Wednesday at Worthington Manor

  Urbana, Maryland, United States
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Today, my plans are to travel north and play a course in Maryland.  I wanted to play Whiskey Creek, a course designed by Ernie Els; however when I called the pro shop they informed me there was an outing on the course.  Fortunately, there are plenty of decent tracks in the vicinity.  I decided to tee it up at Worthington Manor, a signature course of the Ault-Clark design team.  Although it only opened 10 years ago in 1998, Worthington Manor is recognized as one of the premiere courses in the Mid-Atlantic.  At first glance, one would think this links style course is an easy wide-open layout until you realize the wetlands are all strategically located on the holes to require accurate drives and smart shot selections.  The USGA agreed with my assessment...why else would they have selected Worthington Manor to host four US Open qualifiers (1999, 2000, 2004 & 2006), three US Amateur qualifiers (2001, 2002 and 2006) and US Senior Open qualifier (2007). 

Worthington Manor #3

Another recognition for the course is that there are two Worthington Manor holes (#3 and #6) in the book "1001 Golf holes you must play before you die".  Hole #3, a par 4, from the white tees plays to 396 yards.  The tee shot is daunting with the fairway sloping right to left to push everything into wetlands on the left.  After surviving the drive, you are faced with a second shot (or in my case fourth shot) over an environmental area which cuts in front of the green.  I pulled this shot over the junk but way left of the green.  After a chip and a two putt, I carded a 7 on the hole.  Coincidently, that was the same score I had the other time I played this course.

Worthington Manor #6

Hole #6 is a 145 yard par 3 with a peninsula green surrounded by water on all sides except long right.  Of course, the pin is located on the left side of the green.  Undaunted, I sent the ball sailing towards the pin...my heart dropped when I saw the ball land on the green, roll off and disappear behind the green.  As I walked to the spot, I saw the ball clinging to the grass on the slope behind the green about 1.5 feet from the water...WHEW!  I quickly chipped it on the green and two putted for a 4.  Again the same score as the last time.

I shot a so-so front nine 52.  My two pars (#4 and #7) offset my two snowmen (#2 and #5).  On the back nine, I was in the zone.  I started with four 5s including a par on hole #13 and followed that up with two pars on #14 (par 4) and #15 (par 3).  When I landed my 3 iron approach shot on #16, I was ready to sign up for the next US Open qualifier hosted on this course...I think they are hosting one in 2009.  Four putts on the green brought me back to reality.  The last two holes are the only holes where you had to deal with any trees.  Hole #17 is a 161 yard par 3 which required a carry over a ravine/creek with trees snagging any off target shots.  I scored a 5 because I three putted this green...damm putter.  On #18 (482 yard par 5), the tee shot is tree-lined but it opens up into a split fairway.  I hit my best drive of the day onto the lower half of the fairway and smashed my 3-wood to within a easy chip from the green.  Another chip & a two putt...for a par on the hole and a 43 for the back nine.  I definitely did not have the same score the last time on this course.

A good day on the links and now a long drive home in DC traffic...Uck!