Greystone GC- Whitehall, MD

[GooseHook]

My little hole-by-hole review!

For those of you who haven't played it, I highly recommend the trip up I-83 in Maryland to play Greystone. It's about 35 minutes from downtown Baltimore, and a quick trip down from PA. For a little background, this was founded originally as a private course, but due to foundering membership and a lack of finances, the Baltimore County Revenue Authority took it over and made it their flagship course. Located on rolling farm terrain, this course is packed with challenges- at it's full length, Greystone plays 6,925yds with a 73.9/141 slope and rating. My hole analysis, however, will take place from the black tees, which play right at 6600 yards with 72.5/139 ratings. Par is 36-36=72.

***I'll do the back nine when I'm out of meetings!

#1 (524)- The hardest nine on the course starts off with a pretty benign par 5. Avoid OB in the right, and you are rewarded with a wide landing area to start. This green can be reached in two with a great second, but the green is elevated with trouble downhill right and long, and guarded by a front bunker. Layup to your money yardage, and take your chances with a birdie putt. This is one of the more forgiving greens on the course, so open strong.

#2 (420)- A slight dogleg left, this hole is more visually intimidating than anything. OB is way right, and your tee shot must escape a tree chute, but clear those and you'll be fine. Fairway bunkers come into play around 250, so choose your tee club wisely.

#3(202)- I wish I had a picture of this hole to show you guys why it just totally sucks. This downhill par 3 is all carry over a marshy hazard, to a severely sloped back-to-front green. Left and right shots will bound downhill into more hazard, and if you go long, you're either in deep, fluffy bunkers or the 2 foot thatch that surrounds them (read: screwed). This is one of the faster greens on the golf course, and if the pin is on the front portion of the green, you should circle your par on the scorecard.

#4 (422)- Quick break of a par 4, here. Find the wide fairway, and if you're lucky, you can try to fly the bunker (270 carry) to set up an easy bird. The 4th green is right next to the clubhouse, which is the highest point on the property. Keep this in mind for #9

#5 (523)- THis is a split fairway, dogleg left par 5. Cutting the bunker complex at the corner will appear great, until you realize you've driven it into the rough with a severe downhill lie. Bail out right with a fairway wood off the tee, and you'll have a level tight lie to get at the green.
#6 (340) Another downhill, tight driving hole. There's a bottleneck where most drivers will land, so again, find the short grass with a wood and you'll be rewarded.

#7 (379) Don't let the yardage fool you, this hole is a beotch. All downhill, the fairway stops dead at water about 260 from the tee. There is no corner to cut, only trouble...play something short off the tee. Your approach will play all over water, to a back-to-front green. Relieved when done? wrong. It's just getting started

#8 (181) You could appreciate the beauty of this hole if it wasn't such a tough shot. A wood bulkhead and pond run all along the left side of this green, with bunkers long and right. Play to the middle and skirt away with a par.

#9 (426) Do not let the posted yardage, or the seemingly wide fairway, fool you. This par 4 is extremely uphill and the hardest hole on the golf course, playing about 30 yards longer than posted. If you find the fairway, you're taking two extra clubs all the way up the hill to the green, which conveniently has almost no run-up area and DEEP bunkers in front. On the green? Fine, just another quick one, with some absurd ridges running through. And yes, this is also sloped back to front. Hole out and take a breather in the club house, at least it's (literally) all downhill from here.

[o_man]

Thanks for the review, looking forward to the back nine. I only played Greystone once several years ago and did not bring my best game. I've been meaning to get back down and have another go.

[shoveler]

That's my home course. My best is 81the from all the way back. It's really challenging and is in greatshape. Earlybird is the cheapest. Times before 630 in the summer. 55 vs 74. Play early and save money. Back nine is easier. I usually reach #10 in 2 fro the black tee with a 7i. Have fun. Hit me up if u need a guide:)

[endlesswinterco]

love Greystone, deff worth the drive. I am a bigger Woodlands fan for Balt Co public course.

[rl4673]

It's a nice course but I've yet to play a sub-5 hour round there. Last time I was there I played a 3:20 nine. Got a rain check and used it at Rocky Point.

[Duff_Duffington]

you have to play early anywhere in baltimore to play quick at a public course...its terrible

[cleveland21]

Great review. Been trying to play here for a while. Will have to make it a point this year.

[CHARGERS]

played there just last week, conditions were ok. greens rolled decent, little on the slow side, but they can't have them too fast because of the slopey greens. My biggest complaint was they didn't mow the fringe around the greens and the rough was very patchy greenside as well, so you got some really bad lies.
speed of play wasn't too bad for as crowded as the course was, think we played in under 5.

[pquarta1]

Nice track. Greystone's front 9 is the toughest of the BC courses from the tips. I, too, like the Woodlands a bit more. That being said, the Woodlands is HORRBILY slow unless you tee off very early (before 7AM) or very late in the day (after 5pm). Bad golfers playing the tips at Woodlands = lots and lots of searching for balls from wayward shots....