| #ffffff;" /> | | | | 6-iron for me. Of course, this hole is positioned on |
| Summer may only have officially arrived earlier | | | | the Bay; the water doesn’t come into |
| this week, but the city-folk have been heading | | | | play, but the swirling winds certainly do. I tested |
| east towards the beach since the first taste of | | | | the “breeze” and decided to aim |
| warm weather. For this writer, this meant a nice | | | | towards the left edge of the green with my |
| long weekend in Ocean City, MD in the beginning | | | | 6-iron. Miraculously, the shot went exactly where I |
| of June. It was a great opportunity to visit one of | | | | wanted it to .. . that is, until the wind took hold. |
| the top courses in the country, the Links at | | | | The ball ended up moving about 40 yards from |
| Lighthouse Sound. | | | | left to right and fell 15 yards short of the green. I |
| The conditions of this course always exceed | | | | stood there in awe, and all the rest of the guys in |
| expectations, and highlights of some of the | | | | my group could say was, “thanks for |
| premier holes and unique characteristics of the | | | | going first.” |
| design will follow. LighthouseBut part of the | | | | The 6th is fun because the Bay is in play along |
| incredible experience that Lighthouse provides its | | | | the entire right side of the hole. It’s not |
| players is the excitement elicited even before | | | | the most challenging Par 4 on the course, and it |
| reaching the clubhouse. Driving from Ocean City, | | | | seems like the Arthur Hills decided to give |
| you travel along Route 90 over the Asawoman | | | | everyone a slight break before having to face the |
| Bay Bridge. With a watchful eye, you are | | | | long, dogleg-right, Par 5 at #7. |
| provided a view of some of the holes from the | | | | Hole #7, Par 5 |
| Front 9 of Lighthouse, immediately triggering | | | | Hole #7, Par 5 |
| memories of off-shore breezes and sounds from | | | | This hole provides just about every single |
| the bay affecting the trajectory of your golf | | | | challenge a course can offer — not only do |
| shots. Your smile only widens as you make the | | | | you have to clear a 150+ yard hazard off the |
| turn onto St. Martins Neck road and approach the | | | | tee, but wind is still a major factor that could pull |
| course. | | | | your ball out-of-bounds to the right. You are in |
| The staff and facilities are everything expected | | | | good shape on the fairway, that is, until you try |
| of a 5-star golf course. My early tee time made | | | | to rip your 2nd shot and it lands in the ravine |
| us the first group out in the morning, and even | | | | positioned about 100 yards from the green. |
| though the sun had not yet fully risen, we were | | | | Bunkers are scattered 360 degrees around the |
| greeted at the bag drop by a full staff of | | | | elevated green, and just like with the other 17 |
| attendants. The Lighthouse Pro Shop has just | | | | holes at Lighthouse, a 2-Putt is a win. What a hole! |
| about everything and anything a golfer may (or | | | | From Front 8 to Back 10, you feel like |
| may not) need for their round (NOTE – | | | | you’re playing an entirely different course. |
| during the late-spring/early-summer season, they | | | | Part of that is because you travel over the |
| sell bug spray for a reason, so make sure to take | | | | longest golf-cart bridge in the world (well, at least |
| notice). The Head Golf Pro was there to check us | | | | it feels like that), but Lighthouse #’s 9-18 |
| in, welcome us to the course and provide some | | | | are less open, Links-style and more tight, |
| updates & advice on how the course was | | | | tree-lined. Basically it’s the same |
| playing. The genuine and passionate nature of the | | | | impeccable conditions with a completely different |
| conversation only reinforces that you are in for | | | | set of challenges. |
| an incredible golf experience, and you feel like you | | | | The 10th is memorable because it’s a |
| are walking on air as you head towards the | | | | short Par 4 that just begs for you to go for the |
| driving range. | | | | green off the Tee. Now I don’t know |
| With the exception of not having tees at the | | | | who was whispering in my ear that I would be |
| range (mainly my mistake since I didn’t | | | | able to drive the ball 270+ yards, but something |
| have any in my pocket), the driving range is in | | | | told me that it would be the right way to start |
| perfect condition. Lush, grass tee boxes and a | | | | off the Back 9. Fortunately, my aggressive swing |
| wide-open layout enable you to work on every | | | | resulted in a mild slice, and my ball landed in the |
| shot with every club. One of the best features is | | | | rough about 50 yards from the green. Had it gone |
| that the range is less than a Lob Wedge away | | | | straight, there’s no doubt that I would |
| from the Starter, meaning that you are left alone | | | | have been facing a steep climb out of a trap. |
| to practice until they are ready to send you to | | | | There are lots of individual shots that make you |
| Hole #1. When your time is finally called, your cart | | | | realize how fortunate you are to be playing such |
| is sitting there waiting for you and the Starter | | | | a wonderful course, like the creative approach |
| makes sure educate you even more about the | | | | required on the Par 5, #12, the long shot from |
| course. With a final order of “good luck | | | | the fairway on the Par 4, #14 to get to the |
| and have fun,” you’re on your | | | | green in regulation, and the blind tee shot on the |
| way to some of the best 18 holes of golf | | | | Par 4, #17. To end it, Lighthouse concedes a |
| you’ll ever play. | | | | short Par 5 at the 18th, and a strong tee shot |
| The first 8 holes are positioned on the Bayside | | | | rewards you with an opportunity to go for the |
| and have a Links-style design. Wind is always a | | | | green in two. With the clubhouse visible to your |
| factor because you’re so close to the | | | | right and the Bay & Ocean City in the |
| shore; even though you may not feel it on your | | | | background, you take aim at the elevated green, |
| face, the ball will be affected. Just about every | | | | but golfer-be-ware, landing short presents a tough |
| single hole presents a challenge, whether it be | | | | pitch up the slope and there’s not too |
| hazards off the tee, sloped greens or bunkers | | | | much room on the back side. |
| scattered all over the place. I mean, I think I | | | | It was an awesome round of 18, clocked in at |
| spent more time in the sand during the round | | | | less than 4 hours, and there was cold beer |
| than the previous day at the Beach! | | | | waiting for me in the clubhouse. All-in-all, the Links |
| Hole #5 is a Par 3 that will be burned into your | | | | at Lighthouse Sound is one of the most enjoyable |
| memory. From the Tees we played (definitely not | | | | courses that I have ever played. |
| the Tips!) it seems like an average 168-yard, | | | | |