Congressman Owen Pickett’s Vision for Premier Golf Community Becomes Reality
Tricord Announces Grand Opening of Pendleton
11/17/2006

The long-held vision of retired United States Congressman Owen Pickett became a reality on October 28, 2006 with a grand opening celebration for Pendleton, Tricord’s newest community in Ladysmith, Virginia, with local dignitaries in attendance.  With a spectacular new golf course by renowned architect Thomas Walker, former lead designer at the Gary Player Design Company, Pendleton will be a premier golf destination in the region.  The Tricord Companies of Fredericksburg, Virginia, is the developer of the community.

Pendleton located on 1,200 acres, was rezoned by the Caroline County Board of Supervisors in December 2000.  Over the next 20 years, it will be comprised of 3,500 residential units, 50 acres of commercial uses, 25 acres of public use facilities, as well as the top flight 18-hole golf course.  Doug Jones, Chief Operations Officer of Tricord said, “It embodies the principles of Smart Growth by designing a walkable village center into the community to make residents less dependent on their car.”  Pendleton will be a quality, yet affordable community with a full amenity package including several pools, tennis courts, clubhouses, and extensive walking trails.  A variety of housing options will be offered from single family and active adult detached homes to townhomes and condominiums. 

“This is the right kind of growth,” said Mike Alsop, President of the Caroline Chamber of Commerce.  “It’s an attractive and affordable golf community and is a welcome addition to Caroline County.  Residents of neighboring communities will also enjoy the shopping and services offered at Pendleton, which helps keep citizens of Caroline in the county.” 

Caroline County Supervisors Floyd Thomas (Chairman), Wayne Acors (in whose district Pendleton lies), and Calvin Taylor spoke in support of the project at the grand opening celebration and then officially opened the course with a round of golf afterward. 

Pendleton Golf is led by Jim Mason, who has 18 years of experience in the golf business and 11 of those as a PGA professional.  Ty Croghan is the Assistant Golf Professional and Head of the Golf Academy at Pendleton.  Ty currently provides golf instruction to almost 300 clients including a number of NASCAR drivers and hosts a weekly golf talk show on Sports Radio 910 in Richmond. 

Pendleton is named for Edmund Pendleton, a native of Caroline County, Virginia, who represented this area in the Virginia House of Burgesses (1752 – 1774) and in the Continental Congress (1774 – 1775).  A courageous voice for American independence during the Revolutionary War, Pendleton was also talented lawyer, judge, and politician.  After the Declaration of Independence was signed, he became the first Speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates.  Thomas Jefferson reportedly remarked, “Taken in all, he was the ablest man in debate I ever met.”  This new community bears his name in recognition of his achievements and his mark upon history.