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Feature Story

Jackson’s Chase Golf Club ~ History Repeats Itself

Nick Ciattei

The Shenandoah Valley and Virginia
ooze with Civil War history, and no
golf course in this region has a better
story to tell than Jackson’s Chase Golf
Club in Front Royal, VA. Times past
show us that Confederate forces under
the command of Lieutenant General
Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson began
pursuit of Major General Nathaniel P.
Banks’ fleeing Union forces from the area
Hole 5 Par 4

around the golf course. Jackson’s “chase”
of Banks culminated in the First Battle of Winchester on May 25, 1862. And now,
history repeats itself as golfers “chase” those little white balls across the rolling hills
at Jackson’s Chase. Much like the General had to do, you will need strategy and
tactics as you prepare for your own skirmish of sport.

Affectionately known by locals as “The
Chase” or “The Jack,” this 18-hole, par
72 layout commands both wise and
sometimes risky moves. Playing over an
undulating terrain, the course features
plenty of ravines, native hardwoods
and top-notch views of the Blue Ridge
and Massanutten mountain ranges. This
popular and beautiful layout stretches
from a comfortable 4400 yards for the
Hole 8 Par 5

ladies to just over 6500 yards from the
tips. The front nine opens with a short par 4 where all trouble lies to the left. The
par 3 second hole has a deep green, so back pin placements warrant an extra club.
The par 5 third carries more length than any other hole at The Chase, measuring
more than 550 yards. A lofted shot rewards premium gains to a green that slopes
sharply from front to back. Many tout the fourth hole as one of the top par 4s in the
region. A solid tee shot will reach the top of the hill to see the green set back among
the trees. Bunkers guard both sides of the fairway on number five, also a testy par
4. Favor the left side on your tee ball on the sixth hole. The par 3 seventh requires
a decent carry over a deep valley. The par 5 eighth normally requires three shots,
with emphasis on placing the second shot to a small island-type fairway. The green
is built into the side of a hill with a slippery putting surface. A tee shot over a nasty
gorge awaits you on the par 4 ninth that leads to a green that if the General were
around today, he just may declare war on!

The inward nine at Jackson’s Chase starts with a par 5 characterized by defined
landing areas and dramatic elevation changes. Many consider holes ten through
fourteen to be target golf. Keep your ball in the right places to score well. From
an elevated tee on the par 3 eleventh, you will witness a gorgeous piece of golf

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