COURSE REVIEWS

Maryland's Black Rock
Golf Course has a Presidential Feel

By Travis Espenlaub, Regional Course Reviewer HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Black Rock Golf Course is located about 5 minutes off of Interstate 70 in the northern hills of Washington County in the city of Hagerstown. The 18-hole Bent grass course opened in April of 1989 and has become one of the premier County owned courses in the State. In 1996 "Golf Digest" rated Black Rock as the sixth best public course in Maryland.

President Clinton plays the course usually once or twice per year since it is a short trip from Camp David and Washington D.C. According to people who have had the privilege of playing a round with the President when he visits, they usually state that he really enjoys the course and usually puts some rather good numbers down on the scorecard before it is all said and done.

In the past when Maryland had an avid golfer as Governor in Donald Shaeffer, he held his annual golf tournament at Black Rock and even had a rather large replica of the Maryland state flag painted on the fairway of the 8th hole to welcome everyone to the course.

Many golfers travel up from the Washington D.C area because of the course's excellent reputation and inexpensive price compared to the courses located closer to the city. From the D.C. area it is about an hour and a half to reach Black Rock. There are numerous breathtaking views of the hills and local mountain ranges from some of the tees and greens, which is another aspect that entices the city-dwellers to play Black Rock.

The course is very accessible for many ranges of golfing abilities since the distance from the white tees is just 6236 yards. and slightly longer at 6646 yards. from the tips. However, consistent shots are still a must to score well at Black Rock.

The greens are of average size and putt at a medium to fast speed. The groundskeeper keeps the course in very good condition for the frequent number of golfers who play the course on a regular basis throughout Maryland and also from the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is a hop, skip, and a jump from any of those bordering states.

Inviting Front Nine

The course opens with a very inviting par-5 that is only 487 yards. from the Blue tees. I find this hole to be one of those holes that can really backfire on your entire round if you walk away with anything more than a birdie. With it being the 1st hole on the course it doesn't make it any easier to birdie either since many golfers are not yet loosened up. Taking par on this hole is like making a bogey on other holes.

All four par 5's on the course are reachable in two shots but the 1st hole is the easiest to reach because it is down hill with a large fairway to hit off of the tees. All four of the par-3's are 190 yards. or less from the back tees and only one has water that comes into play. It is the 15th hole and it is 181 yards. down a hill and over a pond to the green from the white tees.

Missing the green short will leave you wet or in a bunker and missing it long will create the possibility of hitting your 2nd shot from tall weeds and we all know how much fun that task is to accomplish.

Black Rock isn't a course that calls for pinpoint accuracy off of the tee. It is very possible to spray the ball off of the tee and still manage to make par on many of the holes. Once some of the newly planted trees and bushes mature it will not be so easy to make par from a bad tee shot. There are also not a lot of blind shots that a lot of golfers despise.

For the most part, a golfer at Black Rock can see where exactly he wants to put his next shot without all of the guesswork that many courses build into their architecture.

Signature Hole: No. 13

When you talk to most golfers about Black Rock they usually refer to the 423-yard par-4 13th hole. It is a downhill dogleg right that has to be strategically played or a high score is almost inevitable. After getting off of the tee at least 225 yards. the player looks at a second shot into a very sloping green that must carry a small pond. Hitting this green is not enough.

The ball must stay below the hole which is not an easy task in itself since the entire green slopes towards the before mentioned pond. When Black Rock hosts one of its major tournaments of the year for amateurs in the area this green is usually double cut and gives many low handicappers fits of despair that aren't soon forgotten.

Water comes into play on eight of the holes on the course and there are also many sandtraps that shadow the greens and fairways. One part of the course that could be in better condition are the sandtraps and recently I have noticed attempts at trying to rectify the low amounts of sand in some of the bunkers.

There are no members at Black Rock and people residing in Washington County get a discount off of their green fees. The clubhouse is in excellent condition with a patio that overlooks the 9th and 18th greens and the 1st and 8th tees. The clubhouse does have light meals and snacks at the turn and there is also a bar located there where you can find many a golfer talking about their trials and tribulations on the links on any given day.

A driving range is located next to the course and two practice greens, one for putting and the other for chipping and sand shots from the greenside deep bunker, are also next to the clubhouse.

Weekend tee times are usually all gone by mid-week and many local golf leagues use Black Rock as their home site in the evenings during the week. Unlike many new golf courses in the area, Black Rock is very walkable for many players who enjoy the exercise.

For those who would rather ride a roofed power cart, the 90-Degree Rule is usually in effect. There is a sprinkler system on the course that keeps the tees, fairways, and greens in fantastic condition throughout the golf season.

The Director of Golf at Black Rock is Darrell Whittington and he can be found many days on the driving range instructing new and old golfers on the proper way to hit that little white sphere straight and long. Many a golfer has given Darrell numerous accolades when it comes to working on their swing mechanics and golf course management.

Black Rock is very close to several good restaurants and inexpensive hotels which are located only minutes away for those golfers wishing to play the course more than one time. There is also another very good semi-private golf course, Beaver Creek Country Club, located only about 10 minutes away for those wishing to play something different.

I would highly recommend playing Black Rock to any golfer with any golfing ability. It will challenge many golfers and put a smile on the face of even the best of golfers attempting to tame the course.

Weekday Fees: $20/18 holes
Weekend Fees: $25/18 holes
Twilight Price: $15(unlimited number of holes)

Blue Tee Course Rating: 70.7
Blue Tee Course Slope: 124
Blue Yardage: 6646
Par: 72

White Tee Course Rating: 68.5
White Tee Course Slope: 120
White Yardage: 6236
Par: 72

Red Tee Course Rating: 64.7
Red Tee Course Slope: 112
Red Yardage: 5179
Par: 74

Black Rock Golf Course
20025 Mt. Aetna Rd.
Hagerstown, Md. 21742
Director of Golf: Darrell Whittington
Pro Shop Phone: (301)791-3040