I’m in Arlington as well. Play mostly out at Twin Lakes, Pleasant Valley, Bull Run, Stonewall. Haven’t played UMd yet. Heard good things about it. I need to play some MD courses this year. Have only played Falls Road, Whiskey, Blue Mash and the front 9 at Worthington Manor due to rain.
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Not that I know of? But for the low price of $5,000 you can put a bench out there for him. I always thought this list was hilarious:
I’ve played quite a few times over the years. Played it as a junior in AJGA/MAPGA events and it was solid. I’ve played a handful of times over the last decade (as s swim coach we have meets at UMD often and I sneak over for a round in between sessions). Definitely still in good shape and pretty easy to get to (I’m in Arlington). Fairly open course that is a nice reprieve from the claustrophobia I feel at ANCC Arlington day in and day out. Shouldn’t lose too many balls unless you are waaaay off line. That being said it’s still a challenge and gives you some risk reward holes to make some decisions about where you want the ball to go off the tee. Pretty hilly, and if its not rolling much it can play really long. Worth a round per year if you live in the DMV.
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I live about two minutes from ANCC, so I’ll trust your judgment about it being easy to get to haha. I’m a member at Hidden Creek out in Reston and make that haul somewhat regularly, so I don’t mind an early drive out for dawn patrol. I’ll have to check it out sometime soon after hearing these reviews.
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2nd hole is my underated best hole in the area
Great public course.
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I played with a UMD student Sunday who claims the course is closing after this year for housing and the metro line extension.
I’ve been hearing grumbling of this for years of course, but he seemed very sure it was actually happening this time.
Doubt it, apparently the UMD would like to develop it into a parking lot and lacrosse field and threaten to do so every so often. There’s quite a bit of opposition between the membership and wildlife conservation folks to it so I don’t think there’s an immediate threat.
As mentioned the first and second holes are an absolutely brutal test from the yellows and blacks and don’t sleep on 14 or 18.
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I’ve wondered about potential for redevelopment for a lot of courses throughout the area. At some point, whether courses are privately owned or owned by counties, there’s got to be some consideration to redevelop based on the value of land in the area for housing, which doesn’t seem to show any sign of slowing down. Rumors have been swirling for years about Reston Natty and Hidden Creek (good luck getting through Reston Association).
Would hate to see a great course like UMD get redeveloped.
A truly terrifying thought. Public golf courses inside the beltway and really the entire DC Metro are endangered species. While I look forward to what NLT is doing at Langston and East Potomac it’s still not enough public golf.
Going to school in Florida and working in South Jersey really spoiled me before moving down to the DC metro two years ago. Not many options and a ton of demand summarizes it nicely.
Check out the course at UMD, I think you guys will be shocked for the value. Some really solid elevation change, good greens and different layout. Plus the group of members I play with are great.
My trip has potentially changed and it looks like I will be spending more time in the Cobbs Creek area so I am looking for some add’l recommendation for the E/SE VA and NE NC area. Right now my list looks like;
- Royal New Kent
Golden Horseshoe- Scotch Hall (2.5 hrs, maybe too far)
- Benevue CC (3 hrs, likely too far)
- Piankatank River GC (very close)
- Viniterra
I live in Richmond and I’ve played RNK, Golden Horseshoe (green and gold) and Pinkatank. Honestly wouldn’t recommend Golden Horseshoe. Gold is not worth the money in my opinion, and green isn’t that great. My experience on Gold was height of COVID, we had to use Green’s pro-shop/practice area and started on #7 which just kind of threw us off. It was in decent shape but nothing to go crazy about. Green just seemed kind of shitty to be honest. I don’t remember 1 hole from there. I’d rather play RNK or Viniterra than either Golden Horseshoe course.
RNK is typical Strantz, I would recommend it. They claim to be “Irish Golf” but I don’t really know why, so I wouldn’t go in expecting links type golf.
Played Piankatank once, front 9 is tight through woods, back 9 has a couple holes right along the river and is beautiful. Pro-shop guys were awesome, would recommend.
Viniterra isn’t far from RNK and is one of my favorite layouts. Ton of different tees to play, I haven’t been there in about 8 or 9 months so can’t speak to its conditioning but I love the layout.
An under the radar course to check on is King Carter Golf Club. Should be about 20-30 minutes from Cobbs Creek area. It’s been at least 4 years since I played there but I remember it being in good shape and not many other players.
I can’t speak to the other courses on your list, but seems like you have a good trip lined up - enjoy!
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I think you make some solid points, though if you want to walk Viniterra and RNK are not the easiest.
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Yes very true there, especially Viniterra. There are a couple holes where it’s 5 minutes from green to next tee in a cart
Is King Carter Golf Club part of Golden Eagle or are they different entities?
Edit: Looks like King Carter GC closed for good in 2018
Nope you’re correct - the King Carter I referenced is closed and was not part of Golden Eagle. I knew it had been a while since I’d played it!
Never been to Tides Inn or played their golf course, but I would imagine it is very nice (if you can make a tee time without staying there).
How about Mattaponi Springs, Kiskiack or Independence GC? They worth playing?
Independence is worth playing for the experience/environment. It’s a weird round, but an entertaining course. They have Lexus beer carts.
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Independence took a ton of bunkers out a few years ago and re-did their greens. It’s pretty open, usually in incredible shape, looking at like $85 off-season mid week tee time.
Mattaponi has a fair amount of elevation change and some cool holes, I think $80 for a weekend tee time and $60 for mid week.
If you’re thinking about Independence, check out Magnolia Green. That place is awesome, similar price point but a much better course design in my opinion. A lot more variability and similar price point, but would be a further drive.
Kiskiack is ok, it’s been a couple years since I played it. I remember it being a fair price and in decent but not great shape.
If price/drive time aren’t issues, I’d rank them Magnolia Green, Independence, Mattaponi, Kiskiack
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If you’ve never stayed in the cabins behind the driving range did you even really play Independence?
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I didn’t know that was an option and now I must return.