July/August Bethany Beach DE/Ocean City, MD golf trip help needed

[ll.umpire]

Hey Everyone,

Family vacation is coming up the end of July/start of August, I've never been to the area and I need some course recommendations please.

I'm going to be playing 3 rounds (solo, wife will probably ride with me for the nicest round, but she doesn't golf.....yet lol). We're staying in Rehoboth Beach area, but I don't mind driving up to 1.5 hours per round as I've never been to the area and don't know when I'll be back next so I don't want to miss out on a must play. Courses listed below are the ones I'm looking at, along with the price, and time from our rental. Im looking to play the 3 nicest courses (@ under $90/round, sorry Baywood). I'm open to any combination of the courses listed below OR feel free to recommend other courses in the area I might have missed.

 

- Plantation lakes golf ($100 am $65pm) 25% off after 10:30 (50min)

 

- Bear trap dunes $85 after 1pm (28mins)

 

-Glen Riddle MOW $45 after 12pm (1hr)

 

-Links at Lighthouse $79 after 1pm (45mins)

 

-Rum Pointe $70 after 12pm (1hr)

 

- Ocean city golf and yacht (either course) $60 after 12pm (1hr)

 

- River marsh $60 after 11am (1.5hrs)

 

There's also a deal for one round at each of : Links at Lighthouse Sound, Rum Pointe, and Glen Riddle War Admiral after 10am $250 total

[ArtMBgolf]

The Ruark play 3 is a good deal, if you want to play before the PM.  
Lighthouse is #1 for many and Rum Point is also a top course.  
Glen Riddle is very good.   
 
If you want to save drive time, Lighthouse, Bayside, Bear Trap is a good option.  

Bayside would be the best you have not listed, unless it's left out for over $90.  

If playing Ocean City Golf + Yacht, Newport Bay is the best course of the 2. 

 

River Marsh looks good on it's website, but it's not part of Ocean City golf packages, 
so I don't know if it's worth the drive, nor see any info about it in OC golf ads. 
 
Plantation Lakes is a new course, which I have only seen on it's web.  
It looks like holes are surrounded by housing.   I don't feel it's top 3 with a long drive.      

[Wander Bread]

I've played Lighthouse Sounds a bunch when vacationing in Dewey Beach over the years, well worth the drive and the money. Have also played Rum Pointe which is nice, but I prefer Lighthouse for sure.

 

One course you did not list which I also play every vacation in the area is the Rookery. Definitely not a top end course like some of the ones listed but the layout is a lot of fun IMO, they keep it in good shape, and it's cheaper than the other courses you listed. Not to mention it's only like 25 mins from Rehoboth, so it's the closest course.

 

 

[jholz]

I've only played Bear Trap Dunes but have always had a good time. I would certainly recommend the course.

[ll.umpire]

5 hours ago, Wander Bread said:

I've played Lighthouse Sounds a bunch when vacationing in Dewey Beach over the years, well worth the drive and the money. Have also played Rum Pointe which is nice, but I prefer Lighthouse for sure.

 

One course you did not list which I also play every vacation in the area is the Rookery. Definitely not a top end course like some of the ones listed but the layout is a lot of fun IMO, they keep it in good shape, and it's cheaper than the other courses you listed. Not to mention it's only like 25 mins from Rehoboth, so it's the closest course.

 

 

I appreciate everyone's replys. I think I'm down to Lighthouse, Bear Trap, and still figuring out the last one. I'm leaning towards Rookery on a golfnow deal time for $45-50, but might do Plantation or OC Newport. I didn't know it existed before your comment, so thank you!

 

Thank you everyone for the advice

[grochol17]

I'm probably late to the party, but I'll add my two cents anyway...

 

I recently played the Rookery and, while it isn't a super exciting course, I found it fun to play and in good condition.  If you like walking, it was an easy walk (first time I had carried my clubs in a long long time and I had no issues doing so) and the pace of play was good.

 

About a year ago I played in a tournament where we played Rum Pointe and Links at Lighthouse Sound.  I much preferred Rum Pointe.  Both were in good shape, but, especially as someone that had never played either course, I though Rum Pointe was more straightforward and less penal if you didn't know exactly where to hit the ball, so I found it more fun to play.  At Links there were some holes that were sharp doglegs off the tee or completely blind landing areas and with the wind howling (as I'm sure it often does there) I had absolutely no idea what line to take.  I know this is part of "links" golf, but I didn't really find it as enjoyable to play.  Maybe with repeat visits my opinion would change once I got to know the course a bit more.

 

 

[Prof3ssor]

Def book Rum and Links.  I play down there quite a bit and if you can get on Baywood that would be the ultimate trifecta. Sounds like Baywood might not be in your budget but keep checking as you may find a solo deal.  If not, just book the 3 course deal as it at least has the 2 best courses down there on your list. 

Edited July 21, 2023 by Prof3ssor

[ll.umpire]

On 7/21/2023 at 2:03 PM, Prof3ssor said:

Def book Rum and Links.  I play down there quite a bit and if you can get on Baywood that would be the ultimate trifecta. Sounds like Baywood might not be in your budget but keep checking as you may find a solo deal.  If not, just book the 3 course deal as it at least has the 2 best courses down there on your list. 

Baywood is showing up between $75-95 on golfnow a few days before I get there, I'm checking each day, and assuming it pops up at that price for one of my days I'm gonna book it. The goal is to play Lighthouse, Bear trap, and Baywood for around $250. I want to play Rum, but I'm going to try and limit it to one long drive for golf so I have more time with the family.

[ArtMBgolf]

Keep in mind, if you haven't noticed yet, that Fri-Sunday rates are the highest in OC.   

[Mw1991]

Might be late but Plantation Lakes is one of my favorite courses in the area and usually in the best shape. Rum Pointe and Lighthouse pointe are also always fun and right on the bay. I would look into Baywood if you don't kind an afternoon tee time. Great lay out. They seem to always be cart path only July/august though. 

[ll.umpire]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for all of the advice. I decided to limit it to 1 long drive so I had more time with the family on vacation.

 

I played Baywood first, absolutely gorgeous course and without question the best track of the 3 I played. I got on at 3pm for $60 through golfnow after a promo code.

 

2nd round was Bear Trap Dunes ($70 on golf now with code) - Not too much character, lots of similar holes. Still an enjoyable course. Fantastic conditions, Wife came with me and drove the cart for the round. We had a great time.

 

3rd round was Lighthouse ($79 with TeeTimeGolfPass book).....Wow! Fairways definitely need help and a few are pretty bad, not the longest course, but I absolutely loved this course. Wife came out for this one as well and loved it. I've never played a course with such incredible views (closest is Dunes Club in MB). This isy favorite course. Also broke 90 for the first time since college.

 

I had such a great time and was so blown away at Lighthouse that I invited my Dad out with me for a 4th round so he could see the course and we could spend time together. (This is the first year we weren't able to golf together because of his back and knee pain) I should have invited him for Baywood, I just didn't think of it for some reason. He absolutely loved the course and the views. I broke 90 again, shot a 41 on the front. We had a great time. (He hit a tee shot on 2 of the par 3s).

 

Looking forward to playing Plantation lakes, Rum Pointe, and Lighthouse next year.

 

Thanks again for all of the advice. You all are the best. Our vacation was fantastic.

[Mw1991]

9 minutes ago, ll.umpire said:

Just wanted to thank everyone again for all of the advice. I decided to limit it to 1 long drive so I had more time with the family on vacation.

 

I played Baywood first, absolutely gorgeous course and without question the best track of the 3 I played. I got on at 3pm for $60 through golfnow after a promo code.

 

2nd round was Bear Trap Dunes ($70 on golf now with code) - Not too much character, lots of similar holes. Still an enjoyable course. Fantastic conditions, Wife came with me and drove the cart for the round. We had a great time.

 

3rd round was Lighthouse ($79 with TeeTimeGolfPass book).....Wow! Fairways definitely need help and a few are pretty bad, not the longest course, but I absolutely loved this course. Wife came out for this one as well and loved it. I've never played a course with such incredible views (closest is Dunes Club in MB). This isy favorite course. Also broke 90 for the first time since college.

 

I had such a great time and was so blown away at Lighthouse that I invited my Dad out with me for a 4th round so he could see the course and we could spend time together. (This is the first year we weren't able to golf together because of his back and knee pain) I should have invited him for Baywood, I just didn't think of it for some reason. He absolutely loved the course and the views. I broke 90 again, shot a 41 on the front. We had a great time. (He hit a tee shot on 2 of the par 3s).

 

Looking forward to playing Plantation lakes, Rum Pointe, and Lighthouse next year.

 

Thanks again for all of the advice. You all are the best. Our vacation was fantastic.

Looks like you had a great trip. That's a really good price at Baywood too. 
 

I've been hearing rumblings that lighthouse is losing fairways. Thats very unfortunate. I heard a lot of GUR is marked out on them.

[grochol17]

2 hours ago, Mw1991 said:

Looks like you had a great trip. That's a really good price at Baywood too. 
 

I've been hearing rumblings that lighthouse is losing fairways. Thats very unfortunate. I heard a lot of GUR is marked out on them.

 

When I played last year some of them were in bad enough shape that the guy running the tournament told us all to decide amongst ourselves when something should be considered ground under repair.  I remember on 11 that I had a hard time finding grass to hit off of on the fairway.

[Mw1991]

56 minutes ago, grochol17 said:

 

When I played last year some of them were in bad enough shape that the guy running the tournament told us all to decide amongst ourselves when something should be considered ground under repair.  I remember on 11 that I had a hard time finding grass to hit off of on the fairway.

I played last July but I only remember the two holes where you can't see the bay on the back 9 being kinda crap but that's it. I usually shy away from lighthouse becuase of price. I saw a picture of one of the fairways and it was really bad. Can't believe they charge 139 for a morning tee time. 

[bcc624]

Got back from Delaware. Lighthouse sound is losing several fairways. I don’t want to give a number because I usually over state the figure. It was high enough for me to walk away thinking the course wasn’t in great shape. 
 

baywood greens as always, in amazing condition. Had a midweek morning tee time and the number of maintenance workers that were working on something was impressive. Felt like every hole had its own group of maintenance workers. They made us play cart path only, but that might be a reason why the course is in great shape. 

[Mw1991]

On 8/14/2023 at 9:04 AM, bcc624 said:

Got back from Delaware. Lighthouse sound is losing several fairways. I don’t want to give a number because I usually over state the figure. It was high enough for me to walk away thinking the course wasn’t in great shape. 
 

baywood greens as always, in amazing condition. Had a midweek morning tee time and the number of maintenance workers that were working on something was impressive. Felt like every hole had its own group of maintenance workers. They made us play cart path only, but that might be a reason why the course is in great shape. 

I play Baywood probably 5-6 times a year and it's usually cart path only 4 of those times. It's kind of a pain on a few of the holes becuase of the blind shots you have. It can make pace of play slooooooow. 

[DataGolfer]

Lighthouse has lost... 7, maybe 8 fairways. a couple on the front, many on the back. It's in the worst shape I've ever seen it, and it's not close.

 

Not worth half what they're charging given current conditions. 

Skip it, play Rum Pointe twice. It's a better course, anyway.