November 12, 2025. Front Royal, Virginia.
Just when we thought the golfing season was over for the year, the sun came out, and we simply had to hit the links. We drove to the small, historic town of Front Royal, often called the “Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley.” Geographically, the town is beautifully situated at the northern end of the valley, flanked by the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Massanutten Mountain range to the west. As the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park and the famous Skyline Drive, it is a major destination for hikers, campers, and sightseers, and it is also an officially designated Appalachian Trail Community.
As we noted, Front Royal is not typically known as a golf destination, so imagine our surprise when we arrived at Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Course and saw a beautiful, lush green course before us. Not only was it stunning, but we found the conditions to be worthy of hosting a major championship. The fairways were spongy beneath our feet, the greens rolled perfectly and fast, and the many bunkers were freshly raked and powdery. We simply could not believe how nice the course was; I only remember these perfect conditions from a long time ago when we played at the famous Doral Country Club in Miami, Florida.
The course itself is challenging, as the mountainous terrain makes every shot a strategic consideration. Careful thought should be given to club selection on almost every hole. Though our scorecard did not reflect the sheer joy we had playing the course, we truly consider this a must-play for any golfer in the area. If you visit, look for Dwight, the starter. He provided wonderful service, taking the time to patiently offer invaluable insights into the course before sending us off to the first Tee.
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