The Mid-Atlantic’s 6 Best Courses 1
The Homestead (Cascades) Tabbed by many as “golf’s greatest mountain course,” Cascades is a unique, quirky, splendid layout that will severely test every golfer. Crafted in 1923 by William Flynn of Shinnecock Hills and Cherry Hills fame, perhaps it’s no surprise that Cascades is among the hilliest of earth’s very best courses. The variety of lies, stances and imaginative shots you’ll need to play is outstanding. 2
Golden Horseshoe (Gold) Robert Trent Jones molded the Gold in 1963 over 125 acres of handsome, wildly rolling land that includes a 5-acre lake found on seven holes, ravines and vast wooded valleys. Son Rees restored dad’s acclaimed design in 1998, flattening out a few of the hillier areas, but otherwise keeping the masterpiece intact. 3
The Links at Lighthouse Sound Prolific designer Arthur Hills fashioned this artistic layout in 2000 and it has quickly become the anchor tenant in the Ocean City golf mall. Expansive views of Assawoman Bay and the Ocean City skyline greet golfers throughout the round. Variety is the rule here, as 10 holes skirt pristine marshes contained within the 1,000-acre site while others are lined with mature hardwoods. Although the greens are huge, they can be hard to hit, thanks to ever-present winds off the bay, and hard to hold due to their firmness. An excellent quartet of tough par-3s will linger long in memory, but equally memorable are the 622-yard par-5 7th, “Devils’ Elbow,” with all kinds of hazard trouble, and the 538-yard, par-5 12th, “River’s Edge.” 4
Royal New Kent Royal New Kent looks and plays like a links, with the heaving ground peppered with bunkers (nearly 140 in all), swales, mounds and semi-blind shots. It’s likely the hardest course in Virginia from the tips—so move up to enjoy holes such as the 12th, a long par-3 that features thick fescues, seven bunkers and an enormous hourglass-shaped green. 5
Bay Creek Arnold Palmer has seen about a zillion golf courses in his lifetime, but apparently he was elated upon viewing the terrain here for the first time. The King’s initial enthusiasm paid off in a layout full of “Wows!,” much in response to the stunning views of Chesapeake Bay. At a green fee of $67, Bay Creek may be the ultimate bargain in the Mid-Atlantic. 6
Pointe Seaside Golf Links Normally, a Pete Dye design will delight you visually and exasperate you in every other sense. Not Rum Pointe. While it’s eye candy to look at, it’s pure fun from start to finish. Located on the Sinepuxent Bay overlooking Assateague National Seashore Park, Rum Pointe sports 17 holes that have a view of the Bay, with several clinging to its shoreline, including the mighty par-5 8th and the brutal but beautiful 463-yard par-4 16th. In classic Dye fashion, both nines conclude alongside a giant lake. This is links-style golf, with only a trio of holes framed by forest, so bring your wind-cheater.
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