Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club opened in April 1991. Lake Manassas is visible on every hole, particularly on the back nine where eight holes run adjacent to the water. The lush and picturesque course, which winds its way around Lake Manassas in Price William County, VA, has welcomed three previous Presidents Cups. The United States has won all of The Presidents Cups played at the venue, which is located less than an hour outside Washington D.C. RTJ also hosted the 2001 USGA Amateur Championship.
The U.S. captained by Hale Irwin, won the inaugural event at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in 1994 by a 20-12 margin. Arnold Palmer captained the Americans to a second victory there by a 16 ˝ -15 ˝ score in 1996. The third U.S. win came in 2000 when Ken Verturi served as captain in a 21 ˝ -10 ˝ victory.
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Gainesville, VA, will host the 2005 Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour has announced. “The membership and staff of Robert Trent Jones Golf Club is honored that the club has been named the site of the 2005 Presidents Cup,” said George Burger, the general chairman for the 2005 event. “We view The Presidents Cup as one of the golf’s premier events and are excited to host our fourth in 2005.”
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Club is the quality of which an architect would give his name. The dream of Robert Trent Jones was to build a golf only club in the tradition of Augusta National, Pine Valley and Cypress Point.
No. 1 (Par 4, 385 yards)
No. 1 is a long left-to-right, 455-yard par 4. Players will attempt to stay left of the bunker complex on the right and use long and middle irons to attack a large green protected by a bunker in front. Recent changes to this hole include the elimination of two mounds between the greenside bunker and the green, and the bunker has been extended closer to the green. These modifications afford the player a better view of front pin positions.
No. 2 (Par 3, 215 yards)
No. 2, a lengthy par 3 at 215 yards, offers a variety of pin positions and an undulating green that slopes from back to front. Players must concentrate on hitting the proper portion of the green with the tee shot. Since the 1996 Presidents Cup, the green was entirely rebuilt to soften the contours, especially in the front left and right corners.
No. 3 (Par 5, 555 yards)
The third hole is a 555-yard, dogleg-right par 5 reachable in two shots by the longest hitters. Regardless of length, players will have to play to the left side in order to have a chance at eagle. Players who elect to lay up near the fairway bunkers will have short iron third shots to an elevated green.
No. 4 (Par 4, 435 yards)
The fourth hole is a 435-yard par 4. Players must favor the left side of the fairway, so the two-tiered green is completely visible. The green has three distinct “bays” which require middle-and-short-iron approaches to be played precisely to a firm green.
No. 5 (Par 4, 425 yards)
A gentle right-to-left hole, the fifth is a 425-yard par 4. Players will favor the right side of the fairway, as tee shots tend to roll to the left side. The two-tiered green narrows considerably in the back and is sloped from back to front. Short-iron approach shots are likely to be the order of the day.
No. 6 (Par 5, 585 yards)
Longest of the par 5s, the 585-yard sixth is not generally reachable in two shots. A demanding tee shot leaves the player with a decision as second shots can be played to either an upper or lower portion of the fairway. Fairway woods are generally required to carry the cross-bunkers and use the upper fairway while irons will be used for those who choose to lay up in the lower fairway. The high way leaves a short iron and the lower fairway sets up an uphill approach shot to a well-contoured green. Either way, the approach has been widened so that a number of shot choices are available to players.
No. 7 (Par 3, 200 yards)
This is a downhill, 200-yard par 3 that presents a high risk/reward factor. The green is two-tiered, bordered by Lake Manassas and sloped from back to front. Go for the pin on the correct tier and a birdie is possible.
No. 8 (Par 4)
No. 8 is a short par 4 where long irons and fairway woods will be used for the tee shot. Players will try to keep to the right of the fairway bunker. Short irons will be fired into this contoured green. The small portion of the left green-side bunker has been filled to afford a drivable par 4 if the tees are up.
No. 9 (Par 3, 190 yards)
The ninth is the club's signature hole. At 190 yards, club selection is critical for the approach into this narrow green. A ridge runs through the middle of the green making putts from the opposite side of the ridge challenging, if not impossible.
No. 10 (Par 5, 505 yards)
A reachable par 5 at only 505 yards, the 10th hole requires a long tee shot to a narrow landing area in order to reach the green in two. The approach is played to a narrow front portion of the elevated green that is heavily bunkered in front. It slopes away from the players in the back, making back pin positions dangerous and easily overplayed.
No. 11 (Par 4, 465 yards)
The 11th hole is a long, straightaway par 4. Tee shots must be kept left of the fairway bunker. Since the hole plays 465 yards, players will approach the multi-tiered green with middle and long irons. The green has a variety of pin positions and is protected in front by bunkers left and right.
No. 12 (Par 5, 580 yards)
Tee placement determines strategy on the 580-yard, par 5, dogleg-left 12th hole. Players may elect to try for the green in two shots from the forward tees. The approach shot is difficult with the lake guarding the left and front sides of the green. The pronounced ridge running diagonally divides the green into two distinct parts. Since the last time The Presidents Cup was played here, the entire green complex has been rebuilt and moved closer to the water. Bunkers in the front and rear were added as were additional pin positions. The green now has a higher right side and a lower left side.
No. 13 (Par 4, 475 yards)
Since the 475-yard, par 4 13th plays downhill, it plays shorter than the posted yardage. Players will generally use middle and short irons for approach shots to a two-tiered, undulating green. Tee shots that carry over the plateau in the fairway will gain roll toward the green. Since 1996, the entire hole has been rebuilt tee to green. The green has been relocated back and left closer to the lake. The left fairway bunkers have been moved farther to the left and the landing area was raised approximately 7 feet to create a downhill second shot and capture the dramatic view of Lake Manassas that rivals the view from the tee.
No. 14 (Par 3, 175 yards)
The par-3, 175-yard 14th is Robert Trent Jones Golf Club’s shortest hole. The contoured green has multiple pin positions requiring exact iron shots to produce birdies.
No. 15 (Par 4, 380 yards)
The 380-yard 15th hole is a relatively straight, uphill par 4. The lone tree on the right side is a good target off the tee. Well-placed drives are important for short-iron second shots to the elevated, small, heart-shaped green. The mound located behind the green forces players to hit precise approaches. Approach shots that go long make up-and-down from there very difficult.
No. 16 (Par 4, 470 yards)
This hole is a 470-yard, par-4, right-to-left dogleg. A long carry from the tee is required to set up a middle-iron, downhill approach shot to a green set on Lake Manassas. Bunkers guard the large green left and right. Recently, the hole was rebuilt from the landing area to the green. The green has been shifted back and left near the lake while the fairway bunkers were pushed left. The optimum landing area was moved closer to the hazard. The vista of the lake is now in clear view and two perfect shots are required to produce birdies.
No. 17 (Par 4, 405 yards)
This hole is a left-to-right dogleg par 4 playing at 405 yards. The tee shot will be played with fairway to the left side, leaving only a short iron into the green. Long hitters may try to carry the fairway bunker on the left for a short pitch to the two-level green that slopes from back to front.
No. 18 (Par 4, 420 yards)
The finishing hole is a 420-yard, uphill, straightaway par 4 that plays longer than its yardage indicates. The plateau in the fairway is even with the fairway bunker. Players reaching that level are likely to approach the elevated green with middle irons. A large ridge runs through the center of the green from front to back, which places a premium on accurate second shots. Recently, the mounding between the left greenside bunker and the green has been reduced, and the bunker has been extended toward the green.
