Nellie’s Course: A slice of Heaven in Renick

By Lauren Rodgers, RealWV

RENICK W.Va — On the outskirts of Greenbrier County, Matt Turner has created a disc golf heaven. Tucked within the sprawling hills of Renick, Nellie’s Course is a top-rated disc golf course sitting atop 230 acres of land. Owned and operated by Matt Turner, the property is any disc golfer’s dream— nestled between creeks, hills, and caves, the course features an 18-hole layout that welcomes both novice and professional players alike. In the quiet of the countryside, Nellie’s Course provides an adventurous opportunity for all. 

Though Matt Turner formally opened his private disc golf course 10 years ago, the farmland on which it sits has been in his family since 1919. In fact, the course is the namesake of Turner’s grandmother, Nellie, and the family still lives and works on the property today. 

Though he was born and raised in Louisiana, Turner visited his family’s farm in the Greenbrier Valley often, staying with his uncle in the home Turner would come to inherit. He decided to make his move to the property in 2011, renovating his uncle’s house and raising a family of his own in Renick.

Turner first became interested in disc golf when he was living in Austin, Texas. A few of his friends had started throwing discs there, but it wasn’t until Turner was back in Louisiana that he discovered his passion for the sport. 

Coping with his father’s terminal illness and eventual passing, disc golf provided a haven for Turner to process the grief he had been experiencing. 

“Getting out into nature helped me find some peace with his sickness,” he said, “When I was in the woods, I was both confronting reality and escaping it… Playing got me through a lot.” 

The sport soon became an obsession, and when he returned to his family’s land in 2011, he knew he had to install a disc golf course of his own design.

Turner struck a deal on a large number of disc baskets and began crafting his course. After five years of designing, installing, and renovating the property, Nellie’s Course opened in 2016 and has continued to expand ever since. 

According to UDisc, a popular online resource for disc golf players, Nellie’s is the highest-rated disc golf course in West Virginia. Players rave about the incredible scenery at Nellie’s, as well as Turner’s fantastic course design and “slice of heaven” feeling.

Despite its popularity within the disc golf community, Turner wishes to see more people from the area get outdoors and have fun at Nellie’s, no matter their level of familiarity with disc golf. 

“I’d like to see the community use it more,” Turner said. “It’s a great place to just get outdoors, appreciate nature, and get some fresh air.”

And he’s right — as a non-disc golf player, my time at Nellie’s was a rich outdoor experience. Expansive fields and beautiful hills make for great views, and there’s even a cave on the property where players can cool off after a day in the sun. Being at the course is peaceful, and visitors can extend their stay at Nellie’s overnight with options for both tent and cabin camping.

Open from dawn to dusk, Nellie’s costs $10 for a day of disc golf fun. While many players bring their own discs, anyone is welcome to borrow discs at the course. Nellie’s Course packs a punch for anyone looking to get outdoors, try their hand at disc golf, or find their new favorite camping spot.

Many thanks to Matt Turner for sharing this hidden gem with us. Those interested in visiting Nellie’s Course can reach out to Matt Turner at 318-542-9293.