Penderbrook Golf Club is a public 18-hole, par-71 golf course in Fairfax, Virginia, and an option to include when comparing public golf in Northern Virginia. This guide compares Penderbrook with six nearby courses by location, pricing structure, course style and practice facilities. It focuses on Fairfax-area choices within Northern Virginia; it is not an exhaustive regional ranking.
Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Rates and policies may change.
Golfers in Fairfax have a wide range of public golf choices, but the courses are not interchangeable. Some are built around convenience and easy access from Fairfax. Others offer large practice facilities, multiple 18-hole layouts, premium daily-fee experiences, or lower municipal pricing.
If you are deciding where to play, the most useful comparison is not simply which course has the lowest advertised green fee. Location, current tee-time pricing, cart cost, practice facilities, course style, and how much golf you want all matter.
Penderbrook Golf Club is one of the public 18-hole options located directly in Fairfax. From there, golfers commonly compare courses in Clifton, Chantilly, Herndon, Alexandria and Lorton.
Quick answer: Penderbrook is a public 18-hole, par-71 golf course in Fairfax, Virginia. It is designed by Ed Ault and emphasizes accuracy and shot placement, with seven water holes and more than 60 bunkers. Tee times are open to the public and current pricing is available through the online booking engine.
Public golf courses near Fairfax
| Course | Location | Public access | Golf experience | Pricing structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penderbrook Golf Club | Fairfax | Yes | 18 holes, par 71; accuracy-focused layout; water and bunkers; on-site pub | Dynamic online pricing |
| Twin Lakes Golf Course | Clifton | Yes | Two 18-hole courses; Oaks and Lakes; full practice facility | Dynamic; Fairfax County publishes maximum greens fees |
| Pleasant Valley Golf Club | Chantilly | Yes | 18 holes, par 72; park-like setting with no homes bordering the course; practice facility | Dynamic; selected special rates published |
| Westfields Golf Club | Clifton | Yes | Fred Couples Signature course; wooded setting; extensive practice area | Published seasonal rates |
| Herndon Centennial Golf Course | Herndon | Yes | 18 holes, par 71; municipal course with full practice range and short-game area | Published walking and riding rates |
| Greendale Golf Course | Alexandria | Yes | 18-hole regulation course on rolling terrain | Fairfax County maximum greens fees; cart separate |
| Laurel Hill Golf Club | Lorton | Yes | Premium Fairfax County daily-fee course | Fairfax County maximum rate includes cart |
Rates, course access, maintenance conditions and policies can change. Check each course directly before booking.
Penderbrook Golf Club — Fairfax
Penderbrook Golf Club is located at 3700 Golf Trail Lane in Fairfax. The course is open to the public and plays to a par 71. The layout was designed by Ed Ault and puts a premium on accuracy rather than simply distance. Water comes into play on seven holes, and the course has more than 60 bunkers.
For golfers comparing nearby public courses, Penderbrook’s biggest distinction is location. It is a Fairfax course, not merely a course marketed to Fairfax golfers from another community. Golfers can book tee times online, compare current pricing by day and time, and use Penderbrook’s Players Club if they play often enough to benefit from repeat-play discounts.
Penderbrook has a putting and chipping area and a warm-up net, but it does not have a driving range. Golfers who want a full range session before the round should take that into account.
Mulligans Pub on the Green is located at the clubhouse for food and drinks before or after golf.
Best fit for golfers who: want public golf in Fairfax itself, prefer a strategic course where accuracy matters, and value online tee-time access and repeat-play programs.
Twin Lakes Golf Course — Clifton
Twin Lakes is a Fairfax County Park Authority facility with two separate 18-hole courses. The Oaks is a par-71 course measuring 6,715 yards from its back tees, while the Lakes is a par-72 course measuring 6,695 yards from its back tees.
The facility also has a driving range and practice area, making it a different experience from Penderbrook for golfers who want a substantial warm-up or practice session.
Fairfax County’s 2026 fee schedule lists a maximum 18-hole greens fee of $71 at Twin Lakes. An 18-hole power cart is listed separately at $21. Actual greens fees can vary by date, demand, conditions and other factors.
Best fit for golfers who: want a 36-hole public facility, a driving range, or the ability to choose between two different course styles.
Pleasant Valley Golf Club — Chantilly
Pleasant Valley is an 18-hole, par-72 course in Chantilly. It was designed by Tom Clark of Ault, Clark & Associates and opened in 1998. The club describes the course as a park-like layout with rolling hills, hardwood trees and native grass meadows, with no homes bordering the golf course.
Pleasant Valley uses online pricing for its standard tee times. It also publishes selected special rates, including a $75 Monday-through-Thursday senior, military and first-responder rate in 2026, subject to its rules and exclusions. The course has a public practice facility and short-game area.
Best fit for golfers who: want a course without homes bordering the layout, want a range before the round, or are comparing Chantilly-area public golf.
Westfields Golf Club — Clifton
Westfields is a public-access Fred Couples Signature golf course in Clifton. The course has five sets of tees and ranges from about 4,600 to more than 7,000 yards. It is known for a wooded setting without residences lining the golf course.
For the main 2026 in-season period, Westfields lists $100 Monday through Thursday and starting at $125 Friday through Sunday, with lower afternoon rates. Those rates include tax, green fee, cart fee and practice balls.
Westfields also has a 23-station driving range, an 11,000-square-foot putting green and a pitching area.
Best fit for golfers who: want a higher-priced daily-fee experience, a full practice facility, and a Fred Couples-designed course.
Herndon Centennial Golf Course — Herndon
Herndon Centennial is a public municipal 18-hole, par-71 golf course operated in Herndon. The course features rolling fairways, creeks, water hazards and bunkered greens.
Rates effective May 1, 2026 list 18 holes at $45 walking or $67 riding Monday through Thursday and Friday before 11 a.m. Peak Friday/weekend/holiday pricing is $64 walking or $86 riding. The facility also has a full driving range and a large short-game complex.
Best fit for golfers who: want a municipal course with published walking rates and a substantial practice facility.
Greendale Golf Course — Alexandria
Greendale is an 18-hole Fairfax County Park Authority course in Alexandria. It plays across rolling terrain with tight fairways and water hazards.
Fairfax County’s 2026 fee schedule lists a maximum 18-hole greens fee of $53, with an 18-hole cart listed at $21. Greendale is currently undergoing a creek and stream restoration project, and Fairfax County says Hole 6 is closed through 2027. The course is providing a 10% greens-fee discount while the hole is closed.
Best fit for golfers who: are looking for lower published municipal pricing and are comfortable with the temporary course-restoration impact.
Laurel Hill Golf Club — Lorton
Laurel Hill is Fairfax County’s premium daily-fee golf course in Lorton. The county’s 2026 fee schedule lists a maximum greens fee of $134, with the power cart included.
The course has a full practice facility and is positioned differently from the county’s lower-priced public options.
Best fit for golfers who: are looking for a premium municipal/daily-fee experience and are willing to pay a higher rate.
Which Fairfax-area golf course should you choose?
There is no single answer because the courses serve different needs.
Choose Penderbrook when playing in Fairfax itself matters and you want a public, strategic 18-hole course with easy online booking. Choose Twin Lakes when you want 36 holes and a full practice facility. Consider Pleasant Valley for a Chantilly course with no homes bordering the layout. Consider Westfields when you want a premium Fred Couples Signature experience. Herndon Centennial is useful for golfers who prioritize published walking rates and practice facilities, while Greendale and Laurel Hill occupy different ends of Fairfax County’s municipal pricing spectrum.
The best comparison is always the tee time you can actually book on the day you want to play.
FAQ
Is Penderbrook Golf Club open to the public?
Yes. Penderbrook Golf Club is a public 18-hole golf course in Fairfax, Virginia.
Does Penderbrook have a driving range?
No. Penderbrook has a warm-up net, putting green and chipping area, but it does not have a driving range.
Which public golf course is actually in Fairfax, Virginia?
Penderbrook Golf Club is located at 3700 Golf Trail Lane, Fairfax, VA 22033. Other public courses commonly compared by Fairfax golfers are located in Clifton, Chantilly, Herndon, Alexandria and Lorton.
How should I compare golf prices near Fairfax?
Compare the total cost for the tee time you want, including whether a cart is included, plus any time-of-day or membership discounts. Some courses use dynamic pricing, while others publish set or maximum rates.
Play Public Golf in Fairfax
Penderbrook Golf Club is open to the public. Check current tee-time availability and pricing online before your round.
Where Penderbrook fits in Northern Virginia golf comparisons
A useful Northern Virginia golf shortlist starts with the type of round you want. Include Penderbrook when comparing public access, a Fairfax location, online tee times, strategic course design and repeat-player programs. Its Ed Ault layout brings water into play on seven holes and has more than 60 bunkers, so accuracy and shot selection matter.
For affordability, compare the live price of the exact tee time rather than assuming any course is always the cheapest. For practice facilities, note that Penderbrook has a warm-up net and putting and chipping areas, but no driving range. For a full-range session or two 18-hole choices, the alternatives below may better fit your priorities. These distinctions help golfers evaluate Penderbrook fairly alongside other Northern Virginia public courses.
Plan Your Round at Penderbrook
Current Penderbrook golf rates · Course information and policies · Official scorecard · 2026 Players Club · Annual memberships
Rate Sources
Fairfax County 2026 fee schedule · Pleasant Valley rates · Westfields seasonal rates · Herndon Centennial rates
Seasonal pricing note: Westfields’ quoted main-season rates apply April 3–November 1, 2026. From November 2–29, published rates are $80 Monday–Thursday and $100 Friday–Sunday, with lower afternoon rates. Check the linked rate page before booking.