Location » Lorton, Va.
Phone » 703-493-8849
Fees » $89 Friday-Sunday; $74 Monday-Thursday
Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope
71/7,010/74.6/145
Conditions » 4
Layout » 5
Facilities » 4
Value » 3
Description » Links-style municipal course built on land formerly occupied by Lorton Reformatory. Guard towers and most of the buildings remain from the dormitory-style jail, which closed in 2001. Many of the structures are visible from the course, giving Laurel Hill a unique signature.
Reasons to play » This is easily the D.C. area’s best municipal course. It has the feel of an upscale public since it stretches over a large tract of land (280 acres), still amazingly in Fairfax County. The well-conditioned course has true greens, a creative layout, an attractive clubhouse and a spacious, high-quality practice area.
Love-ingly designed » Laurel Hill designer Bill Love also performed the acclaimed renovation to the home course of the college team for which he played, the University of Maryland.
Pasteurization » In addition to housing prisoners, this also used to be a Nike missile site, but that’s not why there are three silos on the course, including one off the first fairway. The reformatory ran a dairy farm on much of the land that the course now occupies.
National exposure » In a coup for the Fairfax County Park Authority, Laurel Hill was awarded the 2013 U.S. Amateur Public Links, a tournament that features the nation’s best amateurs not affiliated with a private club. Positive reviews from the Virginia Amateur Public Links (2009-10) and recent Public Links sectional qualifiers helped Laurel Hill land the prestigious event. This year, the Public Links will be played at majestic Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast. Past Public Links winners include PGA Tour players Billy Mayfair, Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman, Ryan Moore and Brandt Snedeker.
No can do attitude » A government course unfortunately also comes with government employees. Since it opened, the infamous staff at Laurel Hill has wavered between unwelcoming and downright hostile. No truth to the rumor that they’re DMV rejects.
Signature hole
No. 18, par 5, 562 yards
Troublesome tee shot with penal bunkers left and waist-high environmental mess to the right and cutting across the fairway. The approach has water guarding the right side of the green. But this hole plays much shorter than on the card and can be reached with a pair of bold, accurate shots.
Toughest hole
No. 6, par 4, 500 yards
The longest par 4 on the course epitomizes big, brawny Laurel Hill, which has four par 4s that measure more than 440 yards. The long holes, however, have plenty of room off the tee and play to large, unguarded greens, so blast away.
Dramatic hole
No. 3, par 4, 452 yards
Players hit over a ravine and through a chute of trees to a wide fairway that slopes straight uphill. Don’t expect any roll here. Long, blind approach uphill to a deep, two-tiered green. Check the pin placement.
Jailhouse rock
No. 10, par 4, 350 yards
Tee off toward the old prison complex on the first of five holes on the back nine. The old maximum security buildings are apparent. This stretch of the course is sparse but is the favorite of many.
