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History Comes Alive at Cannon Ridge Golf Club

There aren't too many places where you can play golf and get a history lesson at the same time. Cannon Ridge is enjoyable on both fronts

In Dec. 11, 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg began here about an hour south of the nation's capital. It started on the ridge above the Rappahannock River, which cuts through Cannon Ridge Golf Club. The Union Army set up cannons on the ridge to give cover fire for the troops. After four days of battle, Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederates drove out the Union. This is a history lesson that you can get from Cannon Ridge if you weren't paying attention in school. You can still see cannons on the ridge here, but now the battles are a little safer as golfers try to defeat this layout designed by former PGA Tour player/commissioner Deane Beman and renown golf course architect Bobby Weed.

Opened in 2003, Cannon Ridge is a 7,100-yard par 71. Today's battles are waged with drivers and putters on L-93 bent grass, which covers the greens, tee boxes and fairways, and tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass in the roughs. It starts with a large clubhouse with a well-stocked golf shop and an inviting bar and grill. Cannon Ridge meanders up and down hills, over streams and water hazards with plenty of bunkering to catch errant shots. The push-up style greens are on the smaller side, so a good short game is extremely helpful. There are also a few blind shots and tough side hill lies and plenty of great views. The toughest hole is the 463-yard, par-4 sixth, which usually plays into the wind. Three deep bunkers protect the elevated green, a common theme throughout the course.

The golf course is imminently playable, however. There's plenty of room off the tee and plenty of options. The par 5s are all reachable by really strong players but set up well as three-shot holes, too. The 18th, at 537 yards, is a good risk-reward hole to end a match. Missing the green and getting up and down in three isn't even a certainty to this elevated green with tightly mowed chipping areas.

Cannon Ridge has a good practice facility as well as a golf academy. The driving range has two sets of tee boxes that can be alternated, and a portion of the range is set aside for lessons. There is also a very large chipping green and putting green near the first tee. Green fees range from $59 to $79, and packages are available with local hotels. Even if you're having a bad round, the historical tour alone around Cannon Ridge makes it all worth it.

Visit www.golfcannonridge.com for more information.

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