DC Golf

[Haaank]

Hello all, I am moving to arlington and looking for golf course suggestions. Anybody have any?

 

I live in Arlington, and however much I love the city, the other posters are right in that it's a bit of a hike to play decent golf. I usually travel about 30 mins to Laurel Hill or Old Hickory. Both are reasonably priced and both are excellent courses (the nod goes to Laurel Hill).

 

For privates, Army Navy Country Club is right in South Arlington. As of a month or so ago, it's $70K initiation for non-military. Aside from its ideal location, the place is crap. Terrible layout.

 

Haank - when was the last time you were at ANCC? About 5 years ago, they re-did all 54 holes at both Arlington and Fairfax and built a new clubhouse in Alington. A membership includes the 27 holes in Arlington, 27 holes in Fairfax, two club houses, multiple pools, gyms, tennis courts and no food minimums. Price is relative, but for active duty military, I don't think you can find a better value in the DC area for a country club. I paid $3,000 for initiation and that was spread out over 3 years.

 

Here is a picture from yesterday of the "terrible layout" with the Washington monument in the background of the 9th green:

 

 

 

 

For $3,000 I agree you can't beat it...there is nothing in the area that can compete - not munis and not privates. But $3,000 in this area is unheard of for ordinary citizens.

 

But if it's $70,000 as Hank says for non-military - the course conditions aren't competitive with other private DC area country clubs in that price range.

 

ATLSean - never been to the Fairfax course. I played Arlington about 4-5 years ago, so I am not sure whether the re-do had already happened. The lingering memory was from the first tee shot (can't remember which 9 they started us on) where I hit a mediocre hybrid dead on-line (couldn't have gone more than 215 yards) just to find myself in a hazard. And on a few other wholes, I needed to hit a hard hook/slice with an iron just to find a piece of the fairway.

 

That's quite the steal though, and believe you me, I would be there in a heart-beat for $3,000. Kudos to the club for taking care of the military so well.

[birdie_hunter]

Renditions or Lake Presidential. Easy drive from Baltimore down 97 to 301. Renditions is a novelty course (each hole modeled after famous course; amen corner, etc..) on Central Avenue and Lake Presi is a great track right off 301 a little further south. Each course is within minutes to main roads into DC. Central Avenue takes you straight into DC and Route 4 which turns into Penn Ave for Lake Presi. If you have a short amount of time avoid 95 and having to go around the Beltway.

 

FYI - stay away from lake presidential for the rest of the year. Most of the fairways have turned to straight dirt and mud...no exaggeration. Just to top things off. Some tee boxes were not so pretty and half of the greens have major dead spots. Not sure how they let it get so bad but they were still 90 degrees so I saw no appearance of improving there conditions.

 

How about golf courses in the DC area east of I-95? Many of the suggested courses (and I think I've looked up all of them mentioned) are Northwest of the DC beltway. I'm going to be in Baltimore for business and then heading south down 95 from there, so I have only a short amount of time to play a round. It isn't going to be feasible for me to drive an hour west and then have to double-back, so I'm hoping to find something closer to 95 or the eastern side of 495. Course I've been able to find in that area are:

-University of Maryland Course

-Enterprise Golf Course (Woodmore is right next door, but private)

-Potomac Shores

 

 

I would go to Greystone or Bulle Rock up near Baltimore. Greystone is a muni but has a gret layout and there conditions are always pretty good to excellent. If your thinking of driving to Potomac shores then I would consider Bulle Rock. One of the highest rated courses in Maryland. It's a little pricey (not compared to Potomac Shores) but the conditions are always immaculate and the layout is pretty good.

 

Lastly, YOU HAVE TO TRY OAK CREEK. It's 5-10 minutes from Enterprise and will really surprise you with their fantastic conditions and great layout. My new favorite in the DMV this year.

[SHIVAN]

Old Hickory is in kinda tough shape for $83 or $90+. Tee boxes are ate up. Lots of grass missing around greens. Thinning grass in a lot of places. Some fairways are ate up along the edges. Cups are cut with a spoon, I think. Lots of crater marks from bad pitch repair on the greens. Sand in the bunkers is weird-ish. Almost like it's sand from a road crew, instead of golf course grade sand. It's a good layout, nice track, but these recent conditions are a little perplexing. If you like to play late, the $39 rate is nice, but probably skip it at $70+.

[payerasjl]

I went to School in DC from 06-2010, played as much as i could.

 

As terrible as the conditions might be, East Potomac gets the job done for a quick 9, and the views of the monument helps.

 

Pohick bay, Lauren hill, UMaryland were all in my rotation.

 

I also played a few others, but cant seem to remember the names.

[lazyjc4]

Old Hickory is in kinda tough shape for $83 or $90+. Tee boxes are ate up. Lots of grass missing around greens. Thinning grass in a lot of places. Some fairways are ate up along the edges. Cups are cut with a spoon, I think. Lots of crater marks from bad pitch repair on the greens. Sand in the bunkers is weird-ish. Almost like it's sand from a road crew, instead of golf course grade sand. It's a good layout, nice track, but these recent conditions are a little perplexing. If you like to play late, the $39 rate is nice, but probably skip it at $70+.

 

Hope it's gotten better, I'm supposed to freeze my butt off in one of their winter series events this Sunday. Forecast is 45 and windy.