Robert TheodorsonNestled on the edge of Lake Manassas, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club has long been a playground for the world’s best golfers.
As LIV Golf Virginia rolls in, we caught up with the dedicated and extremely talented, hard-working staff to get their thoughts on what makes this course so special, which holes might trip up even the pros, and the excitement of hosting yet another world-class event.
LIV Golf Weekly – What would you say sets the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club apart from other championship courses in the DMV area?
RTJ – Robert Trent Jones is one of the more unique, newer golf courses in the DMV. We’ve hosted plenty of events in the past thirty years, including the Solheim Cup this past September, the PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans National in 2015, and four Presidents Cup tournaments.
The membership at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club proudly supports televised golf events. The course was designed with professional championships in mind, making it an ideal venue for the game’s biggest stages.
The course sits on beautiful Lake Manassas and has stunning views no matter which hole you’re playing on. The entire golf course from 1 to 18 is absolutely stunning.
LIV Golf Weekly – Are there any specific holes that we can expect the LIV field to struggle on? With Oakmont next week, the field will need some practice on those holes that are particularly difficult to make par on.
RTJ – Even professionals can expect a bit of a struggle on the opening stretch; the first three holes in particular are going to be a rough outing for plenty of the field.
The first hole, which was changed recently by Kyle Phillips, is our third-highest handicap hole due to its length and strategically placed bunkers.
The third hole is our number one handicap hole and the second is number 7, quite a difficult start for those beginning the shotgun start with those three occurring on the beginning nine.
It will be interesting to see if the RTJ course can stand against the world’s best professionals. I should note though that most of our greens are very large, but the first three will pose a key challenge to the LIV guys as they’re slightly smaller than average.
LIV Golf Weekly – Conversely, are there any reliable scoring opportunities such as a drivable Par 4 or a Par 5 that’s under 500 yards?
RTJ – Our tenth hole is a drivable Par 4 that comes in right around 300 yards tee to pin. The 10th saw lots of scoring during the Solheim Cup and Presidents Cup.
LIV Golf Weekly – How much work went into preparing RTJ for LIV Virginia? Was there anything special the club did in preparation for this tournament?
RTJ – We recently hosted the Solheim Cup and are proud of the swift and seamless turnaround following such a major tournament. Our sincere thanks go to the Par 5 Group, managing LIV Virginia, for their outstanding support during this transition.
At RTJ, our agronomy team is dedicated to delivering exceptional course conditions for our members and guests year-round. LIV players can expect the same high standards throughout their experience here.
All of us here are methodical about paying attention to detail, making this course the best it possibly can be, day in and day out.
LIV Golf Weekly – What would you say is the course’s signature hole? Can you explain what makes it special?
RTJ – The eleventh hole is our most picturesque and thus our most photographed hole. The eleventh plays over water and the cove.
From every angle, there are beautiful views of Lake Manassas and its surrounding areas. At 220 yards, it provides a great challenge that will reward those who are accurate off the tee, making it an experience you’ll never forget.
LIV Golf Weekly – The DMV area as a whole has been starved for professional golf tournaments for several years. With LIV Virginia, The Senior PGA Championship, and The BMW Championship all being hosted in Virginia and Maryland in 2025, would you say professional golf is making a comeback here?
RTJ – Inside of a year there have been several great tournaments and championships around here. We started off with the hosting of the Solheim Cup which was a huge success. We hope that LIV Virginia brings out huge crowds as is fully expected.
We are also pleased that Congressional and Caves Valley are doing their part in bringing major professional golf tournaments back to the area.
I think that all the clubs around here expect this trend to continue, and certainly hope for it.
We here at RTJ are committed to bringing the local golf community together in a positive way! We are expecting fans from all across the DMV area to travel for LIV Virginia and hope that plenty of non-locals come visit us for a fantastic tournament.
It’s great that LIV Golf Virginia is taking place when interest in golf is at an all-time high, right between the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. RTJ and the entire state of Virginia has so much to offer the golf community.
Part of what makes LIV Golf so great is that it is truly an international league in every sense of the word.
The staff here is thrilled to see the best players from across the world compete at the highest level.
Our golf club has traditionally attracted worldwide talent throughout the course of our tournaments held here and we are pleased that trend is continuing.
We also want to acknowledge that LIV chose RTJ for one of their six tournaments to take place in the United States.
We are absolutely thrilled to host LIV Virginia here at RTJ and can’t wait to see the great fans show up in numbers!
LIV Golf Weekly Conclusion
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Club isn’t just another tournament venue—it’s a stage built for champions.
With its demanding opening stretch, scoring chances on the back nine, and a jaw-dropping 11th hole that will test precision and nerve, the course is more than ready for LIV Golf.
As the agronomy team readies every blade of grass and every bunker edge, fans can expect a weekend of drama, challenge, and the kind of golf that makes the DMV proud. See you out there.
