What can people tell me about Army Navy CC (Arlington/Fairfax)?

[J Sadowsky]

I'm starting the process of looking to move out to the suburbs and one of many considerations is being near a golf club that I might like to join (and that my wife would approve of joining).  I have so far liked the photos I have seen of the Mandell renovation/restoration of the course, but have not had the chance to play as of yet.

So a few questions:

Of those that have played the Arlington course post-renovation (or the post-renovated Fairfax holes), what are your thoughts?

Is it true that Donald Ross played a part in the original Arlington design?  I've seen some claims to that regard but it seems like the course was laid out by a member, Mayor Richard D. Newman (mayor of what, I do not know).

How would the course design rank among other private courses in the DC area?   

[Tom MacWood]

According to Cornish & Whitten Herbert Strong designed the course.

[Bill_McBride]

Justin, we lived in the Mantua neighborhood of Fairfax from 1983-1995.  I was a member of CC of Fairfax which is a bit of a strange course because of all the ridges over which blind tee shots are played.  I loved it mostly because of all the good friends I played with but it may be worth a look.  Jonathan Cummings is not a fan but what's he know?  

I never did play Army Navy Arlington but played quite a bit at the Fairfax course.   I thought it was an okay course, nothing special, but hear the changes were mostly positive.

One really important consideration in choosing a club in Northern Virginia is where you live.  You know how the traffic is there!    

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have played the Fairfax course and it was ok.  I think the course gets a bit crowded.  I think there may be better alternatives, depending what you what in a club and where you live.  Have you chosen a suburb yet?

[J Sadowsky]

I have played the Fairfax course and it was ok.  I think the course gets a bit crowded.  I think there may be better alternatives, depending what you what in a club and where you live.  Have you chosen a suburb yet?

Not yet, though there are some we like more than others (and golf is not going to be the only/main factor).  Our favorite area is Chain Bridge/Arlingwood, but I do not think we are ready to fork over $70k+ for a course (Ross or not), particularly one that is as narrow as WGCC is.

We're essentially looking at Yorktown, W-L, McLean, George Mason, and BCC school districts (pretty much in that order), with a preference to having as short a commute to the city as possible.  We're less open to being in Wakefield or Stuart.

To get my wife on board, I think we'd need a place with around a 25-30k initiation and $500/mo max fees, that is reasonable enough to replace a health club and swim club.  It'd also need to have at least some diversity in its membership (a club that is majority-minority, such as Woodmont, would be an exception, but Woodmont is more than we'd be looking to spend anyways).   Obviously, clubs are not transparent as to their cost structure (e.g., no idea whether Belle Haven or Kenwood would be feasible), but it appears the options would be Army-Navy, something out in Reston, Mount Vernon, or National Golf Club at Tantallon, and the others are not exactly close to the places we'd most like to live.  This is a problem for the reasons you and Bill point out.

Essentially, it's appearing likely that given the places we want to live, the choice is really going to be between ANCC and no club at all.  The question is whether the quality of the architecture and the ease of getting on, playing a round, and getting off is worth it.  Otherwise, it will require treks out to Twin Lakes/Laurel Hill/Westfield to play.  With added travel time and long weekend rounds, that would really cut down on my opportunities to golf once the kids start coming - which is what is causing the interest in moving out of the city in the first instance.

If only Prince George had good schools.  Ah, tradeoffs.

Thanks, everyone.

[Bill_McBride]

Justin, our kids went to Woodson HS and it was outstanding.   Give the folks at CC of Fairfax a call and get in a round.  It's a good combination.  

[Andy Hughes]

Justin, Montgomery County is the place to be.  Right across the line from DC and fantastic schools.

[Jamie Van Gisbergen]

Justin it may have changed but Army Navy CC membership used to be available only to active duty or prior service commissioned officers from the US military. That may have changed but I don't think so...or you may meet the criteria. The courses are ok, I think they have 3 total, a little short but fun.

[Jonathan Cummings]

Justin - Bill has me pegged!

It may be a tad out of your price range ($85k to join) but the freshest new course in northern VA will re-open this weekend.  I'm doing pieces for both the USGA and GolfStyles on River Bend so I just toured it with the superintendent - Tom Litscomb.  This Keith Foster redo is down right fantastic - old country with rock walls, fields of tall wispy fescues, integral tees/greens, all minus about a billion trees from the old Ault/Jamisen design.   Where once you could barely see the hole you were playing, now in places you can see parts of most all the holes on the golf course.  Can't wait to play it next month.

JC

[Jerry Kluger]

Justin: Richard Mandell just did a great renovation of both courses.  They regrassed the greens with bent and regrassed the fairways with Bermuda.  Not a total redesign but removed and replaced quite a few bunkers and gave them a more rugged look with long grasses around the edges.  Really well done and certainly a dramatic improvement.  The membership is definitely limited to military personnel so I wouldn't count on it. 

Your alternatives in Northern Virginia are expensive except for maybe Hidden Creek in Reston.  In Maryland you have more options for reasonably priced clubs such as Norbeck and Argyle.  You also have the option of TPC Potomac where you need to contact them and I know of some people who negotiated a pretty good deal with them but that is not member owned and gets a lot of outside play. 

[mike_beene]

what is the club on chain bridge close to lawyers road?It has been years but I played it a few times and it was ok and in pretty good shape?I would guess it's not as expensive.

[Andy Shulman]

The club Mike's referring to is, I believe, Westwoods CC.  It's a very nice course, but it's about to close until next year for a makeover.  And, the initiation fee is $60K+, so it sounds like it's out.

The real issue for you is that, except for Bethesda, there are no clubs close to the communities in which you're planning to live.  It seems like you'd want to be no more than 10-15 minutes from a club so your family can enjoy the pool and other amenities.  Putting that issue aside, if you end up living in McLean, you should consider the aforementioned Hidden Creek about 20 minutes away in Reston.  A friend just played there and said he liked the Ault/Clark course more than Westwoods.  They have three initiation fee options, all under $25K, with a portion of the fee refundable under two of those options.  The monthly fees are around $450.

Maybe an annual membership at a place like Westfields ($5,700) is the way to go so you can get early weekend tee times and avoid the dreaded 5+ hour round.

[Bill Gayne]

I grew up in McLean, 70s and early 80s, and our family had membership at Kenwood and it worked out well. However, the traffic around DC is much greater today than it was back in the day. I wouldn't rule out Montgomery County clubs living in Virginia and if you're working in DC.