by Tom Chillemi –
The Piankatank River Golf Club (PRGC) in Hartfield celebrates its 25th anniversary this month, having opened to the public on July 4, 1996.
Four hundred acres that were farm fields and forest were transformed into Middlesex County’s first and only golf course through the vision of brothers Johnny and E.G. Fleet of Hartfield.
A study of the feasibility of a golf course in a neighboring area led to the realization that more land was needed. This led to the Fleets taking a huge step forward in building the PRGC.
Since 1996, the PRGC has become an integral part of the community and even nearby counties. The PRGC hosts many youth and school golf teams including the high school teams of Middlesex, Christchurch, and Mathews and elementary school of Ware Academy, which all use the course. “It’s gratifying to provide a venue for wholesome growth and interaction in a sport that they can play for a lifetime,” said J. Fleet. “Watching the interactions and relationships that have evolved between players and couples has surely been positive.”
Venue
In its quarter century, the PRGC has provided a venue for tournaments and fundraising that has assisted in raising “literally millions of dollars” for civic groups, churches, clubs, schools, the Middlesex Family YMCA, and many others, said J. Fleet.
Golf is an important pastime for many, especially in a retirement community. “We believe it has had a positive effect for our citizens,” said J. Fleet. “Some have indicated that they would have moved elsewhere were it not for the golf course. When they say that, it is very heart warming.”
Drawing visitors to the county has been a positive aspect of the golf course, said Fleet, who estimates that 60% of golfers come from outside Middlesex County.
“Other than boating and campgrounds, the PRGC has likely brought more people to the county than any other attraction,” said J. Fleet.
Contrast
The course is two truly distinctively different types of golf courses, explained J. Fleet.
The PRGC Steamboat Restaurant menu describes the course like this: “The front nine rambles through wooded areas crossing seven springs and streams with over 100 feet of elevation changes before giving way to the back nine that is a more ‘links style’ while the back nine is open with three holes playing along the Piankatank River with views that constantly change with the passing sun.”
Course design
Course architect Algie Pulley agreed with the Fleets’ thinking. They wanted a “natural” flowing course that fit the terrain. “As one avid golfer said, ‘A golf course was here all the time, it just needed to be brought out.’ ”
Fleet said their goal was to create a course where sometimes the golfer would forget where he or she is. They succeeded. Once golfers leave the clubhouse the modern world fades away and they are immersed in natural elements. Wildlife abounds in the woods, wetlands and many natural areas that were left undisturbed. With thoughtful consideration the design enhanced the terrain that was there. Great effort went into protecting the natural environment and controlling stormwater runoff by sloping the land away from wetlands and the river as much as possible, said Fleet.
When the Fleets sold a limited number of lots for houses, they were careful to have them sited and set back from the golf course so they wouldn’t detract from the natural beauty.
Amenities
The Steamboat Restaurant caters to club members and the public alike.
E.G. Fleet said that they have stressed to employees since the beginning to make the PRGC a friendly place, “like the TV show Cheers, where everybody knows your name.”
The name “Steamboat” was chosen as the symbol of the course and restaurant to evoke a bygone era, when steamboats plied Tidewater Virginia shipping farm produce, livestock or lumber to Baltimore and returning with manufactured goods. The steamboat “Piankatank” stopped at Freeport on the opposite side of the Piankatank as part of its route.
A good sized event center was added to fill a need for wedding receptions, parties, dinners.
Future
One project for the future is a walking trail that does not interfere with the golfers, said Fleet, who envisions it being routed through the seven springs and streams of the upper course down to the beautiful Piankatank River on the lower level. Also planned is a dock so folks can come to the course by boat from the surrounding counties.
Golf play has increased at the PRGC and worldwide as people sought safe outdoor activities in response to the COVID pandemic, said E.G Fleet.
Battles along the way
The course has been ravaged by storms, like Hurricanes Floyd and Isabel to name a couple. “We lost some of our river shoreline in one and our pond and irrigation water source during Hurricane Isabel,” J. Fleet explained. A fire destroyed a maintenance building and there was a devastating ice storm in the late 90s and more trying situations. “But pluck and perseverance are not foreign to those with a farming background and somehow with God’s blessings we continued on,” said J. Fleet.
From farming to golf
Farming is the backbone of the Fleets, who still farm, growing crops. They also operated Fleet Brothers Equipment in Hartfield, which has since moved to be part of the James River Equipment in Locust Hill.
“E.G and I often get kidded for how smart we were,” said J. Fleet. They went from a seven-day a week working job as dairy farmers to a seven-day a week operating a golf course with its restaurant and event center and much more. “But the beauty of the course has its rewards. And, we sincerely hope the course and its amenities have been an asset to the community and a positive factor for our county and surrounding counties.”
