“When I die, bury me on a golf course, so my husband will visit.” -- Author Unknown

I can relate.

My husband drools each time we pass the construction site along Waxpool Road for The Presidential golf facility, which is scheduled to open this spring.

The Presidential golf course (Photos by Erica Garman)

The sad thing is his chances of playing there are mighty slim.

The Presidential is catering to the elite corporate community. The annual membership fee of $60,000 provides C-level execs access to the 18-hole golf course with a caddy program, the Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy, a 56-station tee line, a six-acre short game area and a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with banquet and dining facilities, locker rooms and a pro-shop. Everything is top-of-the-line. Only 60 corporate memberships are available at this time.

And that’s just the first phase.

The Presidential golf course

Phase two will be ready in 2009 and will add nine holes to the project.

Phase three, to open in 2010, will offer a 60,000-square-foot “Grand” clubhouse with a 10,000-plus bottle wine cellar and a first-class dining room that can seat 850 guests.

Did I mention membership is available by invitation only?

Scott Stephens, vice president of membership, describes The Presidential as a “business facility with the backdrop of golf.”

The clientele will (and does) include big-wigs from Fortune 500 companies who will use the facility to woo clients and host business meetings and conferences.

Can this stalled economy support The Presidential?

The Presidential golf course

“The corporations that have memberships with us budget for business development,” replied Stephens. “They understand it’s the price they have to pay to remain competitive.”

Stephens admits some mid-market companies, although clearly interested, said they could not commit to membership at this time due to financial reasons.

Earlier this decade, construction of a golf course named Bear National was started. When that project stalled, new investors bought the property. Former Redskin and Ashburn resident Darrell Green is one of The Presidential’s private investor-partners.

Whether or not you plan on playing The Presidential, do you golf? What are your favorite courses in Loudoun?