A Course You Can Play: General's Ridge, Manassas

• Par: 70.

• Length: Gold tees, 6,294 yards; Blue, 5,872; White, 5,266; Red, 4,408.

• Rating/Slope: 73.6/141; 69.6/131; White 66.9/119; Red, 66.5/112.

• Designer: Jerry Slack.

• Most Distinguishing Trait: A name change and some refreshing updates have transformed the once prohibitively difficult course known as Manassas Park into a fair and inviting test through some of the most scenic and historic terrain in Northern Virginia. Formerly notorious for unreceptive fairways and severe greens, the refurbished layout renamed for a Civil War encampment offers wider landing areas off the tee and for the approach. Those revisions, however, don't necessarily mean General's Ridge has become a gentle 18 holes. Just 6,294 yards from the championship tees, the course lined with towering oak, beech and poplar makes up for a lack of length with its share of blind shots, ravines with dense growth and unforgiving rough around the greens. Driver does not come out of the bag often on this course that places a premium on accuracy, not distance.

• Most Difficult Hole: Don't let the pleasant sight lines at No. 12 fool you. With a stream cutting through the plush fairway and running along the left side of the green, the course's signature hole is pleasant to look at but can be a bear to play. Driver is not an option for many players here, as the downhill tee shot plays shorter than advertised. The ideal drive is some 210 yards into the center of the fairway. The approach shot needs to be right to avoid a slope guarding the left portion of the green.

• Best Chance for a Birdie: For mid to high handicappers, No. 10 provides a realistic scoring chance. It's a reachable par 5 from the forward (431 yards) and middle (466) tees. A tee ball approximately 220 yards to a ridge on the left is the most advantageous in setting up a blind second shot. Laying up leaves a sand wedge into a green protected by rough mostly to the left and back. Trying to reach the green in two can be tempting, but staying conservative is a better route to a red number.

• Practice Facilities: Natural grass driving range, putting green, chipping green.

• Shoe Policy: Nonmetal spikes only.

• Rates: Weekdays, $29 (open to 9 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.); $39 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.); $24 (4 p.m. to close). Weekends, $54 (open to noon); $39 (noon to 3 p.m.); $27 (3 p.m. to close).

• Directions: I-66 west to Route 28 south. Follow Route 28 for approximately five miles. Turn left on Manassas Drive and continue past Blooms Crossing for approximately 2.5 miles. Entrance is on the right.

• Web Site: www.generalsridge.com.

• Phone: 703-335-0777.

-- Gene Wang