The Gauntlet Golf Club

Not many people smile when they hear a golf course was designed by someone whose last name is Dye, but you’d be hard-pressed not to enjoy your round at The Gauntlet GC. I’ve played here 4-5 times and always walk away feeling my game had been tested without being abused or cheated.

The first thing you’ll notice about this course is that the layout requires a bit of planning and thought. Most opening holes are straightforward to warm you up into your round, but not here. A tight, dogleg left par-4 1st hole will make you question using driver right away (you can really just get away with using a hybrid or a long iron). I agree with another reviewer that the front nine is the tougher nine, with several holes that take driver out of your hands and test your skill with clubs you may not use very often. In fact, by the 12th hole, I had used every club in my bag; a rarity for me.

Forced carries not just from the tee box but from one fairway to another is perhaps the biggest challenge facing you on the front nine but some narrow fairways and plenty of bunkers will call for your focus and attention as well. Some uphill approach shots are also in the mix but only a few holes will punish a shot that flies the green so you can afford to be aggressive.

The overall course conditions aren’t as bad now as they reportedly were this summer, with the fairways, greens, and rough all looking lush and even. Yes, there are some greens that have crabgrass that’s grown in where the burn-out spots were over the summer but I rarely found them affecting play. The bunkers are quite fluffy so make sure you swing with plenty of speed to not have to take two whacks to get your ball out!

The staff here is as friendly as any you’ll find and the clubhouse has a nice, laid-back, almost diner feel to its charm. Good practice facilities and decent food will make you want to spend some time before or after your round to relax or focus on your game.

There are plenty of GolfNow deals to be had here that make the course a great value so I highly recommend checking it out, it’s a tough course, sure, but an enjoyable one nonetheless.

To begin with, this course was beautiful. The layout was challenging, but not impossible. There are a few tricky holes that really make you think about your club selection. Very nicely maintained, and staff was great.

We found this course challenging but fun to play. With blind tee shots, lots of doglegs, hilly terrain and tiered greens, there was never a dull moment. The fairways were in good to excellent condition but some greens and traps needed work. Overall it was worth the cost and trip south from DC. Time your comings and goings or be prepared to sit in traffic travelling 95 to get here.

Tough course lot of carries, dog legs, small fast greens, will test all parts of your golf game.

The course needs some maintenance, but we've had a pretty hot and dry spell. Some of the fairways have large brown/dead areas. Some of the greens are suffering from the heat and lack of water, causing bald areas. All of the greens have invasive grasses in spots, probably crab grass. The bunkers are really bad...not sand, but hard crusty dirt. The course has a lot of blind tee shots, which I really don't like. However, the staff is awesome -- very friendly and accommodating. We played the first nine in under two hours, but then ran into some slow groups on the back. Overall, it's not a bad place for the price I paid, but I got a great deal through GolfNow.

The day was great -my score was great - service was great. Will definitely be playing another day of 18 again soon... Thanks for providing a great place to play

This is a very challenging course. The fairways were great as always but the greens left a little to be desired. This course is always fun and a good test.

Like all local courses, it seems the gauntlet is still in a bit of recovery from last year's brutal summer. Greens were being aerated so put lines were a bit of a bear. But fairways and rough seem to be on the mend. In addition to time off during the "winter", some rocky bunkers and a couple of inconsiderate players made the day tough for me personally. Good value for the hot deal price. I would hold off on paying full price.

Far too many hidden fairway shots and blind greens. Made me feel that the course was a bit gimmicky. Fairways were in great shape and the greens were good. Traps were extremely poor even with the most recent rains. Range balls were in extremely poor condition and not worth $4 for 25 balls -- too many dead balls.

The course was in pretty nice shape for this time of year. The greens were rolling well and also in good shape. They are doing a lot of work on the course to get it ready for the spring so I am hoping it will be great by the summer. The bunkers are a little rough but that is to be expected this time of year. The staff is always very pleasant and eager to help you out.

It is defiantly worth playing this course it does have some challenging holes.

For the time of year course was in good shape. Greens rolled well, fairways dormant but in good condition. Beautiful layout but some holes are quirky. No houses, very picturesque. Like what they're doing to open up the view of the holes.

I loved the course layout. Made you think about the shots which made it challenging. Pace of play was great and so was the staff. The only issue I saw were the bunkers. Grass growing in some of them, hard, not consistent.

This is a great layout and is worth playing. Tee to green in the fairway it is very good, the fairways are a bit long as they ready the Bermuda for winter . The rough is ok but irregular do not hit it there. Greens are still suspect but reasonably smooth where the grass is alive. Tough summer, some residual crabgrass and bare spots on the greens. Since the grass is a bit long on the fairways it is playing long. Play this course we need it to survive. BTW most of the data I see on golf now indicates it is a Dye course. I believe it is not. I think Dean Beamer design ed it. It is looking have fun. OH don't play the blues or back if you cannot carry it 210 there are several forced carries.

Course was in good shape & an overall pleasant experience. Played behind an unusually slow group on the first nine ... But next nine was good.

Exellent coursr green and fareway.