Sir Guy Campbell, of St. Andrews , Scotland , designed and built many courses throughout the British Isles . In 1959, he was invited to the Northern Neck of Virginia to design and build what would become his only American work.

Although The Tartan has been massaged over the years, his style is still evident in the beauty of the course. He took advantage of the naturally rolling, wooded terrain to create a design that blended perfectly with the surroundings. The generous greens provide numerous pin positions with slopes that vary from gentle to diabolical. Water comes into play on eleven holes from the various arms of Carter's Creek and strategically positioned ponds. So natural and challenging is the layout that only twenty-four bunkers complement the design. The Tartan both challenges the low-handicap golfer and pleases the novice.

The tradition of the early Scottish golf course architects was to make the golf course fit the land not make the land fit the course. Sir Guy Campbell followed that tradition in all his work. By using the natural lay of the land he created a golf course at the Tartan that is timeless.

Tree-lined fairways meander over the rolling hills. No two holes are alike. Par 4’s vary not only in length, but also in strategy. Some require a forced carry, others allow a run-up shot to the green. Some have water or bunkers as hazards, and some need nothing more than the varying terrain. Several of the par 5’s are reachable in two by the more skilled player, but each of them offers a different risk to overcome. Each of the par 3’s is a jewel in its own right.