Four Itchy Feet

March 31, 2025. Montclair, Virginia.

Today, we played Montclair Golf Club in Montclair, Virginia. We’ve played this course twice in the past and swore never to come back due to its difficulty, but here we were again! We’re not alone in our feelings about this course. The great Bobby Jones once said, Montclair is “the longest short course I ever played.”

Founded in 1893, Montclair Golf Club is one of the nation’s oldest golf clubs. It began as a single course in the Town of Montclair. By 1899, the first 18-hole course, designed by Tom Bendelow, was established roughly in the location of the present-day first and second nines. In 1920, the legendary Scottish architect Donald Ross was commissioned to design the first, second, and third nines. After the original clubhouse was destroyed by fire two years later, a larger facility was constructed and still stands as the current Colonial-style clubhouse.

In October 1928, the club added a fourth nine, designed by Golden Era of Golf architect Charles Banks. Over the years, the original designs have been improved by two world-renowned club members. Robert Trent Jones joined Montclair Golf Club in 1934 and remained a member until his death. His son, Rees Jones, “The U.S. Open Doctor,” learned the game here and remains a member today.

Montclair is approximately 35 miles south of our nation’s capital and just minutes from I-95. It is nestled in a well-established neighborhood and offers a host of amenities, such as tennis, a swimming pool, banquet halls, and a restaurant. We found the course needs a bit of work as it recovers from the winter, especially the tee boxes. The fairways are still brown, but the greens were in excellent shape and very challenging. Our scores weren’t the kind don’t brag about— in fact, they were a bit embarrassing. I shot a 104, while Barbara came in at 121. It is a very tight course, and despite its short length of 5,806 yards from the white tees, shot placement is essential. Although we walked away humbled by the difficulty of the course, we felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity and challenge offered by Montclair Golf Club.