dc golf

Planning Your Golf Outings – DC Style

October 19, 2022 | Inside Alexandria | By: The Goodhart Group

If you are a golfer living in the Washington DC area, consider yourself lucky! The Washington DC region offers a truly amazing range of options for your golf game – no matter your handicap or budget. There’s no need to travel to Pebble Beach – you can enjoy amazing golf right here in our nation’s capital.

 

IN VIRGINIA

 

ALEXANDRIA & FAIRFAX COUNTY

Fairfax County offers eight public courses throughout its 406 square miles (click here for the complete list of available options). In the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, golfers can enjoy the 18 hole Greendale Golf Course and nine hole Pinecrest Golf Course. Both are very affordable options ($30 for a weekday tee time at Greendale). Allison’s husband, Doug, has played both courses and gives them the thumbs up for a quick round!

If you’re looking for a private golf club in Alexandria, check out the Belle Haven Country Club, an 18 hole course renovated by renowned architect Arthur Hills. If you play at Belle Haven, keep an eye out for Sue’s husband Marty!

Further south is the Mount Vernon Country Club; its course winds through the original forest of George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation! Nearby Dogue Creek offers a water hazard challenge on 14 of Mount Vernon’s 18 holes.

If the weather isn’t ideal to be out on the links but you’d like to work on your game, Doug recommends Top Golf, a National Harbor outdoor driving range open year-round with covered, temperature-controlled bays. A full service bar and great food are available at Top Golf as well. As an added bonus, its two miniature golf courses will keep the kids entertained.

 

ARLINGTON

Army Navy Country Club, a Platinum Club of America (the top 4% of US courses), is situated just off 395 in South Arlington (with a second location in Fairfax). It offers 54 championship holes as well as award winning tennis and six swimming pools. Members can choose from a variety of membership options, including special options for members of the military and federal government.

Nicknamed the “Playground of Presidents,” Washington Golf & Country Club in North Arlington has been a DC area institution since 1894. Presidents Taft, Coolidge, Harding and Wilson were all active golfers at this club. Donald Ross and William Flynn designed this course. With sloped fairways and rolling greens, this club challenges all levels of golfers.

 

ELSEWHERE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

NOVA Parks’ Pohick Bay Regional Golf Course in Lorton, may be short by championship standards, but is truly a course for those seeking a challenge. Its extremely hilly and thin fairways make it as daunting as any other local public course.

Other highly rated public courses in Virginia include the par 71 Reston National Golf Course (the Washington Post rated it #1 in the area). Legendary area course architect Ed Ault designed this course and while busy, it is worth the wait. If you can’t get in Reston National, try the nearby 18 challenging holes at Penderbrook Golf Club in Fairfax.

If you are seeking a private club, try the Springfield Country Club, conveniently located in central Fairfax County near the Mixing Bowl. Members and visitors appreciate the par 71 course’s scenic greens and layout. This club boasts an active couples program, retirees’ league, and expanding juniors program, as well as tennis, aquatics and an active social calendar.

Another Northern Virginia club option that Sue’s husband, Marty, enjoys greatly is Westfields Golf Club in Clifton. This stunning Fred Couples-designed course is considered one of the top destinations for golf in Virginia. “Fun and accessible for the novice, yet challenging and thought-provoking for the experienced golfer,” Westlands promises all visitors a great round! Corporate memberships are available at Westfields (regular memberships are limited to just 60).

 

IN THE DISTRICT

While short on open space, The District does offer three public courses through Golf DC: Rock Creek, Langston, and East Potomac. These courses have extremely reasonable greens fees. Golf DC offers various leagues (including women’s and junior leagues) and lessons. The East Potomac course also offers FootGolf, a new hybrid between golf and soccer. FootGolf introduces non-golfers (including children ages 10 and up) to the golf course.

Looking for mini golf in DC? You will have to head inside, but check out the H Street Country Club. This “club” is a really a restaurant and bar (known best for its margaritas and nachos) with a quirky DC-themed indoor mini golf course. While there, you can also enjoy other games such as shuffleboard, skeeball and Giant Jenga!

 

IN MARYLAND

Montgomery County is truly a golfer’s haven! With at least 35 courses to choose from within the county, an option exists for every golfer – from the novice to professionals.

The county offers MCG, a comprehensive public golf program with nine public courses and various programs, player’s clubs, instruction, and more. FootGolf is also offered by Montgomery County.    

Montgomery County is also home to plentiful private options. Bethesda alone is home to five country clubs! Perhaps it most famous, Congressional Country Club was originally founded to serve DC’s many politicians and professionals. The club two courses have been home to several major competitions, including the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. It is an annual stop on the PGA Tour as well.

Other Montgomery County private clubs include TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm (formerly TPC Avenel), Chevy Chase Club, Columbia Country Club, Argyle Country Club, and Woodmont Country Club.

National Golf Club in historic Fort Washington in Prince George’s County is just five minutes from the action of National Harbor and 20 minutes from Alexandria. This full service club underwent a recent renovation and offers 18 varied holes with strategic interest and playability.

Prince George’s County’s golf program includes the nearby nine hole Henson Creek Golf Course, also in Fort Washington.

 

FOR THOSE THAT SERVE…

 

Our military friends can enjoy fabulous golf at two of DC’s area bases.  Offering 54 holes (designed in part by Robert Trent Jones and Thomas Ault Clark) the Fort Belvoir Golf Club is just 16 miles south of The Pentagon. The Courses at Andrews (Air Force Base) offers three 18-hole championship courses. Both clubs offer reasonable membership options, which are extended to federal / DOD employees in addition to members of the military.

 

THE BOTTOM LINE

 

Local golfers know they are lucky to live here! The Washington DC area truly has a home for every fan of the game. No matter your budget or skill level, a course for you is within a reasonable distance.

If you’d like more information on neighborhoods or communities near any of these golf course/club options, please reach out. We are always happy to help you find the perfect home and community to suit your lifestyle and interests. When you love where you live, we’ve done our job!

 

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