Only a few areas in our country inspire us to contemplate our National heritage. One of these is the Washington D.C. area. As a golfer it is a privilege to golf within view of the area where our country first set down roots. Many of these courses combine our love of golf and a deep sense of history. Fairfax National Golf Club is located a short distance from Washington D.C. It consists of 27 holes on 3 courses- the Wilderness, the Bull Run, and the Antietam. It is a traditional course layout on 550 acres. Each hole offers quick greens and rolling fairways.
Virginia National Golf Club is one of the courses steeped in history. Located in Bluemont, Virginia, at the juncture between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley, the eighteenth hole showcases a view of Parker Manor home of Judge Richard E. Parker. Judge Parker presided at the trial of John Brown in 1859. The area was known as the stomping grounds of John Mosby, and the site of the Battle of Cool Spring in1864. As a Course it received a 4 star rating by Golf Digest in 2005. It is known for it’s wide vistas of the surrounding countryside, and magnificent use of the natural terrain. It’s tree-lined , rolling fairways provide an opportunity for a true getaway.
Westpark Golf Club is a semi-private course located near Leesburg, VA. The golf course was designed by Edmond B. Ault. It opened as a semi-private course known as Leesburg Country Club in 1968, but changed its name in 1985.
Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club, also in the Leesburg area, was known as “Raspberry Plain” when it was a plantation in the 18th century. Because of its fertile soil it was a natural place for a links-style course. You add heather, stacked-sod bunkers, and allow the natural beauty to grow with time. This was the vision Gary Player had as he saw the location. As the only Virginia golf course designed by Gary Player, it exhibits the free spirit, and “southern” hospitality his personality has always shown. The natural beauty of the Catoctin Mountains is a backdrop for the towering hardwoods, rock outcroppings and rolling terrain found in area once used for fox hunting. Wild Raspberries can be seen, as well as stonewalls as a throwback to times long gone. All in all you will find the reason that this course is listed as one of Virginia’s greatest!!!
The sister course of Raspberry Falls is Old Hickory Golf Club in Woodbridge, VA. This course uses the natural terrain in a traditional course with the park like setting. It used the same design firm as Raspberry Falls, but with Tim Freeman as the designer. It sought to use the natural flow of Beaver Creek and its tributaries to accentuate the course. The fairways are wide but slightly sloped in so the skilled golfer can get more bounce. The greens are known to be fast, so don’t take practice lightly. The service is the same “southern hospitality” known at Raspberry Falls.
There are other courses within the Washington D.C. area in the State of Maryland. Montgomery County Golf Properties operates nine golf courses. Some are within the area. The Hampshire Greens course which plays 6,900 off the back tees. It is a decent course for the average golfer. Needwood Course is much the same and also with a good executive course. Rattlewood Course is more challenging with more variety in the terrain. It has a reputation for being open even in the rain.
Pure Golf manages several courses in the Washington D.C. area. Glade Valley is a beautiful course with a combination of fine holes. It uses water, terrain, sand traps, and natural habitat to challenge the golfer. It has been recognized as one of the best clubs in the Mid-Atlantic area. The Greencastle Greens Course is actually in Pennsylvania. With rolling hills and a quiet site on 200 acres it offers a wonderful get away for the D.C. golfer.
South Riding Golf Club is 25 miles from D.C., in Virginia. Nominated as one of the best new courses in 1998, and one of the top 100 in the Mid-Atlantic area, it has much to offer. Its beauty plus the challenging slope measurement is sure to give you a wonderful golf experience.
