Review Date
September 19, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Old School, Shoots in the 80s

Summary:
I used to play this course in the late 1980's through 2003. When the village of Reston ran it, it was inexpensive, very well maintained and had the heaviest traffic of all courses in the DC metro area. The marshals used to crack the whip and ride the players hard. After the Billy Casper Mgnt. Group took over, the price went sky-high and the flower gardens started to look nicer while the course quality went down. After two years, I lost interest in going there mostly because of the price. Several memorable holes. Since I haven't played there in years, I would love to go back.

Similar Courses Played:
Pinehurst #5

Review Date
January 21, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: jateman419, Shoots in the 80s

Summary:
Billy Casper golf has done a phenomenal job of course upkeep. There are actually time restricted tee times on weekend mornings, and the marshalls are numerous and effective. The course is long from the tips with not much trouble in the way, but tight fairways and undulating, protected greens place a real emphasis on shot placement. Follow their rules, or it ain't gonna be fun.

Customer Service:
Best in the business

Review Date
October 9, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: adamgoldberg, Shoots in the 90s

Summary:
Management changed this spring, now managed by Billy Casper Golf (www.billycaspergolf.com), which is located in Vienna, VA (not far away) and this is the closest course to HQ. The web site (previously nonexistant) is www.restonnationalgc.com. They promise a course overview, but it hasn't been put up yet.

Billy Casper completely rebuild EVERY bunker on the course shortly after taking over. The concrete bunkers are gone, replaced with actual sand (and they're generally quite consistent and reasonably soft). Some fairways are trying to get a bit wider (notably the par 5 15th), and the trees/forested areas are being maintained with a more active hand -- leaves raked, low branches trimmed.

The tree maintainance change speeds play somewhat (those who find themselves in the woods don't spend a lot of time looking for their ball under leaves ... it's either there or it isn't).

I'm told that they're expanding the driving range (and moving the putting green) in the next year.

Most courses are Blue/White/Red tees. This course is Gold/Black/White (white are the forward tees): Gold 73.7/136 6871 yards, Black 72/132 6506 yards, White 69.2/127 5901 yards. Par 71 (men).

There's some debate as to whether this course deserves the (black) 72/132. It's a bit longer than some course, the greens are not huge, and there are significant trees on every hole if you get off-line.

Reston is a "planned community", and Reston National was originally planned to be the private course (and Hidden Creek the public one). Of course, the opposite happened, but consensus seems to be that Reston National is a more interesting course (though Hidden Creek has significantly more water to worry about).

Kinda pricy ($89 weekend with cart, no discount for walking), but generally in MUCH better shape than the public courses for a few dollars more (Brambleton is $41+$13 cart = $54).

Don't count on a 10a Sunday round taking less than 5 hours. Sorry.

Customer Service:
Friendly bunch.

Review Date
May 16, 2001

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Review Date
April 27, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5