Sam Snead's favorite getaway has new look. But same old buddies'-trip appeal

Sam Snead, a golfer who famously declared fishing his true passion and golf merely a means to fund it, maintained strong ties to his native Virginia. The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa, an historic retreat nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, served as his lifelong home club. It was here, in his early twenties, that he became the head professional at the Cascades Course, one of the property’s two venerable layouts. He even set a course record of 60 at age 71, a mark that still stands.

Were Snead to visit today, he’d find the spirit of the resort familiar. The mountains remain unchanged, and the trout still populate the same cold streams. The golf footprint is largely the same, too. Yet, he would also notice a great deal that is new. Three years ago, the resort completed a renovation exceeding $150 million, a comprehensive refresh that touched guest rooms, dining, the spa, and the grounds, all while preserving the core essence of the luxurious getaway that made it a destination in the first place.

The golf offerings are steeped in history. The Old Course’s first tee has occupied its spot since 1892, making it the longest continuously operating first tee in America. The layout itself was later refined by Golden Age giants William S. Flynn and Donald Ross. A short drive away, the Flynn-designed Cascades unfolds through the mountains, characterized by compelling angles and elevation changes, and boasting a lofty reputation. It ranks 35th on GOLF’s list of Top 100 Courses You Can Play, making it the highest-rated public-access course in Virginia. Combined with the Old Course, it provides championship-caliber golf, classically designed and ideal for walking, especially alluring in the shoulder seasons. Spring brings awakening nature and birdsong along the fairways, while autumn offers crisp weather and foliage ablaze with color.

But just as golf wasn't the sole draw for Snead, it isn't the only appeal for today's visitors. Outdoor activities abound, including guided fly-fishing excursions in the very waters Snead loved. The surrounding mountains, which framed Snead’s youth, are laced with hiking trails, now more accessible thanks to the resort’s post-renovation trail and outdoors program. These range from easy morning leg-stretchers to ambitious ridge hikes with stunning mountain panoramas. And after exertion, there’s the spa, one of the oldest in the country, drawing on the same natural mineral springs that gave Hot Springs its name and have attracted visitors, including U.S. presidents, to this stretch of Virginia long before Snead picked up a club.

This distinctive blend of outdoor adventure and stress-reducing relaxation is intentional, aligning with Omni’s strategy for its prestigious and expanding golf portfolio. The Homestead is one of three Omni properties to earn a spot on GOLF’s list of Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World, alongside Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin and Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa. The collection now spans nearly 30 courses across a dozen resorts nationwide, featuring designs from architects like Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, Tom Fazio, Gil Hanse, and Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

Like Slammin’ Sammy, people come for the golf and stay for the broader experience. For a buddies’ group, the pitch is an invigorating trip that quickens the pulse yet lowers blood pressure—an active escape that also allows for doing nothing at all. Test yourself on the same courses where generations of golfers have played. Chase Snead’s course record on the Cascades, or at least tell yourself you have a shot. Then, close out the day as Snead might have, rod in hand, mountains turning gold at dusk, trading fish stories for golf stories. No need to embellish. At the Omni Homestead, the experience holds up nicely on its own.