Energized by Spieth? Try These Area Courses

By Leah Lancione

            No doubt you heard about youngster Jordan Spieth’s record-breaking win at the 2015 Masters. As an article at PGATOUR.com put it, “the 21-year-old Texan turned in one of the most dominant wins ever at Augusta National. He never let anyone get closer to him than three shots after his record start.”

So whether you’re a scratch golfer or a duffer, if Spieth’s performance inspired you, check out the following list of challenging golf courses within a short drive from Annapolis.

Bay Hills Golf Club

Located in Arnold, BHGC is a public course offering 18 holes on wooded rolling terrain. “Players must place a premium on strategy and shot placement to conquer the six doglegs, 52 bunkers and water,” the course says on its website.

BHGC offers leagues, to include a gentleman’s group, seniors, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night play, as well as a Tuesday and Thursday morning men’s play. The USGA Handicap System service is available as well as the Portable Golf Handicap System.

After you’ve finished your round, there’s an onsite sports bar, lunch and dinner in a comfortable atmosphere.

Call 410.974.0669 or visit http://bayhillsgc.com 

Blue Heron Golf Course
If you want to experience a “fantastic, challenging executive golf course” on the Eastern Shore, Blue Heron Golf Course in Stevensville (3270 Romancoke Rd.) is a good choice. Originally a nine-hole short course it was transformed to an18-hole, par 63 course. Golf Range Magazine named the Blue Heron Course one of the “Top Ten Short Courses in America” in 2006.

There are a few reasons why this public golf course is a “hole in one,” including the low rates for seniors, ($12 for nine holes and $18 for 18 holes if walking, or $18 for nine holes and $30 for 18 holes if riding). Blue Heron also offers a reasonably-priced special that includes golf, cart and lunch (a sandwich and chips) Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Blue Heron is also home to a senior league as well as leagues for men, women, juniors and senior men. Also featured at Blue Heron is a practice area, pro shop, a putting and chipping facility, club rentals, a putting green and concessions. Lessons and clinics are offered.

The course opens at 7 a.m.and closes at sunset all week. Call 410.643.5721 or visit www.blueherongolf.org 

Compass Pointe Golf Course

Compass Pointe Golf Course in Pasadena (9010 Fort Smallwood Road) is divided into the North East and South West courses—both 18 holes, par 72 with weekday, weekend, military and senior rates.

Compass Pointe offers a host of leagues including: a Monday co-ed happy hour league; a Tuesday night ladies league, a Wednesday night men’s league (handicapped league on 9 holes); Thursday morning men’s league (18 holes); Thursday night player development league, which includes a 30-minute lesson with a pro and 4 holes of golf, and a Sunday afternoon ladies group (9 holes).

If you want to become an annual member, there are lots of perks including, member-only tournaments and payment options starting at $67 per month. The senior five-day annual pass ($1,000, $800 for county residents) includes unlimited green fees (weekdays), a $10 cart fee for each round and a spouse or dependent (17 and under) add-on.

The course can accommodate golfers with disabilities. Another nice perk: kids under 15 can play free anytime with a paying adult on weekdays and after 3 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

The Compass Pointe Clubhouse features a shop with golf threads and equipment as well as rentals. The club also provides handicap services, lessons and private instruction. Find the 19th hole at Bogey’s Grill, which provides a full-service bar.

For more information, call 410.255.7764 or visit www.compasspointegolf.com

Eisenhower Golf Course

Anne Arundel County’s first public golf course, Eisenhower in Crownsville (1576 Generals Highway) features 220 plush acres of “wooded landscape” around lakes and creeks. The course (18 holes, par 70/71) is comprised of “plush fairways” suitable for players of all skill levels.

Rates for seniors (walking) are $24 on Monday through Friday and $28 on Saturday and Sunday and holidays, and $32 (riding) on Monday through Friday and $39 on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Rates are also available for nine holes.

Eisenhower offers personalized instruction for individuals and groups and a practice facility offers a “synthetic tee line that gives the golfer the feeling of practicing on grass.” Eisenhower hosts 18-hole and 9-hole ladies leagues.

Annual memberships include: 10-day advance reservations, discounted cart rental, 20 percent discount in the golf shop and invitations to member-only tournaments and events. A senior weekday annual pass ($825) includes unlimited green fees, $12 cart fee for 18 holes, $8 cart fee for 9 holes, no fee for walking (walking allowed Monday through Friday any time; Saturday, Sunday and holidays after noon.) and spouse or dependent add-on.

The clubhouse offers a golf shop and restaurant. Extra attraction: Eisenhower Golf Course is “certified as a cooperative sanctuary” by Audubon International.

For more information, call 410.571.0973 or visit www.eisenhowergolf.com

Queenstown Harbor

Just a few miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Queenstown Harbor (310 Links Lane) features 36 holes of championship golf on two layouts — The River and The Lakes. This club is known as a premier golf destination due to its breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay. The land also has a “direct connection to royalty.” It was originally named “My Lord’s Gift,” because it was given to Henry DeCoursey by Cecil Calvert in the 1600s. Quite aside from that, the course is number 10 on Golfweek’s “Best: State-by-State Courses You Can Play” list for 2015.

In season (April 1-Nov. 1) rates for the River Course are: Monday through Thursday, open $89, after 2 p.m. $75, $50 for 9 holes and $125 for 36 holes; Friday through Sunday fees are higher. Rates for the Lakes Course are: Monday through Thursday, before 2 p.m. $62, after 2 p.m. $52, for 9 holes $35 and for 36 holes $160; Friday through Sunday the rates are higher. All rates include cart fees and driving range and practice facility privileges.

Specials include ladies day on Mondays (Lakes course, $40), ­­­­­­­experienced (age 60-plus) player day on Tuesdays (Lakes course, $40), evening play special; play as many holes as desired after 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday (Lakes course, $35, River course $50) and Friday through Sunday (Lakes course $40, River course, $60), and Play the “River Loop” seven days a week (after 5 p.m.) on River course holes 1-4 (walking only, $20).

Queenstown Harbor also offers men’s, women’s and couples’ leagues for players of all age and skill levels. Golf lessons are available and there’s a pro shop. And, while the course is open to the public, membership is available.

For more information, call 800.827.5257 or visit qhgolf.com

Renditions Golf Course

According to golfmaryland.com Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville (1380 West Central Ave.) “is a unique collection of holes that are replicas of famous holes on courses that have been part of golf’s “Grand Slam” events.” The course pays homage to golfers who have won major tournaments. In addition, the website claims to provide golfers with an opportunity to experience Augusta National’s “Amen Corner” and the famed 17th hole from the TPC championship.

Like most courses, Renditions requires proper attire. The dress code for both gentlemen and ladies is a collared golf shirt, dress slacks or Bermuda shorts and nonmetal spiked golf shoes.

All rates include greens and cart fees: Monday through Thursday, $59 and Friday through Sunday and holidays, $79. Twilight (3 p.m.) rates are Monday through Thursday $42 and Friday through Sunday and holidays $52.

Annual membership is available (­­­­­­­Platinum, Gold, Silver, Sunset and Range packages) along with PGA and LPGA instruction. There’s a golf shop and

The Players Grill, which offers a panoramic view of the greens.

For more information, call 410.798.9798 or visit www.renditionsgolf.com 

The Golf Club at South River

The Golf Club at South River (3451 Solomon’s Island Road) in Edgewater, opened in 1996 as a daily fee golf course, but went private 2011. Since 2008, the club has gone through extensive renovations, to include the Club Bistro and Member’s Lounge, the spa & fitness center, golf shop, golf simulator room, locker rooms and a banquet facility.

The club offers three general classifications of nonequity, nonproprietary memberships: golf memberships, corporate memberships and social memberships. Membership includes use of all club facilities and attendance to all club-sponsored events, green fees, cart fees and practice range fees. Membership is by invitation only and includes immediate family members (spouse of the primary member and dependents).

For more information, call 410-798-5865 or log onto www.golfclubsr.com

U.S. Naval Academy Golf Course

The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Golf Course (64 Greenbury Point Road) in Annapolis, is home to the Brigade of Midshipmen, including the Naval Academy golf team and many active duty and retired military personnel. The high-quality 18-hole course was developed in 1942 by William Flynn. The course’s rolling terrain complements the surrounding tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay with the front nine south of Greenbury Point Road and the back nine north of the road.       Though the course is private and kept for membership of active duty, retired military and current and former USNA staff members, the staff professionals do offer instruction to the general public as well as to the membership.

The golf course also features a pro shop staffed by golf pros and technicians as well as a restaurant facility housed inside the club at Greenbury Point.

For more information, call 410-293-9747 or visit www.navygolf.org

For a complete list of public or semi-private courses in Maryland, visit www.golfmaryland.com

 

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