In a letter to members, club leadership noted that city ownership of the land guaranteed public, affordable access to the facility.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — This Friday, the city of Virginia Beach will close its request for proposals (RFP) for a new buyer to purchase the approximately 350 acres of land that the Virginia Beach National Golf Club sits on. 

Glen Pierce, the club’s Director of Golf, hopes enough golfers and users in the city make their voice heard to City Council.

“This place is beloved by thousands of people, over 50,000 rounds a year played,” he said. “It’s an insanely popular golf course for this region.”

Virginia Beach Golf Club LLC, which operates Virginia Beach National, pays rent to the city’s development authority to operate the club on the publicly owned land. Pierce tells 13News Now since 2008, the VB National has paid roughly $5 million in rent, and that the course has maintained profitability. 

Pierce cited concern over the longevity of the course in comparison to other private enterprises, such as The Signature at West Neck Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer-designed course that has since shuttered and still remains vacant and undeveloped. 

“The conditions went down, eventually it closed, developers eventually foreclosed on the land and now the land sits idle. That’s the potential with a private company, not saying that’s going to happen, it just means the city gives up control of the property — there is a potential that can happen,” he said. 

Piece also cited concerns over development and potential course changes in the event a private developer takes over ownership of the course. Specifically, land around four of the course’s 18 holes could be in “jeopardy.”

“We find it odd the city would give up control of the property. With proximity to city hall, having access and control of this property seems essential,” he said. 

According to the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development, potential buyers would also be tasked to “continue the operation” of the 18-hole golf course. 

According to the request document, the city is looking for several things from a potential buyer, including:

A concept plan, including a proposed stormwater solutionProposed lease or sale priceTargeted timeline to execute development

Club leadership shared the following message with their members: 

Dear Members and Friends of Virginia Beach National,

Virginia Beach City Council approved a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the sale of Virginia Beach National (VB National) and First Tee golf courses. The Council agreed to issue the RFP based on an offer to purchase the courses from a developer and receiving very misleading information stating that the City needs to spend between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 on the golf courses.

The proposals to purchase VB National and First Tee are due to be received by 11/21/2025, after which the city will review the bids and the City Council will decide what to do. If Council accepts a proposal to purchase VB National from a developer, surely they will build housing on golf holes 12, 13 and perhaps parts of holes 14 and 11. The RFP requires that the successful purchaser maintain an 18 hole public golf course, however the resulting 18 holes will probably be of less quality and character than the current Pete Dye designed course.

There is no reason that the city should give up control of the approximately 350 acres which comprise both the VB National and First Tee golf courses to a developer. Our strong belief is that the city should retain ownership of this property and protect the integrity of these two golf courses as well as ensuring public, affordable access.

The city has not sold the golf course and does not have to sign a contract to do so. If you agree that the city should NOT sell the approximately 350+ acres which comprise both VB National and First Tee golf courses, it is imperative that you express your opposition via email to city council at: citycouncil@vbgov.com.

Virginia Beach National Golf Club