Playing Through: 1757 Golf Club

1757 Golf Club in Loudoun County is known as much for its extensive practice facilities as the course itself. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis) — The practice facility is arguably 1757’s strongest asset. The turf range at 1757 features 56 hitting stations and included a dozen covered stalls for all weather. They include a track to tee up your ball with an actual tee to the desired height as well. There is also a grass range for members. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

There are several chipping greens including sand bunkers for members. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

It features a large putting green as well. There is also a fitting studio, seven instructors and even golf fitness programs available. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #1:** Par 4, 451 from black tees, 401 from blue tees, 346 from white tees, 251 from red tees There’s water to the right on the opening hole, but it’s more for show than effect, so long as you don’t miss way, way right. A good drive sets you up for a low-iron approach to a wide, but fairly shallow and tough green. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #2:** Par 4, 371/354/326/277 A scoreable, short par 4, it can look deceptive from the tee box, with water short to the left. There’s room to drive out over the traps on the right, setting up a wedge to the green. The hole plays easier after you’ve been through it once and have a better sense of the layout. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #3:** Par 3, 200/164/152/117 A slightly uphill par 3, a greenside bunker pushes right up into the front middle of the green, impacting nearly any tee shot. Find the green and you’ll be in good shape for a low score. Miss it, especially into that bunker or the one left, and you’ll be in for a tough scramble. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #4:** Par 4, 346/298/291/261 A very short par 4, water runs on the right all the way to the green, while a series of sand traps run up the left side rough. If you’ve got a fade, you can play fairway wood safely inside of 100 yards, giving you a good chance to attack the green. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #5:** Par 4, 442/408/363/325 The flip side of the prior hole, this long par 4 again has water all the way up the right side, but doglegs around the lake. You can’t really cut the corner unless you crush your drive — better to play it safer off the tee and stay out of trouble. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #6:** Par 4, 419/398/388/354 More water? You don’t say. This dogleg right really can’t be cut without an enormous drive. Instead, play it straightaway and try to give yourself the best angle into the green. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #7:** Par 3, 241/210/200/166 There’s water on this par 3, but it doesn’t really come into play around the green. The hole plays longer than it looks, though, and the green is deeper than you realize, so pull an extra club, especially if the pin isn’t in the front. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #8:** Par 4, 385/319/260/225 Pull something less than driver for this par 4. A well-placed tee shot leaves you with a low iron or wedge approach over the creek to a very wide, but shallow green. Hit it to the same side as the pin and you’ve got a good chance at birdie. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #9:** Par 5, 541/511/415/355 The only par 5 on the front, even shorter hitters have a chance to reach this green two shots. There’s a large runoff area around the putting surface, allowing you to be aggressive without worrying about a bad lie for a third-shot chip if you miss the green. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #10:** Par 5, 561/538/511/439 Yes, after no par 5s for eight holes, you get them back-to-back to close the front nine and open the back. But this one’s much longer, and the second shot leads into a very narrow part of the fairway. Carefully consider your approach to minimize your strokes on this one. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #11:** Par 4, 387/372/361/278 Bunkers line both sides of this average length par 4, but if you can stay in the middle, you set yourself up for a fairly easy approach to a big green. Better to give yourself leeway to hit long, as the approach can look deceptively short. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #12:** Par 4, 308/288/255/187 This is a very short par 4, but resist the temptation to go for the green, as trouble lies all around. A smart low iron or wood leaves you an easy edge to a tricky green, one which can play a number of ways depending on the pin placement. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #13:** Par 4, 456/448/386/325 A pretty straightforward drive leads to a challenging second shot, with water to the right all the way through the green. It’s tempting to be aggressive, but especially if the pin is in the back, you really have to be careful with your approach. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #14:** Par 3, 180/149/138/94 A pair of front bunkers guard this short par 3, but pull the right club and you can take them out of play. Another wide green demands that you hit to the same side as the pin if you want a makeable birdie putt. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #15:** Par 5, 584/560/548/489 The third, final and longest par 5 on the course, this is a true three-shot hole from any tee box. The fairway is fairly wide most of the way, but the approach to the green goes uphill and to the left to a fairly tricky green. Execute and play for par, and you’ll have a good chance at it. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #16:** Par 3, 181/160/149/111 If the pin is to the left, the trees can come into play on this shorter par 3. If not, there are still bunkers short right and left waiting to give you headaches. Better to miss over the top than short. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Hole #17:** Par 4, 405/379/330/269 This is an optically tricky hole, where you have more room to the right than you know, but you’re better off on the left side of the fairway, as the approach to the green gets very narrow with a bad angle. Traps are very much in play on both sides of the front of the green. A back pin is actually a blessing. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

**Signature Hole** **Hole #18:** Par 3, 165/148/111/90 If there wasn’t enough water through the first 17 holes, the finishing hole is all lake and a green. It’s not a long shot, but don’t be short, don’t be short, don’t be short. There’s plenty of green to work with for this picture perfect closer. (WTOP/Mike Jakaitis)

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Playing Through is a monthly series where WTOP Digital Sports Editor Noah Frank and WTOP Morning Drive Editor Mike Jakaitis play and review local golf courses. See the full series list and more information here.

DULLES, Va. — I’ve played 1757 several times, but the time Jake and I played it together was as part of the World’s Largest Golf Outing, a scramble tournament that helps benefit Fisher House Foundation. Mercifully, that saves us from having to share our usual scorecard.

The course was originally built to be private and retains much of that feel. In addition to the café, there’s a large banquet facility. Beyond the standard range, there’s a grass range for members and an extensive practice area, featuring several chipping greens and bunkers.

“We probably have the most extensive practice facility in the area,” said General Manager Gary Huebner, and it’s easy to see why. There’s a good reason why golf prodigy Sihan Sindhu chooses to practice there.

It was also originally just 10 holes, so the final eight were added after Billy Casper Golf bought the course back in 2009. Named for the year Loudoun County was founded, it’s on a huge plot of land befitting of the area.

You can walk if you really want to, but carts are included in every greens fee and some of the holes have a long distance between them. The course isn’t hilly, but you’ll do a lot of walking if you decide not to drive.

From the white tees, it plays just 5,530 yards, but can be as long as 6,623 from the tips, where it transforms into a completely different course. Fairways are generally wide and open, but there’s a whole lot of water (hazards on 17 of the 18 holes), so you don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to make smart shots.

“It’s not real long, but obviously it’s really challenging,” said Huebner. “There’s a lot of water out there.”

Take his word for it.

For the tournament, we started on 15 and finished on 14, but for simplicity’s sake, we’re still laying the course out in order.

Jake’s Take

I really liked this course. The practice facility is top notch. The driving range is huge. It has a great putting area. You can really work on your game at this place.

As for the course, it’s challenging but fair for all skill levels. A lot of people say it but in this case, it’s a must — especially for the casual golfer like myself: If you keep the ball in the fairway, you can have a good round. You don’t want to mess around in the rough.

If you have an aversion to water, bring extra golf balls because there are a lot of water hazards. I lost a few balls during the round, but that had more to do with the person swinging the club, not the course. You may find this strange, but my favorite holes were the ones with the water hazards. I guess I’m learning to embrace my enemy.

Overall this is a very enjoyable course.

Dates and rates

Dates: Open year-round

Rack rate: $77 weekday (includes cart), $99 weekend

Course uses dynamic pricing, which shifts rates lower, depending on traffic

Specials

Three levels of membership: Seven-day full, seven-day limited (weekends after 12), five-day (weekdays only)

Loyalty card: $57, guarantees lowest greens fee, plus a free round for every five played

Pace of play

Rated at 4:35, course tries to stay consistently under 4:40

Dress code

General golf attire, collared shirts and no denim

More relaxed on range (T-shirt ok)

Directions

Address: 45120 Waxpool Road, Dulles, Virginia

Take either Harry Byrd Highway or the Dulles Toll Road to the northwest to VA Highway 28. Waxpool Road is roughly halfway between the highways. Exit to the west and the course will be on your right after the first intersection.