GreatHoles
No. 16
T
LAUREL HILL GOLF CLUB
by DAVID PARTRIDGE
he 92nd VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship
will be played July 10-13 at Laurel Hill Golf Club in
Lorton. A strong field that was expected to include
two-time defending champion Abby Portyrata is set
to vie for the 2017 title.
Constructed on land that formerly housed the D.C. Department
of Corrections facility at Lorton, Laurel Hill was designed by Bill
Love, whose credits include the acclaimed Iron Forge Course at
Penn National in Fayetteville, Pa., and VSGA member Hunting
Hawk Golf Club in Glen Allen. Love, who was also selected to tweak
The Olympic Club in San Francisco in preparation for the 2021 U.S.
Women’s Open, has created a demanding, visually stunning gem that
will challenge the state’s finest golfers and identify a true champion.
Laurel Hill Golf Club is just one of seven courses in the Fairfax
County Park Authority. These well-maintained public facilities
represent a remarkable asset to golfers as evidenced by the fact
that last year nearly 268,000 rounds of golf were played at these
courses. Golfers who purchase the VSGA VIP Golf Card can
experience not only Laurel Hill, but several others in the Park
Authority as part of the program.
Built over beautifully rolling terrain with significant elevation
changes, Laurel Hill contains a number of outstanding holes
including the dramatic 16th, a par-3 that begins a strong stretch
of closing holes ideal for match play. Played from 10 different tees
featuring two different angles of play—both of which require the
golfer to carry water—the 16th demands a stout, accurate tee shot
to reach the green, especially given the windy conditions often
prevailing on this hole.
vsga.org
While the putting
surface is reasonably
generous, it is also well
protected by four sur-
rounding bunkers and
YARDAGES
the water, especially
for any shot hit left
Championship: 215 yards
that can bounce down
the steep slope into the
Black:
White:
hazard. The green has
203 yards
174 yards
many subtle undula-
tions as well as several
Blue:
Gold:
challenging hole loca-
185 yards
158 yards
tions, especially at the
rear of the green. The
16th is an excellent hole
Red: 125 yards
that will likely play a
big part in determin-
ing the winner of many
matches in this year’s championship.
In addition to hosting the Women’s Amateur this year, Laurel
Hill Golf Club is also the venue for the 2017 Middle Atlantic Golf
Association Men’s Amateur Championship to be played in late
September. A qualifying site for numerous USGA championships
including several U.S. Women’s Opens, Laurel Hill was also
the host for the 2013 U.S. Public Links Championship. The
VSGA looks forward to bringing the Women’s Amateur to this
outstanding facility.
PAR 3
J U LY / A U G U ST 2 0 17 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R
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