Silver Spring, MD

[Kyle M]

Going to be in Silver Spring area early March. Any recommendations on what to play within a reasonable drive would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Vivipham85]

Blue mash, WhiskeyCreek, worthington maner, Pb due, hampshire greens are nice tracks

[Lefty_22]

Whiskey Creek and Worthington Manor would be my two picks.

[GoGoErky]

Musket ridge as well

[cristphoto]

If you like to walk Blue Mash is a nice option as often that time of year its CPO. Decent Arthur Hills design.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Blue Mash and Whiskey are the two most accessable uoper end daily fees. Both will be at it near $100.

Hampshire Greens isxa good mid price option even closer.

[jwellefson1]

Worthington Manor isn't too far and I really enjoy that course. PB Dye is a good option if you like Dye Family Designs.

[Kyle M]

Thanks for the suggestions. Worthington Manor looks great as do the dye course and Whiskey. Gonna bring the clubs and hope we can squeeze a round in.

[MountainGoat]

The phrase “reasonable drive” gets my attention. Depending on the time of day and day of the week, that could rule out all the up county destinations. Traffic around here is often a nightmare. Personally, I’d be thinking about Hampshire Greens, which is relatively close.

[Kyle M]

Played Worthington Manor and had a great time. What a nice course.

[cristphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it. Worthington Manor is one of the better public courses in the DC area.

[Kyle M]

Actually eagled #9. Hit a driver then 7 iron to about 5 feet (in true wrx fashion the drive was supposedly 350 yards). It was downwind and the landing area is downhill too. LOL

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I love that hole. Only issue is if you do really bomb one off the tee, you have to wait to get there to see how good it was because of the severe downslope.

Nicely done.

[Kyle M]

Yeah I would have loved to see the first bounce it took. It had to have been huge.

[ex0dus]

Just played Worthington Manor. Overall in good shape but the greens were recently aerated. I walked but was surprised to see they were allowing 2 per cart.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Surprising on the recently aerated. Most courses in the area aerated about a month ago, perfect timing actually to be completely healed for reopening. Was that same household sharing the cart, which is what a lot of courses are doing, or was it everyone sharing a cart. That's a bit risky on their part, if so. courses doing things like that will make risk the Governor shutting us down again!

[ex0dus]

My group was walking so i don't know what the specific cart rule was but we saw a lot of 2 person carts.

The aeration was definitely a head scratcher. It looked pretty recent.

[cristphoto]

My club aerated and did other maintenance but it has since completely healed. Maryland (and I guess most of the country) requires one per cart unless you are family members. I would hope the two per cart sightings were family members otherwise I would question how tightly the course was following other health guidelines. I know our club issued a strong warning saying virus rules had to be strictly followed or suspension would occur. I don't know if public course could be shut back down if found in violation.

I'm glad to be back playing but currently its definitely not as much of a social experience. Can't show up more than 15 minutes before tee time (or you must stay in vehicle), clubhouse closed, range closed, no food, no socializing after the round. BUT - we're playing again.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Yeah, all those things are true at our course now as well. We are going to open the range next week in a limited capacity, keeping maybe every other station closed. and limiting the putting green to 5 at a time. Food can be ordered to take out on the cart, but yeah no seating inside or outside the clubhouse yet.

But to quote the USGA commercial form a few years ago, "We're playing golf today, my friend"

[TerpFangolfer]

Yeah, I played Blue Mash yesterday. Me & my buddy walked, other 2 were riding and the course said "as long as you are comfortable, you can share a cart ". If not they would give you separate

[GoGoErky]

Whiskey creek is doing the same with carts.

[cristphoto]

If they're doing that I would guess its allowed by the guidelines (?) but really runs contrary to all the other social distancing rules.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

There are no laws. But it definitely runs against the suggested guidelines put out by state associations.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

To me that's irresponsible and short sighted in the courses part. They are putting revenue ahead of player safety. I fully understand how a course can run short if carts by doing the single rider.

We have actually blocked off an hour of tee times 4 hours after the first time to allow some catchup on carts. It is costing us money. But feel it's the correct thing to do.

[ex0dus]

Played Blue Mash today. Good condition overall. Greens are pretty firm. You have to be careful on approaches because holding the green isnt a given.

A full, well struck short iron from the fairway can hold. Longer shots, shots from the rough, partial wedges.....have to play for some run.

Strange how the greens can be pretty fast downhill but surprisingly slow uphill.