Sometimes the best ideas begin as a little bit of mischief.
The Shenandoah Valley is full of great golf courses—some well known, others quietly waiting to be discovered. But what if you hosted a tournament at a course that doesn’t even exist?
Answering this wacky question, the Noah Shenandoah Cup was born.
Noah Shenandoah—the alter ego of Shenandoah County tourism host John Fogle—has become something of a local legend. Through a growing library of videos, Noah explores the county’s hidden gems, local businesses, and the people who make the community special. With more than 100 videos and a million-plus views, it’s clear the idea has resonated.
One day Noah asked if he could interview me about BoBirdie magazine. At first, I wasn’t quite sure how it might work. But after a few conversations, we decided to lean into the fun of it all and create something a little different: a tournament that doesn’t exist, played across a county filled with real people and places.
More than 50 local business owners joined the project, along with a talented film producer, Anthony Istrico, who helped bring the idea to life. What followed was two days of exploring Shenandoah County through golf, food, and a little friendly competition.
Noah and “Bo” (that’s me!) went head-to-head, as we traveled the region, stopping for shenanigans at golf courses, restaurants, and local attractions.
Before long, things started getting unusual—in the best possible way.
At one point, mascots from Route 11 Potato Chips and a local bike shop showed up on the driving range. A few minutes later, we were surrounded by golfers, business owners, cameras, and infectious laughter. The moment perfectly captured the spirit of the Noah Shenandoah Cup.
We played golf in places you might expect—and a few you wouldn’t. There were swings at local courses, putts at a miniature course, and even a few shots taken inside a cavern.
Between golf stops, we visited restaurants, bars, a vineyard, and an ice cream shop. Egg sandwiches, burgers, fries, pizza, popcorn, and potato chips all made cameos.
But the real highlight wasn’t the golf or even the food; it was watching a community come together. Local businesses opened their doors, shared their stories, and welcomed us golfing goofballs with the famous Southern hospitality that has characterized the Shenandoah Valley for centuries.
Curious? Watch the video to see how it all unfolded!