Ospreys has no driving range, but recently added a driving net for warming up. The practice green matched the speed of the front 9, but wasn't close to the back 9, which was super-fast.

It's a short course, but one that forces many decisions. Fairways are generally very narrow, so be ready to lose a few balls. Unplayable rough is just several feet off of several greens, so shotmaking is of paramount importance.

Overall, the course was in great shape. Greens were well-watered, and fairway grass was well-maintained. Tee boxes had some wear, but were better than most.

I have to agree with earlier posts--bring a can of bugspray. While the course's location along the Occoquan River results in some nice views, it also results in a LOT of bugs!

Still, I enjoyed the course and will play it again.

Customer Service

Very courteous. They drove my cart up to me as I unloaded my clubs, and cleaned my clubs when the round was done. The drink cart came around several (4-5) times during my round. No turnaround at nine, but there's a snack bar at the 7th (?) hole that you'll pass by again later in the round.

I agree with many points previously made. Yet I would and have returned to the course a few times over the years. The course originally opened as a par 64 or something, then they expanded it to the 70(i think) that it is now, which is why some of the holes seem to be crammed in, and yes some par 5s are almost U shaped in order to make up for lack of acreage. And yes some of the hole's pars really make no sense. No. 17, while a neat looking hole, can be a simple 3 iron - 5 iron Eagle hole, which just doesn't feel like an eagle to me.
Aside from the whacky design, the course is still usually in good condition, has some enjoyable risk/reward holes, nice views of the occoquan, and decent prices. Just don't expect a typical round of golf, and expect to lose some balls.

The Good: The clubhouse was nice, the conditions on the course were nice. The price was right, 50 bucks. The greens were recovering from being punched, but every GC has to deal with that.

The Bad: Who ever designed this place was completely devoid of golf knowledge. This is a terrific piece of land with some great views. This area had some great potential, had it not been squandered on an architect who thinks that hitting 3 iron - 3 iron to get to most of the par 4s and par 5s makes for fun golf.

The Ugly: 3 bucks a beer

Good shape, nice greeens, sees little play - you can get on most any time.

In my opinion, a ridiculous layout. In all fairness, I like long layouts. Also, much of the course is in semi-swamp land which leads to squishy fairways.

A silly course, but in very good shape for a public course. It appears that this is the first non-miniature golf course made by the designer. It has a driveable par 5 - a chance to get a triple eagle. Another par five is v-shaped, where, if you knew where to hit it, you'd have another shot at a triple-eagle. However, the course is incredibly tight - unless you drive the ball a max of 220, I don't know if you'd ever bringout much beyond a 3-iron. Most of the holes you lay up with a 3-5 iron and then hit a wedge in. If you like that sort of thing, you'd likely enjoy this course as it is in very good condition.

Customer Service

Fine.

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There are no other parts of the facility.

A silly little "put the ball in the clown's mouth" design that when it is not replete with bugs is intruded upon by cheap townhouses. Three "vignettes": 1) Par 4 - 5 iron across a swamp leaving 9 across dirt. High 9 hits two feet from pin and bounces into woods abutting back of green. No "legal" drop possible. A "cheating" triple! I think the next hole - a par five - required a tee shot away from the direction of the green but maybe my eyes were to bloody to see straight at that point. 2) #1 handicap hole - driver, wedge, 2 putts. A par. And, mirable dictu, I could correctly intuit where to hit both shots!!! 3) Last par 5 - snap hook a 2 iron off a townhouse. Nice bounce off the aluminum siding. One of the finer 7 woods of my life - sidehill lie, semi-visible downhill target, big high draw over trees to a bumpy six foot putt which through no skill of my own, dropped. EAGLE!!! (one of my five that season). DING, DING, DING!!! The happy clown smiled! The next time I return to this course (exactly a fortnight after Hell freezes over) I am going to enjoy myself. Key thought: "this ain't golf". Key asset: a sense of humor. Bottom line: "the worst day I ever had playing golf is better than the best day I ever..." In this case I believe it will be marginally better than my best prostate exam!

Customer Service

Nice people.

It's reasonably priced.

Too many to name, poorly maintained, poorly run & is a VERY unforgiving course. Try Broadrun to see how a short course can be made challenging.

This is not a course I would play again. NO practice facilities - you can get the speed of the greens how? The greens on the front are moderate & the ones on the back nine are lightning fast - very inconsistent. The staff is friendly, but they provide little or no information. A new comer is supposed to know that the snack bar is between the 2nd & 14th holes how? Yes, this course places a premium on shot making - but on several holes 2' wide of the green & your ball is gone. The fairways were over watered & soggy, the greens were underwatered and like concrete and unlike a links style course there is no run up area on the approach to most holes. An example - hit a SW to the front of the par 3 11th even a high shot like this won't stay on the green. I shot an 89 which is good for me, but I didn't think it was a fair test of golf - it's okay if you never miss a shot by more than a couple of feet. The front 9 is a decent short course, the back is vicious.

Customer Service

Okay, not very helpful. NEVER saw the beverage cart on the back 9. Two water jugs on the front - both empty (nice on a 90 degree Va day).

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There are NO other facilities, the "clubhouse" is is the basement of a model home.

Excellent fairways and greens; a devilishly intriguing layout; several world-class vistas; a real test of precision golf; friendly and helpful staff.

Bugs; lack of practice facilities and clubhouse; a cart paths only policy.

Ospreys is an unusual course to say the least. It's a short layout that lays beside the mouth of the Occaquan River. Wetlands abound and bugs flourish. Take lots of insect repellent if you play it during the summer. There is no clubhouse and no practice facilities. Like a links course, once you tee-off you don't return to the pro-shop/starters shack until after the 18th hole. A snack bar sets beside the second hole (and on the pathway to the 14th), but I seldom find it opened during the week. A snack cart makes the rounds of the course for most of the day.

All that being said, you don't want to miss playing this course. It is in excellent shape with lush fairways and lightening fast greens. The 17th hole, a par five running beside the Occoquan River with a 100 feet elevation drop from tee to green is one of the most beautiful holes I've played. Look over your shoulder on number two for another beautiful view of the river. The course is lush with interesting vegetation, and bird-lovers (even birdie lovers)will delight at the wide variety of wetland species visible through the seasons of the year.

Ospreys puts a premium on shot making. There are few holes where a long hitter will benefit from hitting a driver, even from the back tees. Fairways are tight, and trouble lurks for shots that are too long, too short, or off the fairways. From the blue tees several holes demand a carry over hazzards of 180 to 190 yards. Proper club selection and precision off the tee are the order of the day. None of the par fives are long, but each one is treacherous, tempting one to gamble and exacting a heavy toll for imprecise shots.

Ospreys is still a work in progress, but it's worth try now. Once you try it, it has a way of luring you back again and again.

Customer Service

Staff member brings a cart to your car when you arrive and picks up your cart after you offload your clubs. Everyone from the golf shop staff to the maintenance staff go out of their way to be courteous and helpful. One day maintenance worker drove three holes out of his way to return clubs to me that I'd left on the course.

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