Mike:
I just looked back at the photo thread on Columbia. It's in 500% better shape now than back when I saw it, that much is for sure.
However, I don't think many courses' routings can be compared favorably with The Valley Club's. It's like one of those nesting Russian dolls, or a little musical jewel box, in the way it folds back in on itself, particularly from holes 3 thru 12 on the other side of the road from the clubhouse. The same little tree-covered hill in the center serves as the backdrop for #3 and #10 greens, and to give a bit of elevation to the tees at #4, #8 and #11 (all par threes).
Columbia did have a few very cool greens, which I would attribute to Walter Travis just as an educated guess, but if it was really as good a set of 18 greens, I am surprised I don't remember more about them.
Like Tom, I have played the Valley Club (many rounds) and Columbia (10 rounds or so) but never Moraine.
The golf course at Columbia is terrific. There is good variety, some excellent short and some excellent long par 4's, a very good set of par 3's, and non-memorable par 5's except #5 which is very good. There's good topography, hilly but an easy walk. Like most of the DC area this topography is choppy, you play over abrupt ridges several times. It's definitely better than average. If I were allowed to suggest Doak scores, I'd say a 6.
The Valley Club is miles ahead, a strong 8 or maybe 9 after a lot of recent work.
The greens have a lot more contours and are flat terrifying in some places. The bunkering is large and plentiful.
The routing, as Tom says, is amazing. It's out and back, with a series of isolated holes from 3-12, across Sheffield Road, after the open feeling that sets the stage with two par 5 starters and the great close that is 13-18. The intimacy combined with clever use of the creeks, much like Pasatiempo, has you singing to yourself all day.
No secret it's my favorite golf course, all the way back to college golf days at UCSB when we were allowed to play on that private paradise a couple of times a year.
Columbia is a very good course but it is outclassed in this contest.