Pleasant Valley Golf Club offers serenity near Washington D.C.
The Washington D.C. Beltway can be a loud, blustery place – especially in an election year. That makes the serenity of a day spent at Pleasant Valley Golf Club worth savoring. This golf course void of a residential component presents a natural, scenic and quiet 18 holes just 25 minutes west of the district.
Located in Chantilly, Virginia, Pleasant Valley Golf Club is a semi-private course that opened in 1998 and was designed by Tom Clark of Ault, Clark & Associates. Rated a 4.5-star facility by Golf Digest, there are four sets of tees stretching to 6,915 yards, while the forward set plays a comfortable 5,106. Gently rolling hills, meadows and holes lined with hardwoods make the bustle of the city seem like a distant memory. In fact, Dulles Airport is just a short 15-minute drive away.
One of the highlights of the layout is the par-5 5th hole, which plays along the densely wooded, eastern border of the property. This uphill tee shot requires navigating past a bunker, and if your drive is a big one, you’ll have to decide if you want to challenge the three bunkers guarding the front edge of the green or lay back into a safer position. The par-3 7th hole, playing over a pond tee-to-green, will also test your mettle.
“Pleasant Valley is a great layout,” wrote Golf Advisor reviewer cjpayne6046 in their August, 2020 review. “With good variety, a nice setting devoid of houses, some interesting holes, some scoring opportunities and some real challenges. It’s very walkable as well.”
Green fees range from $65 during the week to $85 on the weekends and holidays. Seniors and juniors receive special rates and there are also off-season and twilight rates. Recent updates to Pleasant Valley Golf Club include a refresh of the clubhouse, including a spiffy new paint job. Bunkers have been updated with new sand, and several tee boxes have been renovated this fall. There is a full practice facility that includes a short game area.
A day at Pleasant Valley Golf Club is a day of golf in the District of Columbia-NoVa area done right.