LAKEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB

The rolling piedmont terrain thirty minutes north of D.C. creates natural elevation changes that architect William Gordon exploited brilliantly in this 1960s gem, particularly on the downhill par-4 seventh where a well-placed drive opens up a tantalizing wedge to a green tucked against mature oaks. Water comes into play on five holes, but it's the strategic bunkering around multi-tiered greens that demands your attention and rewards thoughtful course management. This public track punches well above its weight class, offering genuine strategic interest without the pretense that plagues so many modern designs.