Just north of Richmond Virginia amidst the ghostly hollows of American Civil War battlefields lies picturesque parkland designed Crossings Golf Club.

Built in 1979 the course has become an ideal diversion for golfers that travel the I-95 corridor and a favorite among locals who enjoy the multitude of challenges it presents.

This Joe Lee designed layout meanders through a dense forest featuring rolling fairways, numerous bunkers and greens ranging from three club lengths difference in depth to smaller cloverleaf complexes that put a premium on accuracy.

The Crossings is an ideal parkland style course that favors accuracy over length and is made for shot makers who can work the ball.

The front nine starts with a left to right dog-leg requiring the golfer to think off the tee.

You have to select the right club off the tee for optimal position in the fairway. It seems each tee shot tests your course management skills and is crucial to scoring well.

With dense woods guarding both sides of the fairways on many of the holes, there are times when even a good tee shot at the tee can leave you trapped, having to work the ball around or under the edge of trees to reach the green with your second shot.

An unimpeded longer second shot to the green makes more sense then trying to hit a 100-yard low runner beneath tree limbs.

The greens at the Crossings provide more variety then just about any course we've ever had the opportunity to play.

There are large round greens requiring three club different club selections to reach from front to back. Then there are small clover leaf greens where the pin position can make you think a good shot is on the green but when you get to the green you realize you have a delicate chip.

What's great about the Crossings is how it has stood the test of time. Some older courses may seem dated and just don't challenge because technology has made them obsolete. But with its tight tree lined fairways and varying green sizes this classic course seems like a fine wine, gracefully aging and only getting better.

Amigos Favorite Hole: With lots of dog-legs to choose from, we selected the 529-yard par 5 No. 7 was our favorite.

This double dog leg starts with tee shot that favors a fade with all the trouble lurking with the densely wooded right side of a fairway and a large fairway bunker guarding the left side of the fairway.

Once in the fairway and depending on your length of drive more than likely you'll be forced to lay up with a third shot because the hole bends again back to the left with a large tree guarding left side.

The only way this hole is accessible in two is to work the ball right to left from the tee and cut enough of the starting right corner.

With a three shot approach you should have a short wedge to a large green. Make sure to stay below the hole and remember to stay in front of the pin because there is little room to miss the green behind the hole.