Blue Ridge Shadows :  This eighteen-hole championship course, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Front Royal, Virginia is preparing to open for limited play this fall, on or about October 1.  The course boasts a wide diversity of topography and holes, with the front nine winds through a majestic hardwood forest in the upper reaches of the property, while the back nine has tremendous elevation change as it goes back and forth from the flood plain to the upper elevations.  This all bent-grass course measures 7400 yards from the tips, down to 4800 from the forward tees.  “With five tee markers, we can accommodate all caliber of players”, says Tom Clark, the golf course’s architect.  “The course will certainly raise the bar on the I-66/Rt. 522 corridor, which already features 36 holes at Bowling Green , 27 holes at Shenandoah Valley , 18 holes at Jackson Chase, and 9 holes at Front Royal Country Club.”  The owners Rich Magalis and John Hopkins, intend to give players a sneak preview, taking advantage of the beautiful fall foliage and cool temperatures, by having limited play of just a few days a week.  The official grand opening will be next spring.  Vince DiStefano, the course superintendent, formerly of Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, has got the A1/A4 greens running firm and fast and with the rest of the course 95% grown in, play in October should be first class.