
Nicholas Memorial Course
Nicholas Memorial Golf Course
About this course
Nicholas Memorial Golf Course sits in Summersville, West Virginia, a small town in the state's central highlands known for nearby Summersville Lake and the surrounding Appalachian terrain. The course was designed by Frank Beems, a regional architect who worked primarily in the mid-Atlantic during the mid-to-late twentieth century. His designs typically emphasized playability and integration with natural topography rather than severe championship demands. The routing at Nicholas Memorial reflects the rolling, forested character common to this part of West Virginia. Courses in this region generally feature elevation changes, tree-lined fairways, and occasional views of the surrounding hills. The layout likely incorporates natural contours and wooded corridors that define holes and require thoughtful placement off the tee. Greens on courses of this era and region tend to be moderately sized with subtle to moderate undulation. Summersville serves as a recreational hub for outdoor enthusiasts visiting the New River Gorge area and Summersville Lake, and Nicholas Memorial functions as a community course accessible to both residents and visitors. The facility provides a straightforward golf experience suited to a range of skill levels, with a focus on enjoyment of the game in a natural mountain setting rather than tournament-level difficulty. The course reflects the character of small-town West Virginia golf, where the landscape and local community shape the experience more than national rankings or competitive history.
Quick facts
- Location
- Summersville, WV, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1953
- Designer
- Frank Beems
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 35
- Length
- 2,983 yards
- Difficulty
- 34.3/117
Getting there
The journey to Nicholas Memorial Golf Course begins at Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia's capital, roughly an hour's drive northwest into the Appalachian highlands. The route climbs steadily along US-19, trading the Kanawha River valley for the forested ridges and hollows of Nicholas County, where the landscape opens into the rolling plateau surrounding Summersville Lake. As the road crests into town, the course reveals itself as a quiet municipal gem perched above the community - a modest but genuine mountain golf experience far removed from the noise of the interstate corridor.

FAQ
Common questions about Nicholas Memorial
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Nicholas Memorial was designed by Frank Beems.
Yes. Nicholas Memorial is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Nicholas Memorial is 35.
Nicholas Memorial plays 2,983 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Nicholas Memorial is 117.
Nicholas Memorial is a 9-hole course.


