Fore! How Fairfax County Park Authority Makes Golfing Par For The Course

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses boasts classic, affordable experiences for golfers all of abilities. From par-three to championship-length, the Park Authority offers professionally designed and carefully conditioned courses that are open year-round. For the Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses, golfing is more than a sport; it’s a lifestyle. Ask Todd Johnson, manager of Golf Enterprises, and he’ll tell: golf is way to connect, a way to share, allowing players to be active, get healthy and take in the great outdoors.

Patch: Tell us about some of the services Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses offers. How many are there, and what makes each course unique?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: We offer eight courses at seven locations, par-three facilities at Burke Lake and Oak Marr to championship caliber at Laurel Hill, Greendale and Twin Lakes and everything in between for beginners, experts and social golfers alike. Choose from classic 18 hole courses or a quick nine after work at Jefferson or Pinecrest.

Practice makes perfect, so we have driving ranges at Laurel Hill, Twin Lakes, Oak Marr, Pinecrest (indoors) and the brand-new double-decker range at Burke Lake Golf Center, opening in April. It will have 64 stations with 24 covered, heated stations, perfect for classes and camps at Burke Lake Golf Academy. Construction on the new clubhouse began in March, and the clubhouse opens this fall!

It’s important for us to grow the game. The majority of the courses offer classes and lessons to introduce and engage kids, teens and adults of all levels.

We are also excited about our newest sport, FootGolf at Pinecrest! We are hosting the American FootGolf League U.S. National Championship qualifying round in June 2017. It's becoming a great family sport for all ages. In addition, we have the ideal facilities for your next company golf, mini-golf or FootGolf outing or special occasion and banquet venues available for rent at Laurel Hill and Twin Lakes. There is truly something for everyone at Golf Fairfax.

Patch: What is your favorite annual event at the courses?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: A lot to choose from, but I would have to say the Father’s Day weekend tournaments at Burke Lake on June 17 and Oak Marr on June 18. Seeing kids and teens celebrate the lifelong game of sport with their families is awesome! Golf is such a wonderful way to connect and share while getting healthy and active and taking in the great outdoors.

Patch: Which course is your favorite?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: Like choosing my favorite child among my two, not going to happen! They are all my favorite, especially when I am enjoying them with golf clubs in hand. Every one of our golf courses provides a unique challenge, and the folks that work or volunteer at the courses do their best to get to know the customers, call them by name and make them feel welcome, so wherever you choose to play, expect to be challenged and to get a smile.

Patch: How did you get involved with the Park Authority and in the golfing industry?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: I am a career Park Authority employee who has worked in several areas of the organization during my 29 years. I first became involved with golf as the first general manager of Laurel Hill Golf Club in 2004. After hearing about the Park Authority’s plan to develop the golf course on the former Lorton Prison site, I set my sights on the position and prepared myself for the challenge by attending the two-year National Institute of Golf Management program and requesting cross training at Twin Lakes Golf Course. As the general manager, hiring the staff, buying all the equipment and supplies, working during the course grow-in and setting up the facility for success was one of the most rewarding experiences of my Park Authority career.

Patch: Have you ever had a hole-in-one?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: I will answer this with a very optimistic “not yet.” Still searching, but hope springs eternal. I have had the pleasure to view and/or play with a couple of aces, including one of my father’s three hole-in-ones, and even sharing in the joy of that accomplishment is a thrill.

Patch: When are the courses open?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: We are fortunate here in the Mid-Atlantic region, where — most years — we average 300 or more operating days annually. Our courses are open year-round, weather permitting, and only closed on Christmas Day. As for operating days, we are mostly open from sun up to sun down as long as the courses are playable. We do remain closed during frost conditions to protect the turf.

Patch: What advice can you offer to those golfing novices who aren’t quite sure of where to begin?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: First, I would tell them to come on out to any of our golf sites. Our staff are there to help answer questions and point you in the right direction. Our golf staff all share a passion for this great game. They like nothing more than to provide the latest information on golf instruction and clinics for beginners all the way up to accomplished golfers looking for a teacher to fine-tune their games. We have partnered with The EveryBody Golf School for nearly 30 years, and they currently offer all levels of instruction with a diverse program of classes, clinics and camps at the Oak Marr Golf Complex in Oakton. Thousands of area golfers have gotten their start with the EveryBody Golf School.

Because location is so important, customers may also take advantage of lesson opportunities at Laurel Hill Golf Club in Lorton or Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton Virginia. Both Laurel Hill and Twin Lakes have excellent short game facilities as well as grass teeing areas to provide the finest in golf instruction.

Our driving ranges at Burke Lake Golf Center and Oak Marr Golf Complex offer the extended operating hours with lighted facilities and plenty of hitting bays to work on your game or just get away from the daily grind.
Pinecrest Golf Course in Annandale and Burke Lake Golf Center in Fairfax Station have robust, instructional programs, including Starting New at Golf (SNAG), which uses colorful clubs and targets to teach kids age 5 older. Our instructional staff specializes in keeping the experience fun, enjoyable, and most of all, they do all of this in a nonthreatening environment. We strive to help beginners have fun and feel welcome.

Patch: Can you please tell us a little bit about the One of a Kind East Coast Tournament?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: On June 9 and June 10, the Combo Classic Tournament at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton offers a unique experience for paired golfers, where one or both have a disability, and sets a new standard for competition, amenities and fun. This tournament, started in 1990, is a Fairfax County Park Authority tradition that brings back several repeat participants from around the country returning for the friendship, the people you meet, the camaraderie, the fun, and of course, we love to play golf.

We are proud of the opportunity to host such a diverse and unique tournament. Mobility is the number-one issue for golfers with disabilities. Twin Lakes provides single-rider carts year-round to help them get onto the course and play the game they love. We have a varied and growing audience participating in this event yearly.

Patch: How are you involved in the community?

I coached my children’s youth sports teams growing up and thoroughly enjoyed that very rewarding experience. It is great to watch your children have fun, make friends, improve, compete and gain all the benefits of team sports, like communication, teamwork and goal setting. I have also volunteered for the past few years with Kyle’s Kamp, which raises money through a variety of fundraisers, including an annual baseball tournament for pediatric research and care at Children’s National Hospital.

We just began a partnership with The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC and are now offering this program at Laurel Hill Golf Club, so I look forward to volunteering my time for this fantastic program that teaches the game of golf hand-in-hand with character development of our communities’ youngsters.

Patch: What is the best part about living and working in the Fairfax community?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: Diversity. Our people are diverse and our opportunities are diverse. Everything is here, from great parks, great stores and restaurants to movie theaters, university and professional sporting events and — of course — great golf courses. The culture and endless options are very special. Whether you want to explore the arts, museums and eclectic restaurants in the nation’s capital or take a rustic mountain escape, it’s all within your fingertips in Fairfax. We also value living in a safe community; you only need to look at the news to see that we should not take our safety for granted. Our police and fire are second to none.

Patch: How can readers contact you or otherwise learn more about what they can look forward to at Fairfax County Park Authority Courses?

Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses: We’d love to hear from you and will answer any and all questions and inquires! Check us out on the web, sign up for our e-news, and follow us on Twitter. Give any of the seven sites a call, or stop by and chat with us in person. Keep on living the green!

Photo credit: Fairfax County Park Authority Golf Courses