architects makes this course an absolute gem, especially for those who appreciate classic architecture and creative routing. Cutalong ultimately plays as a links/heathland championship course.
Championship golf primed for action
From the back tees, Cutalong plays at 7,343 yards with a course and slope rating of 75.7/148. The golf course is an absolute beast. Even from the “white” tees, the course plays all of 6,155 yards with a course and slope rating of 69.9/135.
The first thing you notice is how open the golf course feels. Visually, from the tee box, it feels as though you have plenty of room to miss. But the rough is penalizing, awkward lies are found in abundance and as you traverse the golf course, you realize how treacherous the green complexes are. The natural terrain of Cutalong was the perfect canvas for this brilliant golf course. According to Clark, the course was built using minimal dirt movement (~100,000 cubic yards total) to preserve natural contours, with major shaping only on holes 5 and 16.
Spotlight holes
There are several memorable holes on Cutalong’s championship track.
The first is the par-5 third hole. This hole has pocketed cross-bunkering hiding the landing area as the hole doglegs slightly right. About 100 yards from the green are the first remnants of homage to the property’s history (Mineral, Va., and the surrounding area, including Tributer Resort, have a rich mining history). A railroad cut runs across the fairway to create a visual and strategic distraction.
The par-4 sixth hole is arguably one of the most difficult holes on the course. It requires two well-executed shots to even bring par into the equation. It is an uphill dogleg right that utilizes the natural landscape. Native grasses on the left and three deep fairway bunkers on the right make the tee shot challenging. Once you reach the fairway, the approach shot requires complete focus and execution. You have to carry a deep ravine to a green with significant contours that draws inspiration from the green complexes of Ross’s Pinehurst No. 2.
I mentioned the 14th hole, the “mine shaft” hole. Featuring a split fairway with a foliage dividing the landing areas, the hole creates a high risk/high reward opportunity. Opting for the left routing creates a less visually demanding experience. Going right presents a quandary: “OK, where do I hit it now?”. You can see the abandoned mineshaft entry roughly 100-120 yards from the green on the right. Positioning your second shot is critical to scoring on this par-5, especially if you go towards the alternate right fairway.
The 18th hole is a superb finishing hole. It is memorable, especially with the new clubhouse standing alone at the top of the hill. There is a lone target bunker in the middle of the fairway that makes this tee shot feel tight and play tight. Fairway bunkers also run up the left side and right side of the fairway. A well placed tee shot is necessary to score on this finishing hole because the green complex is smaller than others and sits diagonally from right to left.
MyGolfSpy experience unlike any other
Have you ever played a golf course for the first time and the course feels like home? The game feels natural and effortless. Dare I say, easy?
I first stepped onto Cutalong in October 2025. Kevin Frisch sent me an invitation and I could not pass it up. A perk of working in the golf media space is getting connected to amazing individuals like Kevin. Kevin is the owner of Kevin Frisch PR. Kevin and his team invite media members and writers out to golf destinations to highlight those properties. Kevin is an established player in his own right with over 25 years of experience in the golf industry. I knew he and I were in for a competitive duel.
Amazingly, we combined for a total of 13 birdies. It was absurd … a round I’ll never forget. To my astonishment, I had eight of the 13! We stepped off the mine shaft hole after my eighth birdie of the day and I sat at five under par (a career round going). I couldn’t help myself and told Kevin on the 15th tee box, “I’m going to jinx myself, but I have a personal best round going.” Sure enough, I botched the final three holes to shoot 71.
Nevertheless, despite that stumble, Cutalong felt like home.
Anticipation of the future
Tiger Woods. The name behind the newest endeavor at Tributer Resort, a TGR Design championship golf course.
Members will have access to the TGR championship golf course, Cutalong, and several new amenities coming to Tributer Resort.
When will this highly touted golf course be available to members? A definitive timeline is unknown, but the anticipation is real.
Virginia’s next greatest golf destination
The attractions for Tributer Resort are Cutalong and the Lake Anna community. Life on the lake is both full- and part-time. Additionally, Cutalong is accessible to resort guests.
Cue the weekend golf trip.
Cutalong is the perfect mini golf trip for Virginia residents. Due to its proximity to all of the major Virginia cities, it will only continue to gain attraction to visitors.
Yet, how do you attract visitors and keep them on property?
Tributer Resort recently opened stay and play villas and cottages.
- The villas feature a four-bedroom layout with a king bed floor plan and a double queen bed floor plan.
- The cottages feature a two-story, two-bedroom floor plan.
These upscale, newly added accommodations significantly elevate the stay at Tributer Resort. Whether planning a golf getaway with friends or a trip with another couple, these lodging options provide an exceptional boost to the overall experience.
How much will it cost you?
Let’s be real—golf isn’t exactly light on the wallet, and there’s really no sugarcoating it! But, Cutalong is worth the venture at least one time!
To give you a ball-park figure, I estimated a two-night getaway in a cottage directly through their site. Thanks to Tributer Resort’s “Fall Into Travel” promotion, the total came out to $825 with taxes and fees included.
Keep in mind that accommodations do not cover greens fees. Playing 18 holes costs $178 plus a $50 forecaddie charge. Tipping your caddie is highly recommended, with gratuities starting around $30 per golfer. If you schedule a tee time prior to 11 a.m., breakfast and non-alcoholic drinks are included. Should you want another loop around the course, Cutalong provides a replay fee of $80.
If you decide to tackle this adventure solo, you are looking at approximately $1,341 for a two-night stay, two rounds and forecaddie fees with tips included (always remember to take care of your caddie!).
Naturally, splitting the bill with a group of friends makes the price tag far more palatable. It truly is the ultimate golf getaway.
Tributer Resort is here to stay
To me, Cutalong felt like a home away from home. The challenge the golf course presents makes it a worthwhile visit. Whether you are chasing a personal best round on the undulating greens or trying to escape the pace of Northern Virginia, Richmond or Hampton Roads for a weekend getaway of peace, Tributer Resort is here to welcome you with open arms.
Fellow Virginians (and anyone else for that matter), tell me about your experience at Tributer Resort in the comments below!
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