Augustine Golf Club
Battle in Virginia’s Fastest Growing golf destination. Southern golf starts here with incredible values, variety, hospitality in half the drive from other destinations.
THE BEST IN SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
For over a decade, greater Fredericksburg, Virginia has been making its name as “the southern destination” for golfers looking for early spring and late fall trip options. Weather is milder than that of northern destinations or destinations at the same latitude, because of being inland, no higher elevation affect and less wind. The thing that sets this destination apart is its eagerness to please and “Southern Style Hospitality.” Golfers are greeted warmly with red carpet treatment, and the destination experiences far fewer golfers than the overpopulated Myrtle Beach destination. The news is traveling, and it’s no longer a best kept secret now. Golfers can rest assured however, while there is growth, southern hospitality in this region will never change. It is why we consider it one of our favorite destinations and some of our best partnerships with golf courses and accommodations.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO FREDERICKSBURG!
Conveniently located just south of Washington DC and along I-95, golfers can access the destination from a variety of cities throughout the East. Some golfers travel southbound along I-81 to I-66 and Rt. 17 and some travel east of I-95 through southern Maryland via Rt. 301 into Virginia. No matter your origination point, this destination is an easy drive, far less than that of its South-Atlantic counterparts and sure to deliver. Golfers will find that this region is a very centralized point for friends driving and even flying, thanks to the availability of 3 airports – Reagan National, Dulles and BWI. If golf is your thing to do for a
reunion, then Fredericksburg, Virginia is one to seriously consider.
FREDERICKSBURG’S I-95 GOLF TRAIL
On the northern end of this golf trail is Old Hickory, in Woodbridge, Virginia. It’s a great golf course to either start your golf trip with or end it, or combines well when staying in the Stafford area at the Best Western Aquia. As you drive south into Stafford County, you will find several golf courses – The Gauntlet, Cannon Ridge and Augustine. As you travel south towards Fredericksburg, you will find the majority of the hotels at exit 130 where Central Park Plaza resides with 100 shops and restaurants combined. The hotels at this exit include the Best Western Fredericksburg on Plank Road, the Quality Inn and the Hampton Inn, conveniently tucked within Central Park. To the west of this exit is Meadows Farms, not far off of Rt. 3, while to the east of this exit off of Rt. 3 is Cameron Hills. One more exit south at exit 126 are both the Wytestone Suites and Lee’s Hill, only miles from one another. At this exit are several shopping centers with varying restaurant chains to choose from. The furthest south golf option is Pendleton which resides only 10 minutes off of Exit 110 on I-95 and is worth the drive. All together, this region offers 5 hotels & 8 golf courses, giving golfers a week’s worth of options if desired. Experience the Virginia I-95 Golf Trail for yourself!
BROAD COURSE SELECTION
One of the nicest things about this region is the broad diversity of golf courses. While the list may seem small, the courses offered in this destination are some of Virginia’s best and vary greatly. There are traditional layouts such as Augustine, Cameron Hills, Cannon Ridge, The Gauntlet, Lee’s Hill and Old Hickory. There is the truly unique layout of Meadows Farms, a mix of traditional with memorable. And there is Pendleton holding the only title of a links style layout. Augustine reopened last fall after a significant re-haul of its fairways, greens to bent grass and a renovation of the clubhouse. Comments thus far from golfers have been very positive and we feel confident that this golf course will deliver another high-end golf experience that golfer’s desire. This golf course is run by the same team that runs Old Hickory, a solid team known for upholding higher standards for conditions and service. Augustine gets you right from the start, with their infamous split fairway with a large tree and long fescue grass growing right through the middle. You pick your side and hope for the best! Cameron Hills is a surprisingly nice layout and incredible value for golfers looking for a cooler experience within the shade of trees. Additionally, it offers some rolling topography unlike many of the golf tracks in the region and its proximity to the Patuxent River and literal waterfront watering holes, makes this course even more desirable. This course has fair tee placement, good conditions with a natural design to it, but without over-manufactured obstacles and tricks. Don’t get confused however with thinking you will be bored playing Cameron Hills, as each hole is different and will keep up your interest. Cannon Ridge has long been considered one of the favorites within Virginia and the Fredericksburg region with its bent grass fairways. A solid track that is less than a decade old, it offers golfers five sets of tees to allow golfers the level of challenge they may or may not want. Some tees are placed to force a carry over a watershed area with long brush, while some tees give you the advantage on the other side. You will also experience a different feel with the two varying nines, which will give you
variety and interest during your entire round. The modern clubhouse offers golfers a casual environment for the 19th hole, with the option for packaged dinners, for those interested. The Gauntlet, so appropriately named as a PB Dye layout, has been challenging golfers for years. Designed in typical PB style, this course wraps around and utilizes the natural waterfront challenges of a ninety-acre lake. You will want to pick your tees and clubs carefully, as a wrong decision could result in a painful round that will require a second chance at redemption! Some masochistic golfers actually design their day with that logic in mind– with the first round being the ‘playbest ball and nearly anything goes! Lee’s Hill is the regions oldest and longest standing golf course, designed years ago as a semi-private club for a housing community. Over the years, it changed hands a few times and saw a decline in rounds and membership. Three years ago the course changed hands and it has its own Cinderella story of sort. It has one of the highest memberships of local semi-private clubs, its conditions are the best the course has ever had, as a result rounds and service have increased. This traditional and solid layout is a must play in order to see how the region first got its start as a golfers town. Meadows Farms is the region’s most unique track, certainly not a golf course that you would find in your own neck of the woods. To begin with, it offers golfers 28 holes of golf. That’s right, 28 and not 27, figuring that many golfers need to brush off the dust with a practice hole. Designed by its owner to bring golf experiences from around the country to the everyday golfer, each hole is an original or a knock off of signature holes of renowned golf courses. Strategically priced for that same golfer, Meadows strives to deliver a great value and truly unique experience that has gotten the attention of Golf Digest, GolfStyle, and Penthouse magazines. A newer course addition is Pendleton, which opened within the last decade by a local developer. It provides golfers with a very private setting with only a few homes built around it and covers a very large space which accentuates its links style layout. This is a peaceful round to enjoy, but still with challenge. It’s just you and the ball (plus numerous bunkers), thanks to the quiet
surroundings and more remote setting. In the peak warmer season, the course’s long
fescue grass will threaten to swallow you and your ball up, as a visual reminder of how
important it is to stay on the fairway. Last, but certainly not least, is Old Hickory – a traditional golf course with a semi-private feel and more formal clubhouse. It offers a feeling of being a member for the day, as it’s a favorite of DC golfers and transients in addition to the local golfers that live in the housing that surrounds the golf course. Bent grass fairways and pristine conditions welcome golfers or say farewell to golfers ending
their trip to the Fredericksburg region. Owned and managed by the same team at
Augustine, this course offers another great premium course option for golfers.
BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Without a doubt, it is hard to beat the Fredericksburg destination for the best bang for the buck. Even peak season trips are a great value when comparing the caliber and variety of golf to other destinations. Looking for a great summer value? This region can offer even greater value without the typical spikes in hotel room occupancies, as well as golf. Sign up for the Genesis e-newsletter.
