Best Golf Courses in Washington, District of Columbia
The nation's capital boasts a distinguished golf scene befitting its stature. Congressional Country Club, with its storied Blue Course, anchors a region rich in championship venues, while the rolling hills of Northern Virginia and pastoral Maryland countryside provide beautiful settings for courses of every caliber.
Bethesda, Maryland · Andrew Green (restoration) (1924) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,580 yards
Host of three U.S. Opens and the 2024 U.S. Women's Open, Congressional's Blue Course is one of the most prominent championship venues near Washington D.C. Andrew Green's comprehensive 2020 restoration removed trees, restored sight lines, and returned the course to its bold, strategic origins.
Potomac, Maryland · Ed Ault (renovated) (1986) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 7,105 yards
Home of the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour, TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm offers championship golf in the affluent Potomac corridor. The parkland layout along the Potomac River features well-defended greens, strategic water hazards, and tour-caliber conditioning.
Owings Mills, Maryland · Tom Fazio (1991) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,540 yards
A Tom Fazio design in the lush Baltimore-Washington corridor, Caves Valley hosted the 2021 BMW Championship. The sweeping parkland layout through rolling terrain features immaculate conditioning, bold Fazio shaping, and a serene valley setting surrounded by mature hardwoods.
Ijamsville, Maryland · J. Michael Poellot (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,001 yards
A J. Michael Poellot design in Frederick County, Whiskey Creek is consistently rated the best public course in Maryland. The layout rolls through piedmont terrain with scenic views of the Catoctin Mountains, strategic bunkering, and bentgrass fairways in impeccable condition.
Gainesville, Virginia · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1991) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,340 yards
Built as a tribute to the legendary architect and host of the 1994, 2000, and 2005 Presidents Cups, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club features a dramatic lakeside layout in Virginia's rolling piedmont. The challenging design demands precise shot placement around Lake Manassas.
Queenstown, Maryland · Lindsay Ervin & Roger Baird (1991) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,837 yards
A links-style layout on Maryland's Eastern Shore along the Chester River, Queenstown Harbor is an easy drive from D.C. and offers panoramic water views from virtually every hole. The windswept design rewards creative shotmaking and ground-game play.
Rockville, Maryland · William Flynn (1927) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,925 yards
A William Flynn design in Rockville, Woodmont's North Course has hosted the U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Women's Amateur. The classic parkland layout through mature trees features Flynn's hallmark strategic bunkering and clever green complexes on rolling Maryland terrain.
Davidsonville, Maryland · Lester George (1999) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,044 yards
A unique concept course near Annapolis where each hole is a recreation of a famous major championship hole, from Augusta's 12th to St. Andrews' Road Hole. Renditions offers golf fans a chance to play some of the world's most iconic holes in a single round.
Ijamsville, Maryland · J. Michael Poellot (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,001 yards
A Poellot design in Frederick County northwest of DC, Whiskey Creek has earned multiple best-in-state public course honors. The layout through rolling Maryland farmland and mature hardwoods features natural stone walls, creek crossings, and views of the Catoctin Mountains that evoke classic mid-Atlantic parkland golf.
Rockville, Maryland · William Flynn (1928) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,882 yards
A William Flynn design in Rockville, Woodmont North is one of the finest private courses in the greater Washington DC area. Flynn's Golden Age architecture features his trademark strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and naturalistic design through mature parkland that has hosted USGA and PGA events.
Leesburg, Virginia · Gary Player (1996) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,191 yards
A Gary Player signature design in Loudoun County Virginia, Raspberry Falls features a dramatic layout through rolling horse-country terrain with Blue Ridge Mountain views. The 7,191-yard course winds through a historic estate property with mature trees, stone walls, and a distinctly Virginia countryside atmosphere.
Public Courses in Washington
Looking for courses you can play without a membership? See our complete guide to public courses in Washington .
Overview
The greater Washington, DC golf corridor extends into Maryland, Virginia, and even West Virginia, offering remarkable variety. Congressional, TPC Potomac, and Robert Trent Jones Golf Club headline the private scene, while public golfers enjoy strong options like Raspberry Falls in Leesburg and the improving DC-area municipal courses. The region's four-season climate and Piedmont terrain produce classic Mid-Atlantic parkland golf.
Best Time to Play
April through November, with spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) being ideal. Cherry blossom season in early April is iconic. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are generally too cold for comfortable play.
Travel Tips & Getting There
Three airports serve the region: Reagan National (DCA) is closest to downtown, Dulles (IAD) serves Northern Virginia, and BWI serves the Maryland side. Congressional is in Bethesda, Maryland, 20 minutes from downtown. Northern Virginia courses are accessible via the Dulles Toll Road corridor.
Nearest Airport: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) / Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
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