Algonkian Golf Course

Algonkian Golf Course occupies a wooded site along the Potomac River in Sterling, Virginia, roughly thirty miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Designed by Ed Ault and opened in the 1970s, the course operates as a public facility within the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority system. Ault, a prolific mid-Atlantic architect whose portfolio includes dozens of accessible daily-fee and municipal layouts, created a routing that works with the property's natural elevation changes and mature tree cover. The layout measures around 6,700 yards from the back tees and plays through rolling, heavily wooded terrain typical of the Virginia Piedmont. Several holes run near or along the Potomac, offering glimpses of the river and its wooded banks. The design emphasizes accuracy over length, with tree-lined fairways that reward placement and penalize wayward drives. Water comes into play on a handful of holes, and the greens feature modest undulation consistent with Ault's straightforward design philosophy. Algonkian serves a regional clientele drawn from the suburban communities of Loudoun and Fairfax counties. The course provides a traditional parkland experience within the Northern Virginia park system, balancing playability for recreational golfers with enough challenge to remain interesting for more accomplished players. Its riverside setting and mature landscaping distinguish it from flatter, more open public courses in the area.