u314159290634

I live within 20 minutes of 117 holes of golf in the northern Shenandoah Valley. Blue Ridge Shadows stands out as my first go-to, with consistently good conditions, challenging but enjoyable GC architecture, and a very friendly clubhouse and field crew staff.

I'm a weekly walker here, and while I agree that this course has inherent challenges baked into the topography, I think that just means it takes multiple rounds to become familiar with the best way to approach its challenges.
Fairways and greens are in GREAT shape, especially for this point in the summer. Greens hold approach shots fine.

I'v been playing this course nearly weekly this year. The combination of consistently good conditions (tees, fairways, and greens) and a challenging layout and friendly staff and regulars keep pulling me back!

This place is a gem that apparently had been neglected at one time in the past, but it is certainly not neglected anymore, it is in great shape and fun to play. The staff are very friendly and considerate.
First, the practice tee: as a person that just enjoys hitting balls, I love this place for the large grass range that is kept in incredible shape. No mats, no ropes. Just two tiers of turf, and plenty of it. There is a range membership offered that is a great value (shh, don't let too many people know), which together with the great range conditions sets Sly Fox apart in this regard.
Second, the practice green: it is large, kept in impeccable condition, and has a sampling of the undulations you will experience on the course.
Finally, the course. Conditions and layout.
Conditions:
Conditions are good. Fairways are really nice. Greens are quite consistent, if not the fastest around. With a lot of undulation and multiple levels, it's a good thing they don't play like a tennis court. Mainly, they are consistent.
Layout:
I've only played it a half dozen times, and I'm warming to it. It's not long, but it has other ways of challenging players. There are more than the usual number of drives that you don't get to watch land, which I resented at first, but now that I know the course, I have been able to live with. The greens overall are quite large, such that pin placement can make at least a one club difference, and it definitely matters which part of the green you hit if you are going to have a reasonable chance to 2-putt.
I recommend everyone give Sly Fox a try, but better yet a few tries, to have a chance to get to know it and devise a strategy that fits it.

I've played this course about a dozen times this year starting in mid-summer, most recently this cool October morning. It has a combination of factors that make it, for me, the hands down choice in this area. First and most importantly for me, the course is in amazing condition, EVERYWHERE:
Tee boxes - generous in area, level, elevated, and high quality turf;
Fairways -so PLUSH; the turf quality of these fairways is far superior to anything I've played this year, including the better courses in this area and a couple of resort courses in the Williamsburg area. The fairways are FAIR, meaning, it's not that hard to find them off the tee.
Bunkers (nice white sand, consistent throughout the course, and drain well)
Greens - WOW. WOW. They roll fast and true, but they are NOT hard-pan, they hold approach shots very well.

The field crew is very considerate and friendly, as are the clubhouse guys.

About the layout. The first couple of rounds here are intimidating; Every hole has a forced carry, and every green is protected with a sand or water hazard. That said, my 15 index game can still settle into an enjoyable round. This course makes you learn to make good decisions, or else suffer. Like all good/great courses, the design offers you a way to play it, but you have to respect what's going to happen to you if you fail to pay attention or disregard risks.
The par 3's merit their own review: they are long. Not going to be a place to make up for a blowout on the prior hole.

Overall, I recommend this course to everyone, especially those who would be able to play it several times, because I think it deserves the effort to get to know it a little.