Yes, there are fabulous boardrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and comfy chairs, and fine-dining establishments with great ambience and even better food, not to mention technologically advanced convention centers and hotel meeting spaces.
But still, nothing says networking and making business deals like a round of golf on a scenic course.
Northern Virginia is home to a number of possibilities for groups interested in a tried and true outing that allows attendees time to work on their swings and mingle with coworkers in the fresh air.
Lansdowne Resort, Leesburg
Lansdowne Resort, with courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Greg Norman, is home to 45 of the most popular holes of golf in the Washington, D.C., area.
The final four holes of the Norman course’s front nine—equal to exactly one mile—prompted Norman to call it “the hardest mile in golf,” according to Daniela Zambrano, marketing manager for Lansdowne Resort.
“Some say it is the hardest course in the mid-Atlantic,” she says, adding, “The RTJ II course offers a scenic 7,063 yards of rolling Virginia countryside with perfectly manicured greens.”
According to David Bell, golf sales manager at the resort, Lansdowne facilitates golf outings ranging in size from 12 to 288 people, and offers various contests such as Beat the Pro, Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin.
“Food and beverage is catered within the resort and the options are endless,” he adds. “The resort can do everything from on-course chef stations or custom action stations following golf to smaller, more price-conscious options for the outing on a budget.”
Lansdowne features 55,000 square feet of meeting space, including the new Terrace Ballroom, which opened within the last year and offers sweeping views of the golf course and Potomac River.
Westfields Golf Club, Clifton
This Fred Couples-designed course is one of the most desirable destinations for golf in Virginia, according to Ali Morris, destination marketing manager for Visit Fairfax.
“The course was designed to highlight Northern Virginia’s rolling hills and scenic woodlands,” she says. “It’s truly a stunning landscape in a quiet and serene setting, allowing golfers to play without distraction.”
Morris adds that the land the course sits on has historical significance dating back to the Civil War, when it served as a field hospital.
Westfields Golf Club is a Marriott-managed facility with its own banquet and clubhouse space for events, and it’s also associated with the nearby Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Hotel, which has an additional 40,000 square feet of event space.
Laurel Hill Golf Club, Lorton
“What’s unique about this course is the history,” Morris says. “It was built on land that formerly housed the historic D.C. Department of Corrections facility at Lorton. The land also has historical ties to the Cold War and the Revolutionary War.”
The course, which was ranked one of the Best Municipal Courses in the U.S. by GolfWeek, allows natural beauty to dictate its character.
The centerpiece of the golf club is the 9,400-square-foot clubhouse, which has meeting/event facilities, catering/dining options, a pro shop and more.
PageBreak
Potomac Shores Golf Club, Potomac Shores
The picturesque Jack Nicklaus-designed Potomac Shores Golf Club opened in April 2014 along the banks of the Potomac River.
“The Head Golf Pro will work with groups to create the perfect tournament experience,” says Nicole Warner, marketing and communications specialist for the Prince William County & Manassas CVB. “From cart placecards to custom group menus, the possibilities are endless.”
A full-service restaurant, Tidewater Grill, is located in the clubhouse, which, according to Warner, provides the perfect backdrop for rest and relaxation after a group tournament.
She says groups can plan a seated dinner for 40 guests or a cocktail reception for up to 60 in Tidewater Grill’s fire-lit dining room, or take the party outside on the brick patio, which has seating for up to 40 people. For larger gatherings, combine the two spaces or book the event lawn, which accommodates up to 150 people and overlooks the 18th fairway.
Stonewall Golf Club at Lake Manassas, Gainesville
This challenging Tom Jackson-designed golf course is filled with history, according to Warner, including a connection to its namesake, Confederate Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.
“The seasoned staff will assist in making each tournament tailored to the group,” she says, adding that tournament packages include green fees, golf carts, merchandise gift certificates, cart signage, on-course contest setup and more.
Stonewall also offers accommodations for corporate events, including the elegant Magnolia Room, which features floor-to-ceiling windows providing panoramic views of Lake Manassas, and the bentgrass lawn, which is well suited for a larger tented outdoor event.
Lee’s Hill Golf Club, Fredericksburg
“One of the most distinguishing features of Lee’s Hill golf course is its connection to history,” says M.C. Moncure, marketing manager for Stafford County Tourism.
She explains marked trenches from the Battle of Fredericksburg, fought in December 1862 during the Civil War, can be found on the course, which is set on lush forests and wetlands.
“All of the signage, carts and benches are blue and gray, in order to match the uniforms of the Union and Confederate soldiers of the Civil War,” Moncure adds.
Lee’s Hill hosts many tournaments during the year, and also has a tented outdoor pavilion that accommodates banquets and receptions.
Gauntlet Golf Club, Fredericksburg
Gauntlet Golf Club is located in Curtis Memorial Park, which according to Moncure is one of the area’s most beautiful parks, which happens to also feature a pool, running paths and a lake.
“The Gauntlet hosts many tournaments and events,” she says. “They also offer special services for groups and treat visiting golfers as members of the club, a home away from home.”
Before or after play, groups can choose from a banquet area that seats 150 people, a patio that seats 75 or a gathering spot near the 19th hole that seats 25 people.
