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Yes, the Pines Golf Course is located on an active Military Base...so you just can't walk on (for all of those who didn't realize). It's very easy, though...when you call to make a tee time ask the process for getting a pass to get on the base to play golf. They take your name, birthdate, and drivers license and initiate the check with the base. I called on a Wednesday and picked up my pass on Friday for play on Sunday. Easy! Now for the course...it is a typical "low country/tidal basin" type course--very flat, with lots of pine trees and some sections of marsh. It was in good shape, although not the same as a corporate course with Bermuda fairways and more character and challenge. The fairways were good as were the greens, which were running faster than I thought they would. The bunkers were a little inconsistent, with some wet dirt and others (especially the back nine) were fluffy sand. There weren't many people there (which surprised me), and I waited just about every hole but still played in 3.5 hours. It just seemed longer because of waiting, but it was a beautiful day and I just took my time and enjoyed the day. They had a special for $20, so that was a real bargain. The course is nice to play while in the Williamsburg area--reasonably priced, nicely kept, but takes a little to ensure you'll have access to base.

I used to play Pleasant Valley a lot, but haven't for approximately 7 years...mostly due to the poor course conditions. However, I met a friend there this morning. We had no one in front or behind us (tee'd off at 9:15) and we walked at a nice pace--done in less than 4 hours. I was very surprised at the course conditions--the tee boxes and fairways were green and lush with no dirt spots. They were both a little long--just seemed they hadn't gotten the mowers out in a while. But, it was still very playable. The greens were also a little long, but rolled straight and true--just had to hit it a tad harder to get the ball to the hole. After playing, we went in to get something to eat. Wonderful staff who waited on us hand and foot, and wanted to ensure we were happy. Also met the owner (Susie) who was delightful and talked about addressing some of the concerns she received via feedback (i.e., hard tee boxes), so they are trying to improve the course. They are a small family owned course so they need support and not to be held to the same standards as corporate courses with large budgets. BTW, they have a Wednesday special for $36 breakfast, lunch and 18 holes of golf. What a deal! Their food is good and the course, although nothing fancy, is a decent layout, walkable, reasonably priced, and in good condition.

I walked on and played with a father and son from New York. We had an early tee time, and saw no one going to the tee for over 10 minutes, so we snuck out and never saw anyone in front of or behind us! Glad we didn't wait but slipped out early. The course was in excellent condition from tee to green. The course is challenging with lots of sloped fairways, unpredictable bounces, and some holes requiring target golf. Most fairways are wide, but still require course management to ensure you end up in a good spot. I always enjoy this course, and did on this day as well because of the twosome I joined and the pace of play. Seemed like we had the entire course to ourselves. Always able to recommend Viniterra.

I play Blue Mash once or twice a year. With the Tee Time Digital Golf Pass, a foursome was $45 so we decided to drive over (over an hour for many of us). I love the layout with a variety of risk/reward holes and some easy scoring holes. The greens were super fast and most holes were in good condition. However, when we made the turn, #10 was filled with 10 guys aerating the fairway, using blowers (hand and machine), and waving us up to play...and not getting out of the way. It was very distracting, both with the multitude of people out there and all the plugs laying on the surface. So, we played over the heads of the guys (because they didn't get out of the way). The same thing happened on #18...the course should have taken those two holes out of play while they were working on them. Additionally, all the par 3's had the forward/red tees back at the white tees. We assumed they were trying to save the forward tee boxes, but moving the tees two boxes back? We found out when we came in that, oops! They had moved them back for the par 3 closest to the pins for a tournament the day before and forgot to move them back! They sent someone out to fix it--too late for our scores, though. Finally, when we went in to have lunch, the kitchen was closed due to deep cleaning. Every time I play Blue Mash, the forward tees are not where they are supposed to be on the par 3's and something else is going on. Maybe just bad luck (or timing) for me, but I won't go back again this year. Great layout, but too many other distractions for me.

I haven't played since last year and was really surprised at course conditions. First, the layout of the course is one of my favorites and pretty spectacular views winding around the reservoir. There are only houses on two holes, otherwise it's all wilderness and beautiful scenic views of the water. Our foursome walked and we went out at 7:10 (instead of our 7:20 tee time because there were no shows) and it was cool and peaceful walking the course. The staff were nice (pro shop, starter, and snack bar). Unfortunately, the positives end there. The fairways were thin and bare throughout, there was goose droppings all over the course, and the bunkers were hard with more dirt than sand. I was very disappointed, as I really like the layout. I can't recommend the course at this time, especially because of the course conditions and a senior rate of $46 on a Tuesday to walk! I may try it again next year, but not this year.

I haven't played Little Bennett in probably 6-7 years. After today, now I remember why! The good points: course in excellent condition (beautiful vistas, landscaping, and fairways); 10 minute tee times allows a great pace of play with groups spreading out on a difficult course; friendly staff everywhere on the course; and a nice snack bar after the round. The bad points: the greens were almost unfair (I'm not a scratch golfer, but stay between 15-16 hcp) and these greens were unputtable; good shots were penalized on approach because you couldn't stick a green; even if you hit a green, and these greens are so hard and sloped the ball will run off. For a public course, I'm at a loss why MCG has the greens this difficult and hard to play. I play golf for fun and enjoyment--today was neither of those things. It's a beautiful course and well kept, but I will not return. I will go to other courses that provide the opportunity for some fun and not the frustration I experienced today.

The Bridges is a 1.5 hour drive for me, but it's definitely worth the trip. I try to play there once or twice each year. Today was a sunny, breezy day in August in the low 80's, and the weather was perfect. The course was in excellent condition with tee boxes, fairways and greens flawless. I didn't see but one fairway that had some brown spots--the majority of the course was green and lush. The rough was not overly long or penal. And the bunkers were in good shape. My only frustration was the speed of the greens--fast, fast, fast. And, I misread most of the greens. I rolled a putt to 2 inches from the hole on #9, and it rolled backward to a foot from the hole! The undulations and breaks were difficult to read and really impacted the roll of the putt. I never got the hang of the greens...most of my score is attributable to too many putts! The staff is great at The Bridges. We had lunch after our round in the upstairs Dining Room and our waitress and food were excellent. The Tee Time Digital Golf Pass had a senior special for $32--that is really a deal for this course!

Even though really hot today, I wanted to play some golf so made a tee time for a single. I signed up with a twosome to ensure I had someone to play with. The course was in great condition. Years ago, Williamsburg National seemed to be going downhill--but over the past three-four years they have really put some TLC into the course and it is a regular for me now when I'm in the Williamsburg area. The tee boxes, fairways, and greens were in great shape. I wasn't in any bunkers, but noticed in passing that some had standing water in them. The rough was penal, though. It wasn't overly long, but it was a bit coarse and narley. It was really "springy" on the wedges and you ended up coming up short because your club bounced off the springy bermuda. I learned quick enough and took another longer club. We got behind a fairly slow threesome--just some guys out to have a nice social outing with each other. With the 103 heat index, it seemed like it took forever but it only ended up being a little over 4 hours. I definitely will play Williamsburg National again...both courses are in great shape and the staff is very friendly.

Extremely hot day with a heat index of 105. However, there was a nice, gentle breeze and plenty of trees lining the fairways and the cart paths to get some shade. The Starter was nice but a little casual about his tee sheet. I was a single and, if I hadn't inquired and pushed a little, I would have been a single, behind a single, behind a threesome...with a twosome behind me. Didn't make sense for pace of play and managing the flow of the course. So, I paired up with the other single and we blew through the threesome in front of us and the foursome in front of them...only to find an open course. We never saw anyone from the 8th hole in. We were able to set our own pace then and played in 4 hours on a Saturday. The course is in excellent condition. Tee boxes, fairways, and greens were excellent. The bunkers were questionable, but they were still wet and holding some water from recent rain--thank goodness I was only in one but it took me a little to get out of the "mud." I love the layout of Brickshire--a nice mix of risk/reward holes, easy and challenging. It has a little bit of something for everyone. Always try to get to Brickshire once or twice a year when I'm in Williamsburg. Definitely worth playing.

I played The Lakes last in 2020. I keep hoping my experience will be different each time I "try it again," but it's always the same...I just don't enjoy the round. In fairness to the course, the night before were torrential rains so it was CPO (rightly so). We did preferred lies because there was standing water everywhere. My usual complaint is still the same...the rough is very inconsistent and very long so I just don't like playing out of it. And, there are a couple of holes that force a lay up (at least for me), and those holes along with a couple of others simply don't fit my eye. It was a good price ($50 senior rate and $58 in Tee Time), but it still was a long day when you don't like the course. It might be someone else's "cup of tee," but not mine. Will be a while until I try it again...maybe I'll be smart enough to stick with The River course.

I try to play the Links at Gettysburg a couple of times a year, but this was my first time this year (2023). I love the layout of this course--you simply won't get bored with the "same old, same old," as every hole is different, interesting, and requires some thought around where to place your ball. The first two holes are pretty short, but don't let that fool you...there's plenty to consider about shot shape, the distance in for your second shot to the green, and making sure you carry the ditches. You turn the corner to go to #3 and see a short par 3 with what looks like a "red rock" cliff behind the green. Always a stunner--even when you know what to expect--because you simply don't expect this look in PA. Same with #8--"red rock" cliffs. Just beautiful. I think the front is more visually beautiful, except for #18 with the waterfall on the cliff behind the green. The back, though, is a bit harder with so much water in play and the narrowing of the landing zones--have to think about where to place the ball and more thought to course management. #12 is another short par 3 with a beautiful bridge (and the one in many of their course photos). There are a lot of risk/reward holes, but do give consideration to course management to save you some shots. My only major concern today was pace of play...a small group in front of us that were just slow. Took 5 hours today and didn't need to. It was cart path only due to the overnight rain, but it still didn't need to take the many hours.

I used to play Challedon several times a year, but haven't been there since the pandemic. I had seen some comments about "an infestation of ground bees on the greens" and that it was recently aerated after I booked the tee time. However I have to say the course was in good condition. The tee boxes were a little shaggy, but nothing too bad, and there were little stones/rocks in some of the bunkers but easily removed (which USGA Rules now allow). The fairways were green and in good condition. There was only one hole on the front 9 which showed a little "wear and tear." The aeration was not a big problem and we only saw ground bees on three greens (One of the workers came out on #2 green while we were there to try to kill them...with a racket, no less!) Pace of play was excellent--we were done in a little less than 4 hours. All in all, I think some of the feedback is unfounded. Challedon is in great condition and I will definitely play again.

Hampshire Greens is a beautiful course...and always in great condition. Tee boxes, fairways, bunkers and greens all in excellent shape. The fairways were being cut while we were there, and they were lush and with very few bare spots in any of the fairways. The bunkers had very nice sand. And, the greens were being punched (with small holes) while we were there, but they were still rolling true. This course has a nice mix of risk/reward holes and you have to be thoughtful where you want to place the ball because of slope, bounces, and narrow landing zones. The course is always a treat! My only bad experience today was with the management. We had the first tee time, but was asked to delay because they put out a foursome in front of us who "wanted to go out earlier than their 7:20 tee time." With some discussion, the Starter pulled those guys and we went out first as we should have. That foursome was so slow that two groups played through them on the front 9--one twosome blew past us on #2. They didn't hold us up, but it's clear management lost track of where everyone was and people jumping in front of others. This is a public course and this kind of favoritism doesn't bode well for those of us who follow the rules. This is the second time this has happened to me at this course, so I'm very weary. I love the course, but how I'm treated will affect decisions on whether or not to return. I have to think about it...

I have played all the Montgomery County courses and they are always in great shape and provide some good quality golf. I had never played Laytonsville, so our foursome decided to try it on a Saturday morning. It is very short...forward tees a little over 4200 yards and the tips a little over 6300 yards. It was an extremely hot day and was surprised there wasn't more shade on the course in the way of trees you could sit under. And, we waited every hole, every shot! As for the course, the rough was pretty long, and although the fairways were cut, it was sometimes a challenge to determine the fairways from the rough--maybe it was the way they were cut, but from the tee box it was tough to differentiate. Fairways were narrow and in decent shape, and the bunkers appeared to have nice sand in them. I thought the layout was pretty boring overall--but with the layout and length, this would be a good starter course for new players. It's definitely not up to par with the other Montgomery County courses. At least I played it once, but won't book it again.

Poolesville is not as well known as some of the other Montgomery County courses, but is always in excellent condition. Today was no exception. The fairways and greens were filled in nicely, and the rough was thick and lush...and a bit penal. I rated the course difficulty as moderate (vs. easy) because the greens are pretty small and, therefore, harder to hit and stick. They also were a little faster than I remembered and had some nuances in undulation. They have put new red/forward tees in and shortened the golds--both are still not rated for the Women. They should have a temporary rating available until an on-course rating can be completed, however they don't (so, unless you know the new yardage and can use the USGA Unrated Tees Chart to recalculate the slope/rating, you can't post the score in GHIN). Luckily, I know how to do that so I did the calculations and manually posted the score. It's been a couple of months since these tees have been in play, so not sure why a temporary rating is not available in the Pro Shop for players (per USGA policies). In any event, the course is in excellent condition and is a nice layout. It's over an hour drive for me, but worth it.

I last played Geneva Farm in 2020 right after the restrictions were lifted on golf course closures for the Pandemic. (Seems like a life-time ago.) I met friends there this week. I've never been a big fan of this course, however I was pleasantly surprised this trip. The fairways were green and lush, and the greens were filled in nicely and rolling true, although very slow. The rough was also thick and, as a result, fairly penal. The fairways, greens and rough were all a little long--they needed cutting--but we just assumed they hadn't been cut yet for the week, and adjusted our strategy of play. This course has a lot of elevation changes, blind shots and a mix of wide and narrow fairways, so course management is important. The bunkers were a little inconsistent in terms of depth and feel of the sand, but I was able to play out of the few I was in. It was a good pace of play and we had a wonderful lunch after our round. The food is always good and the staff is very attentive and friendly. For a local course, it's quite the challenge and looks like management is trying to keep up with the demands of course maintenance.

Clustered Spires is always booked...it's a very popular local golf course and has a lot of play. I felt fortunate to get an early tee time on a Saturday...the four of us drove about an hour to get there. The course was in excellent condition--greens were a tad fast but certainly playable, and the greens were in great shape. The rough was a little penal, but you just needed to take an additional club to get out of it (or stay in the fairway). The pace of play was a tad slow and, with 90+ degree temps, we were looking for trees to wait under. I was surprised there was no access to the Pro Shop (to save AC costs as another reviewer mentioned), but check in was still easy and efficient from outside at the little window. If you can get a tee time, Clustered Spires is always a good challenge and a nice tract.

My annual trek to Hagerstown, Black Rock is always a solid choice for a weekend round. It's reasonably priced (recognizes Veterans for a discount even on weekends), the pace of play is good, and course conditions are always excellent. Each hole is unique with elevation changes, blind shots, and extremely small greens--target golf at its best! We had friends meet us there (it's almost 1.5 hours), but they are always game to play Black Rock. Worth the trip they say...as do we! They are remodeling the club house, so the snack bar was not opened, but they generally have pretty good food. Black Rock is a hidden gem!

I have a condo in Williamsburg (I live in MD) and play every month I'm there. Williamsburg National is always on my list. I had friends visit in June and Yorktown was an easy choice to invite them to play. The course was in excellent condition, and provides a good challenge...especially the par 3 #14 with the huge tiered green! Out of the three courses they played with me, this one was their favorite. Both courses are always in great shape and provides a solid test. The grill is also wonderful with a full menu of options and a welcoming (and quick) wait staff. You can't go wrong playing either course at Williamsburg National.

I haven't played this course in several years, and wanted to try it again. It is very challenging--you need to think your way around this course and course management is extremely important. Just gripping it and ripping it will only get you into trouble. There are lots of carries over ravines, narrowing of fairways, slopes and unfavorable bounces, and strategically placed bunkers...unless you think your way through each shot. There are two holes that are brutal--#5 and #16. Take your time and work through where you want to land your shots--it probably isn't a driver and probably includes a lay up. The course was in great condition for late November. The rough was not too terrible, and the fairways and greens were in good shape. I joined a group at 11:30 and we were done in plenty of time before it got dark at 4:30. Even though it was fairly busy (on a 65 degree November day), the pace was good. If you like a challenge but playable course, Colonial Heritage will give you both.