A partnership of Baltimore-based development firms has acquired a 168-acre Northern Virginia golf course after its previous owner could not overcome community opposition to new development.

Scott Plank's War Horse Cities, in partnership with Weller Development Co., acquired the Reston National Golf Course from Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance and Billy Casper Golf, the Washington Business Journal reports.

The 18-hole golf course sits on Sunrise Valley Drive between the Wiehle-Reston East Silver Line Metro station and the future Reston Town Center station, making it an appealing property for developers. But the previous owner faced roadblocks to redeveloping the public golf course, which has been open for nearly 50 years.

Northwestern Mutual tried to rezone the site in 2012 but faced opposition from Rescue Reston, a group formed that year to push back against development of the area's golf courses. The initial approval was appealed and overturned by the Fairfax County Circuit Court, and the owners decided not to continue the legal battle.

The new owners retained Billy Casper Golf to continue managing the golf course and said they have no additional plans for the property at this time. The Rescue Reston group posted on Facebook Sunday that it opposes the new owners doing anything but maintaining the property as a golf course.