After a major renovation , the Gold Course reopened last summer with an array of new challenges and surprises .
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
➽TOP PICK :
POTOMAC SHORES GOLF CLUB
THE ONLY public Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in the D . C . area carves its way through mature hardwood forests overlooking the Potomac River , just south of Washington in Prince William County . With four sets of tees — ranked ninth in Golfweek ’ s 2018 state-by-state ranking of courses you can play — is Potomac Shores is friendly to all levels of player , and the best can tee it up from 7,020 yards . The course features elevated tees , plenty of bunkers , wetlands and water hazards .
COST BREAKDOWN $ 62 –$ 115 , with dynamic pricing .
FUN FACT Potomac Shores will host two VSGA One-Day Events in 2018
( May 30 and Oct . 31 ) and is part of the VSGA ’ s VIP Golf Card program .
DON ’ T MISS
Part of the expansive Fairfax County Parks system , Laurel Hill Golf Club in Lorton occupies the former home of a D . C . Department of Corrections facility . You can even still see guard towers from the 13th fairway . But this isn ’ t just a quirky layout . Laurel Hill has hosted multiple VSGA championships and the 2013 U . S . Amateur Public Links Championship . Rates are reasonable , ranging from $ 34 to $ 99 during summer prime-time hours .
WILLIAMSBURG / RICHMOND
➽TOP PICK
GOLDEN HORSESHOE GOLF CLUB ( GOLD )
ROBERT TRENT JONES SR . built the original Gold layout in 1963 , and son Rees Jones ’ design team spearheaded a major renovation effort , and the new-look Gold Course re-opened to rave reviews in mid-summer 2017 . With re-leveled , resurfaced and reimagined teeing grounds along with rebuilt “ Better Billy ” bunkers , the Gold Course was restored to its original glory with an eye toward the future .
New sets of tees encourage forward play . From the tips , the Gold is a world-class challenge . And the views from the four par 3s are spectacular .
The Gold remains a mainstay on Golf Digest ’ s Top 100 public list , checking in at No . 79 for 2017 – 18 .
COST BREAKDOWN $ 79 –$ 169 , depending on time of day and year .
FUN FACT
The Virginia team tied with Minnesota for second place in 1999 when the Gold Course hosted the USGA State Team Championship . Texas won by one stroke .
The par-4 11th at Potomac is a fan favorite for both its beauty and bunker enclave .
DON ’ T MISS
New Kent County is a sneaky hotbed of affordable public golf . The Rees Jones designed The Club at Viniterra , about a 20-mile drive east of downtown Richmond , is adjacent to the New Kent Winery and features an 18-hole championship course ranked eighth on a Golfweek list of courses you can play in Virginia . … Midlothian ’ s Independence Golf Club is ranked seventh on Golfweek ’ s courses-you-can-play list . It ’ s hosted multiple State Opens of Virginia and features also a nine-hole short course .
IMAGES COURESY OF THE COURSES
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