Heron Ridge

Heron Ridge Golf Club may not be on the actual “beach” in Virginia Beach, however collaborators Gene Bates and Fred Couples weren’t going to let that stop you from getting wet when you hit an errant shot. The course features more than 14 holes that hold either a pond, creek, or wetland positioned to make a splash.

One of the most sinister stretches is holes Nos. 5, 7, and 8, where the same creek appears ahead of every green. While those three feature a rather concentrated wet area, No. 9 — a moderate-length par five — features a much more significant lake all down its left-hand side.

Fans of Couples in particular may make a connection if they’ve played his other courses in the Old Dominion state. The tips are subtly named “Boom Boom,” a facet they share with Westfields Golf Club. The PGA Hall of Famer designed that Washington D.C.-area track on his own, and the shared ownership of the two venues decided to bring the dramatic branding with them. No matter where along the Virginia coast you may find yourself, there will be some Fred Couples “Boom Boom” nearby.