Presidential Retreat / Maple Run

  Thurmont, Maryland, United States
Saturday, June 21, 2008

Martin Sheen at Maple Run

I decided to break from the routine of playing the same courses this weekend by driving up to Thurmont, Maryland to play Maple Run.  What makes this golf course so special?  Since its creation in the early 90's, Maple Run has been a favorite golfing destination of "Slick Willy" and the "Shrub" during their retreats to Camp David.  Also in 2004, the cast of "West Wing" filmed on location at Maple Run for one of their episodes.  On the Maple Run website there are pictures of the Presidents (both TV and real) golfing here.  Also there is a frame photo of Martin Sheen with the owner's kids...I guess...in the pro shop.  I was joined by a co-worker, Jamie, who was pet sitting for his parents in Frederick.

The weekend greens fee listed on the website was $40 (including cart).  When the attendant charged me $30, I mentioned I wanted a cart.  He said $30 included cart...solstice special price?  For the price you paid, it is not a bad course.  I would definitely characterized it as a "cow pasture" golf course, but the greens were in good condition and my only complaint was that some of the tee boxes were rock hard...you needed a hammer to place your tee.  The layout provided some challenging and interesting shot selections.  The undulating greens will test everyone's putter skills.  Even-though it was weekend, there were not many people on the course, so Jamie and I were able to complete 18 holes in 4 hours with very little waiting between shots. 

#9 green

My round did not start well.  First of all, the 1st hole was a 539 yard, par 5, #1 HDCP hole...not a nice way to start your day. I did not help matters by slicing the drive across both the #1 and #10 fairway.  I did not find the ball until when I played #10 hole and saw it sitting along the right-hand tree line.  I finished the hole with a chunked wedge shot to the green and 3 putting to post a 9 on the hole...PGA here I come.  The #3 hole was a sharp 90 degree dogleg to the right.  There was a bell stationed at the green, so I assume quite a few people try for the green from the tee box; however there is a creek crossing the green to punish those risking to make the green.  I took a 5 wood over the trees which rolled through the fairway and left me 100 yards from the green.  Unfortunately on my second shot, I got underneath the ball with the sand wedge, popped it up and into the creek for a 7 on that hole.  My disastrous start completed with two lost balls on the par 3, 4th hole, including a shot which hit the tree guarding the green and ricocheted into the water.  After needing 29 shots for the first 4 holes, I settled down a bit and finished with 57 for the first 9 holes.

#18 green

The par 5, 9th hole played to a green located next to a silo.  On the other side of the silo, is the green for the 18th hole.  Like I said cow pasture golf.  My most memorable hole and the course signature hole (pictured on the score card) was the short 319 yard, par 4, 11th hole.  It is a blind, downhill tee shot to a green protected by a crossing creek.  Those brave at heart can try to make the green.  I chose to layup in front of the creek with a 225 yard, 5 wood shot.  This left a half swing lob wedge (60 degree) to the green, which I hit but rolled onto the apron.  A mediocre chip shot and two putts later I carded a 5.  It would have been nice to make par, but I saved my par holes for #15 (par 5) and #17 (par 4).  I finished the back nine with a 47 for a 18 hole total of 103 and a wish to play the first 4 holes over again.  If it was not for the 1.5 hour drive to get here, I would definitely play this course again.

Approach shot on #11