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May 13, 2002
Christendom Golf Tourney Set for September

Christendom College will be holding its 3rd Annual Golf Tournament at Westfields Golf Club in Clifton, VA, on September 28, 2002, at 12:30 pm.

Organized under the direction of the President of the Christendom College Alumni Association, Greg Polley ('00), the tournament hopes to raise over $20,000 to go toward Christendom's Alumni Scholarship Fund.

At Westfields Golf Club, PGA golfer Fred Couples has built a course that is, at once, fun and accessible for the novice, while challenging and thought-provoking for the experienced golfer. Fred's professional play on hundreds of courses around the world coupled with his experience in countless tournaments and team competitions have given him exceptional insight into golf course design. It is perfectly exhibited at Westfields.

Couples' playing strengths translate nicely into his thinking on course design--create a path wide enough for a seven forty seven, but make sure the runway's long enough to get off the ground. Westfields seems to embody this theory. Measuring 6,897 yards from the 'Boom-Boom' tees, Westfields at par 71 could solidly qualify for a PGA tournament course in terms of distance, and cause most pros to pull the driver out of the bag on occasions that would call for it.

There are four par 4s that measure over 440 yards, a hefty task for any amateur to handle--and forces all but a few to play them as par 5's. That is, unless they take advantage of the five sets of tees that Couples provides--and brings the course down to size for the average golfer.

The number 3 hole is a 223-yard par three. The green is beautifully set in and surrounded by water and big mounds. The rock features that jilt out into the pond are simply stunning. The championship back pin location is extremely challenging. A par here is welcomed.

The club is affiliated with the Marriott Westfields in Chantilly--which adds the touch of class you would expect from the Marriott name--but the course is set a few miles away in a peaceful residential neighborhood, populated by large luxurious homes. The neighbors are good ones though--there aren't any houses within a driver's shot of the course.

Once onsite, the club features an excellent practice facility--grass range, large putting green, and a chipping area--which serves to set up the round. Out on the course, it becomes a journey through the abundant Virginia hardwoods, combining with the muted subtleties of a fine golf course--wetlands, water, and nature's contour. The property also shows off some of the area's rich historical significance--there's a Civil War era cemetery and fortifications to browse at--whose presence helps bring today's poor shots back into perspective. www.westfieldsgolf.com

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