Bull Run Golf Club – Played Sometime 2006-2009
- Rankings: None of the four lists
- Location: 52 James Madison Highway, Haymarket, Virginia
- Year: 1998
- Architect: Rick Jacobson
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 6,979 yards, 73.1 Rating/134 Slope
- Blue: 6,534 yards, Par 72, 71.3 Rating/128 Slope
- White: 6,219 yards, Par 72, 69.3 Rating/119 Slope
- Green: 5,730 yards, Par 72, 67.3 Rating/116 Slope
- Red: 5,066 yards, Par 72, 68.3 Rating/110 Slope
As you can see above I don’t remember which particular year I played Bull Run Golf Club, but I know the occasion. I was up to watch Clemson take on Maryland on the gridiron before Maryland split to the Big Ten.
One of my college roommates parents had moved to within an hour or so of the area and we were looking for a place to tee it up the day before the game. We were going to get rowdy the next day so we needed a relaxing 18 to keep us rested :).
The course sits in the foothills of Bull Run Mountain and is close in proximity to DC. We played the blue tees.
Thanks to Brian for these photos. Check him out on Instagram @virginiagolfguy and on his website.
Hole 1 – 370 yards – Par 4
The first hole plays over a water hazard and bends slightly to the left. Fairway bunkers guard the right side, but the green is pretty open.
Hole 2 – 492 yards – Par 5
This shorter par 5 looks tight off the tee, but it opens up once you go about 75-100 yards and get out of the trees.
A water hazard comes into play along the right, but there is some distance between the hazard and the fairway. A couple of bunkers guard the right side of the green.
Hole 3 – 169 yards – Par 3
This hole is all in front of you. The green is open in the front with the only trouble the bunker to the left. Be careful though as the trap is almost as big as the green.
Hole 4 – 399 yards – Par 4
This fairway sits at an angle to the tee as the hole bends to the left overall. The green is guarded by a bunker on the right.
Hole 5 – 346 yards – Par 4
This slight bender to the right doesn’t require a driver. Two fairway bunkers guard the left side of the hole while a small bunker guards the right, front of the green.
Hole 6 – 144 yards – Par 3
You should need more than a short or middle iron here. A pretty straightforward hole as the green is bracketed by a bunker each on the left and right.
Hole 7 – 513 yards – Par 5
Not much to the tee shot here as you just need something straight. On the lay up fairway bunkers can come into play. A large greenside bunker sits on the left side and will make for a tough up and down.
Hole 8 – 350 yards – Par 4
The target here widens a bit. The hole bends to the right and goes downhill. Fairway bunkers are of course present as well as some near the green. A water hazard occupies the backside of the green so do not go long.
Hole 9 – 437 yards – Par 4
Your eyes are drawn to the water hazard off the tee. The straight carry is not daunting, but the water runs all along the right side. Mounding, rough, and sand provide the challenge as you progress toward the green.
Hole 10 – 398 yards – Par 4
This hole is pretty straight overall. There is ample room in the fairway even though it may not look that way. Similar to many of the other holes there are fairway bunkers and two bunkers at the green.
Hole 11 – 188 yards – Par 3
This flat hole has the scrub area that will catch very bad shots. Anything relatively solid should be fine. There is some sand around the green on the right as well.
Hole 12 – 323 yards – Par 4
The driver is definitely not needed here. Straight shots can run out of fairway and end up in sand or rough. The green sits over the left a bit and can only be reached from the tee with a hard draw.
Hole 13 – 397 yards – Par 4
The pond wraps in front of this tee and down the left side. Of you overcook one left the water is a possibility.
A fairway bunker sits on the right about 150 yards from the green. Beyond that, a bunker is in the middle of the fairway at 100 yards out.
Hole 14 – 522 yards – Par 5
The sun messed with this photo a bit, but the tee shot is straightaway to a narrow fairway guarded by rough. Bunkers start to encroach at 150 yards out.
Hole 15 – 375 yards – Par 4
It’s hard to see with the shadows, but the hole is straight overall with a couple of fairway bunkers in your potential landing area.
There isn’t much to the approach shot besides missing the left bunker at the green.
Hole 16 – 160 yards – Par 3
This par 3 has plenty of hazard with the large pond guarding the left portion of the hole. There is a sliver of the fairway short of the green if you miss there. Be wary of going too far left as the margin of error decreases drastically.
Hole 17 – 424 yards – Par 4
The course helps you out on this long hole by expanding the fairway. There is rough left, but no real trouble if you miss there. Two fairway bunkers wait on the right.
The second shot plays between two trees like a goal post. The green is open in front and sits at an angle to the fairway.
Hole 18 – 527 yards – Par 5
The tee shot here comes out of a mini chute as the trees dissipate once you get past the forward tees. Fairway bunkers then come into play as well as a water hazard that will affect going for it and laying up.
The green sits to the left of the photo below surrounded by three bunkers. It is a hard shot to get there in two as it must be well struck to carry the water.
I had a good time playing Bull Run Golf Club, but I had a hard time remembering a lot of the holes. I used the course website’s flyover tool to refresh my memory.
As you have seen, a lot of the holes are similar with a couple of fairway bunkers and a couple near the green. I didn’t find the course incredibly thought-provoking. That said if you want an enjoyable round with decent conditions it definitely fit the bill.
As I always like to do, I leave the ultimate decision on the course up to you. Have you played here? What did you think?