LEESBURG, Virginia — I’m neither a scratch golfer nor a spa afficionado, so when I received an invite for an outing at Lansdowne Resort and Spa last summer, I hesitated. I didn’t want to be uncomfortable on the golf course and my last spa experience was not ideal.
But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
The resort is located along the Potomac River about 30 miles from downtown Washington, D.C., in Leesburg, Virginia. It’s about a 20-minute Uber ride from Dulles International Airport or an hour by car from Washington Reagan National.
Guests have the option of playing three golf courses — a 7,063-yard, par-72 Robert Trent Jones Jr. course, a 7,333-yard, par-72 Greg Norman course or a 9-hole Greg Norman Shark Bite course.
I played the Robert Trent Jones Jr. course with Nick Zaloga, the resort’s director of golf. Although Zaloga is a scratch golfer, he immediately put me at ease. I got to enjoy the amateur friendly course, hit a few good shots and share golf stories. Like all good PGA Professionals, Zaloga listens and matches the player’s level of seriousness for the round.
When I talked to Zaloga about his philosophy he said: “Believe it or not, I feel reverse pressure when I take people out. I’m more nervous because I have to live up to a certain expectation of a good golfer. I relate to the nervousness and try to help them relax as much as they can.”
I also checked out the Shark Bite course, which provides five different tee box options ranging from approximately 2,300 yards from the back tees to 870 yards from the juniors’ tee box.
The design encourages junior and family play, and that is who I saw enjoying the course. I like the way the course provides novice golfers the chance to play on the same course as more experienced golfers. I watched one father-daughter twosome having fun teeing off and thought what a great way to set her up for success.
I took a quick dip in the pool after my round and was surprised with having the option of three outdoor pools. The resort also has an indoor pool, tennis and pickleball courts, a fully equipped gym, a basketball court, exercise classes, bike rentals and a spa.
I squeezed in an appointment Spa Minérale, the resort’s spa facility, and started to understand the resort’s quintessence mission. I reluctantly tried a massage hoping to erase my negative spa experience from another resort and it worked. The staff is what made this one different, and their nurturing approach and attention to detail made me a convert.
The resort also has 55,000 square feet of conference space and a 3,500-seat outdoor, covered pavilion overlooking the Potomac River. I kept thinking what a great space Lansdowne offers for hosting conferences where participants can bring their families and take advantage of the amenities. Carol Smith, director of sales and marketing, said, “… we see lots of families taking advantage of the resort offerings.”
I left the resort feeling nurtured and wanting to return. I am seriously thinking about proposing it for my family’s annual adult cousin trip. It has something to keep almost everyone in the group happy.