Looking to play the best golf courses in Virginia? GolfReviewsGuide.com picks out the top courses to play in Virginia.
With the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachians, Virginia has a lot to offer for tourist attractions. That’s especially the case since it borders the American capital region too.
Visitors to Washington D.C. that are interested in golfing should consider what Virginia has to offer. There are a number of great options to choose from in this coastal state including our top five best golf courses in Virginia.
1. Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (RTJ) is a prestigious private golf club located in Gainesville, Virginia, approximately 30 miles southwest of Washington D.C.
The club was founded and designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, who considered it his masterpiece.
The course is situated on the shores of Lake Manassas, an 850-acre reservoir, and provides stunning views and challenging water hazards.
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club has hosted several prestigious tournaments including the Presidents Cup in 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2005, the 2024 Solheim Cup and the 2015 Quicken Loans National on the PGA Tour.
With its proximity to the nation’s capital and its rich tournament history, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club has established itself as one of America’s premier golf destinations.
2. Olde Mill Golf Resort
The Olde Mill Golf Resort in Laurel Fork is one of Virginia’s true mountain‑golf standouts, an Ellis Maples design carved through rolling, wooded terrain in the early 1970s.
The course has matured beautifully over the decades, with towering trees, natural elevation changes and serene water features giving it a classic, old‑school feel rather than a modern resort look.
Playing as a par‑72 at around 7,050 yards from the back tees, Olde Mill offers plenty of challenge for lower handicaps while still remaining playable for resort and public golfers.
The routing keeps you engaged with a mix of uphill and downhill approaches, risk‑reward par 5s and par 3s that demand precise club selection.
As a resort/public venue, accessibility is one of Olde Mill’s biggest strengths. You do not have to be a member or know someone on the inside to enjoy championship‑calibre golf here – a real edge over many of Virginia’s more exclusive layouts.
3. Kinloch Golf Club
The golf course at Kinloch Golf Club is widely regarded as one of Virginia’s very best modern designs and a genuine bucket‑list play if you ever get the chance to secure a tee time.
Opened in 2001, the course is a par‑72 that stretches to around 7,203 yards from the back tees, with a routing that flows gracefully through wooded land, natural wetlands and around a central lake.
Designed by Lester George and U.S. Amateur champion Vinny Giles, Kinloch is a thoughtful, strategic layout rather than a simple test of brute strength.
Golfers can expect a distinguished golf facility that combines world‑class conditioning with intelligent architecture. Kinloch is a benchmark for modern private golf in the state.
4. Ballyhack Golf Club
Located near Roanoke, Ballyhack Golf Club delivers a completely different flavour of Virginia golf – big, bold and distinctly links‑inspired.
Opened in 2009, this private course is a par‑72 that stretches to approximately 7,294 yards from the back tees, playing across dramatic, open terrain with expansive vistas of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
Designed by Lester George, Ballyhack embraces a rugged, old‑world aesthetic. Fairways are wide but rarely flat, with sweeping contours, bold elevation changes and natural landforms influencing every shot.
The bunkering is one of Ballyhack’s defining features. These are large, dramatic, sometimes intimidating hazards that shape the visuals from the tee and frame many approach shots.
Views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains add a spectacular backdrop to many holes and despite its relative youth, Ballyhack has already garnered significant critical acclaim and has featured in national rankings as one of Virginia’s modern classics.
5. Shenandoah Valley Golf Club
Shenandoah Valley Golf Club, located near Front Royal, offers one of the most versatile setups in Virginia with 27 holes split across three nine‑hole courses: the Red, the White and the Blue.
Opened in 1966, this historic golf facility sits in a picturesque pocket of the Shenandoah Valley, framed by views towards the Blue Ridge Mountains and rolling countryside.
Each of the three nines has its own character while maintaining a consistent feel in terms of conditioning and style. The nines can be combined in different 18‑hole rotations and this flexibility is a major draw.
The design is classic parkland, with tree‑lined fairways, gentle elevation changes and a mix of holes that reward both accuracy and sensible course management.
The location – less than an hour’s drive from the Washington, D.C. area under normal conditions – makes Shenandoah Valley an excellent escape from the city.