Kempsville Greens Golf Course

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Kempsville Greens Golf Course is a public, 18-hole golf facility located in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Established in 1970, the course is managed by the City of Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation and stands as one of three public golf courses the city operates under a shared membership program, alongside Ocean View Golf Course and Red Wing Lake Golf Course.^[1] Together, the three courses offer a multi-course membership that allows golfers to play any of the facilities interchangeably.^[2]

History

The land on which Kempsville Greens now sits was originally agricultural, reflecting the rural character of the Kempsville area before significant suburban development reshaped Virginia Beach's interior in the late 20th century. That rural character had deep roots: Kempsville was one of the oldest settled areas in what is now Virginia Beach, functioning as a distinct community long before the 1963 consolidation that merged Virginia Beach city, Princess Anne County, and several smaller municipalities into a single independent city. That consolidation created one of the largest cities by land area on the East Coast and brought with it an immediate demand for expanded public infrastructure — including recreational facilities — to serve a rapidly growing population.

Recognizing that demand, the City of Virginia Beach initiated plans for a public golf course in the Kempsville area in the late 1960s. The site was selected for its accessibility, suitable terrain, and proximity to established and developing residential neighborhoods. Construction began in 1969, and the course officially opened to the public in 1970.^[3]

Over the following decades, Kempsville Greens underwent a series of improvements to maintain playability and meet evolving turf management standards. These included upgrades to the irrigation system, regrading of greens and fairways, and enhancements to the clubhouse. The course has remained a consistent draw for golfers of varying skill levels throughout that period.^[4] In recent years the city introduced the multi-course membership model, which bundles access to Kempsville Greens, Ocean View Golf Course, and Red Wing Lake Golf Course under a single annual fee — a shift that formalized the relationship between the three facilities and expanded options for regular players.^[5]

Geography

Kempsville Greens occupies approximately 150 acres in the Kempsville section of Virginia Beach. The terrain is generally flat with gentle undulations, consistent with the Atlantic Coastal Plain that underlies southeastern Virginia. Several natural drainage features — small creeks and wetland areas — are woven into the course design, adding strategic interest while reflecting the low-lying hydrology of the region. Mature pines and hardwoods line most of the fairways, functioning as both visual framing and playing hazards.^[6]

The course sits within a predominantly residential neighborhood. Vegetative buffers and landscaping along the perimeter reduce the course's impact on adjacent properties. Soil composition is sandy loam, typical of the region — it drains well but requires attentive fertilization and irrigation management to hold consistent turf conditions through Virginia Beach's warm, humid summers. The location off Kempsville Road and Princess Anne Road puts it within easy reach of most parts of the city.^[7]

Course Details

Kempsville Greens is an 18-hole regulation course designed for golfers of all experience levels. The layout rewards accuracy over raw distance, with tree-lined fairways that penalize errant shots and small, contoured greens that demand precise approach play. The integrated water features — creeks and wetland areas visible on multiple holes — come into play on several tee shots and approach angles, adding decision-making pressure for mid- and high-handicap players while offering scoring opportunities for lower-handicappers willing to take aggressive lines.^[8]

Because the course is publicly operated by the city, green fees are set to remain accessible to residents and are generally competitive with other municipal facilities in the Hampton Roads region. Tee times can be reserved through the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation booking system. Current fee schedules and seasonal hours are maintained on the city's golf page.^[9]

Amenities

Kempsville Greens offers a range of on-site facilities. The clubhouse contains a pro shop stocked with equipment, apparel, and accessories, and a snack bar serving food and beverages during operating hours. Rental clubs are available for players who don't own their own equipment, and a driving range allows for pre-round warm-up and standalone practice sessions. Golf instruction is offered by qualified staff, covering beginner fundamentals through more advanced shot-making for experienced players.^[10]

The course regularly hosts tournaments and organized events, drawing participants from across the Hampton Roads area. It's also a venue for junior golf programming, which the city runs through its Parks and Recreation department as part of broader youth athletics offerings. The multi-course membership — covering Kempsville Greens, Ocean View, and Red Wing Lake — is available for purchase at the pro shop or through the city's online reservation platform.^[11]

Getting There

The course is located in the Kempsville section of Virginia Beach, accessible from Kempsville Road and Princess Anne Road — two of the main arterial corridors connecting the interior of the city. Ample parking is available at the clubhouse. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) operates public bus routes serving the Kempsville area, with stops within walking distance of the course. Detailed transit schedules and route maps are available through the HRT website.^[12]

Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is approximately 20 to 30 minutes away by car, depending on traffic. Online mapping services and the city's Parks and Recreation website both provide directions and current facility information for visitors unfamiliar with the area.^[13]

Economy

As a city-operated facility, revenue from green fees, pro shop sales, driving range use, and memberships flows back into the Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation, where it supports maintenance and capital improvements across the city's recreational infrastructure. The course provides direct employment for golf professionals, groundskeeping staff, and clubhouse personnel.^[14]

The course also generates indirect economic activity in the surrounding Kempsville neighborhood. Golfers and visitors use nearby restaurants, retail shops, and service businesses before and after their rounds. The multi-course membership structure, by concentrating repeat play across Kempsville Greens, Ocean View, and Red Wing Lake, encourages regular visitation to all three sites and the commercial corridors around them. While the city hasn't published an isolated economic impact figure for Kempsville Greens specifically, the course is regarded as a consistent contributor to the broader Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation system's financial performance.^[15]