Moving near Tysons Corner, VA

[JustTheTips]

My job is transferring me to the Tysons Corner, VA area for the next 2-3 years and wondering if anyone can make some golf recommendations for play, practice, and instructors. I am looking to spend in the 1000/month category and given I am only going to be there a short time, the clubs with 50k initiation fees (or waiting lists) are out.

[bmorejared]

I've actually heard that Trump National may be waving their initiation. Don't know if that's true or not.

[JJCOOP7]

first question would be, where do you think you will live? Many courses/clubs in the area so that will be the biggest factor IMO.

I grew up playing golf in the Reston/Herndon area.

Reston national is a semi-private course that i played the most growing up. Gets a lot of weekend play, but many members would play the rounds in afternoons on weekdays.

Westwood country club is pretty close to Tyson's in Vienna.

International country club is a little further away in Fairfax, but has the all around package if you have family that would enjoy food/pool/tennis/social scene. That was my home course throughout high school.

North of the Dulles Toll road you get into the Langley/great falls area. river bend cc is a very nice course. many redskins are members here.

If you want to go out northwest into NOVA you will get to Trump, Lansdowne, river creek club, belmont, raspberry falls. All of these are great courses...
If you wanted to go out southwest into NOVA you get to Chantilly national, south riding, pleasant valley, westfields.

My parents just moved to haymarket(down 66 west from Tyson's) in 2008 and they are members at Dominion Valley cc.. that is a nice course, but in that same general area is robert trent jones(good luck), heritage hunt, stone wall, virginia oaks

I've had the luck to play all of these courses in my high school and NOVA tourney days, so I can hopefully answer any question you might have.

[dcmidnight]

If you are out in the Raspberry Falls area definitely put that at the top of your list. It is a semi-private course but their memberships IIRC run in the $4,000/yr range. It is one of my Top 5 favorite courses in the Mid Atlantic region. The also have a top notch range and golf academy, I know a handful of people who have used their instructors and raved about them. Good video on their website - or you can probably just youtube it.

Personally I would pick a course very near where you are living or working - one of the two. The Tysons area is absolutely one of the worst traffic areas around right now with not only building construction but road closures/construction from Metro work on Route 7 as well as Beltway construction for the HOT lanes. Dont pick something 45 minutes away and figure you will just scoot over after work - will never happen.

Would be happy to answer any specific questions about the area on here or PM, I worked in Tysons for a while.

[bubbagump]

Im in the area as well....

like jjcopeland was saying going a bit west and you will find alot more reasonable priced and nice courses....VA Oaks, Stonewall, Bristow Manor, Heritage Hunt, Westfields is in the Dulles area, lots around!

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='JustTheTips' timestamp='1342279227' post='5274152']
My job is transferring me to the Tysons Corner, VA area for the next 2-3 years and wondering if anyone can make some golf recommendations for play, practice, and instructors. I am looking to spend in the 1000/month category and given I am only going to be there a short time, the clubs with 50k initiation fees (or waiting lists) are out.
[/quote]


Good choices in VA, but here are some that are relatively close by in Maryland:

Ask about "trial membership" or "young professional membership" - they may all be "sign and play" right now and they may have some option that would be under $50K:

Bethesda Country Club - 15 mins from McLean - 2 courses, older style but very nice.
Four Streams Golf Club - about 45 minutes away - they were doing a membership campaign last year. Golf club only (no pool or tennis) (This one is about 45 mins from McLean). Excellent course.
Lakewood Country Club - about 25-30 minutes in Rockville - fun course.
TPC Potomac - about 15 minutes from McLean. Terrific and challenging course. Golf club only (no pool or tennis). Depending on level of membership it may have value for you too if you travel across the US.
Woodmont Country Club - if you're jewish - 20 mins from McLean - US Open qualifiers for Men and Women


If you also consider living to the Montgomery County area like Bethesda/Rockville/Darnestown/Gaithersburg (within a 30 minute commute to McLean)- you could also add:

Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring - nice course and should be very affordable.
Manor Country Club in Silver Spring


Welcome to the area.

[dcmidnight]

Eh, I wouldnt really recommend any of those for someone that works in Tysons. Cripes it could take you 15 minutes to drive from your office to the Beltway after work - let alone getting on the Beltway and really getting anywhere.

Just me though. I worked there for about a year and felt lucky just to be able to get home in one piece. Depends completely on where you live and where you are working. I'd pick the closest place. Otherwise frankly you will get sick of the traffic and probably wont go as often as you think you will.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Couple weeks late, but I'll chime in. Take it from someone who has worked in Tysons, lived in the VA suburbs and now the MD suburbs.

It all depends on where you want to live. There are big differences between living in NOVA and MD. Not saying one is better than the other, but just different. I could write pages on the clubs and the area, but I'll just give my top choice here.

I would strongly consider looking to live in Alexandria, VA. If you can afford the Old Town area that's the best part of Aleandria. (depending on family size) I would then look into Belle Haven CC (great family club and one of the best courses around) Mt. Vernon Country Club and Springfield Country Club are also close enough go join if you live in Alexandria.

Tysons is more of a work place, as you will see if you haven't already. The closest private club is Westwood CC in Vienna.

Feel free to post or PM any other questions.

[dcmidnight]

[quote name='Carolina Golfer 2' timestamp='1344025444' post='5403194']
Couple weeks late, but I'll chime in. Take it from someone who has worked in Tysons, lived in the VA suburbs and now the MD suburbs.

It all depends on where you want to live. There are big differences between living in NOVA and MD. Not saying one is better than the other, but just different. I could write pages on the clubs and the area, but I'll just give my top choice here.

I would strongly consider looking to live in Alexandria, VA. If you can afford the Old Town area that's the best part of Aleandria. (depending on family size) I would then look into Belle Haven CC (great family club and one of the best courses around) Mt. Vernon Country Club and Springfield Country Club are also close enough go join if you live in Alexandria.

Tysons is more of a work place, as you will see if you haven't already. The closest private club is Westwood CC in Vienna.

Feel free to post or PM any other questions.
[/quote]
Just FYI to the OP - all three of these clubs are going to have initiation fees in the $30k + range. Springfield was @ that much last time I checked and Mt Vernon is probably 2x that.

[larson92]

I realize that I am 10 months late to this, but Mount Vernon CC is a LOT cheaper than that. I had a friend who almost joined, and it was in the neighborhood of $5K initiation plus $5K per year. (This was maybe 1-2 years ago.)

My friend loved the place, but he just lived too far away.

[DrDon]

I'm a member at Mount Vernon CC. There are lots of deals to be made, including introductory memberships. Call the Club and talk to Liz Cooper, the membership rep.

[Va_Golfer86]

[quote name='DrDon' timestamp='1372879905' post='7382554']
I'm a member at Mount Vernon CC. There are lots of deals to be made, including introductory memberships. Call the Club and talk to Liz Cooper, the membership rep.
[/quote]

What level of membership do you have? If the previous comments on overall price are true, its not a bad deal all.

[DrDon]

I've been a full golf member since the mid-1990s.

Again, there are some introductory memberships where you can try out the Club for a year before joining. Call MVCC and get the full details. Lots of flexibility.

[raginbajin]

Another thing about going with Raspberry Falls as well is that you can play all their other courses as well such as Bull Run (which is my favorite), and Augstine, Old Hickory, and a few even up in Maryland and PA. So it gives you a lot more than just that course.