Since 2002, this course has been owned by The River Course LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation. The course was originally designed by Ed Ault and Tom Clark's design firm ca. 1999, but in 2003, philanthropists Bill and Alice Goodwin retained architect Pete Dye to plan a major overhaul of the course. Construction was completed in 2005, after which the course earned very favorable critical reviews from Golf Digest.

In addition to allowing some public play, the course is home to the Virginia Tech men's and women's golf teams. Public daily-fee walking rates are $49 Mondays through Thursdays, $70 on Fridays, and $80 on weekends, holidays, and on the day before any Virginia Tech home football game. Stay-and-play packages are also available.