Northwest Passage

  Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Monday, October 6, 2008

I wanted to play a golf course outside my normal rotation, but did not feel like traveling too far to get there.  Consulting the list "Top 100 Must-Play Courses of the Middle Atlantic" generated by the magazine, Washington Golfstyles, I identified a couple of courses within the DC Beltway that I have not played, yet.  So far I have checked off 32 courses on the list.  The closest golf course was the University of Maryland's course; however when I called the pro-shop, I was greeted with a message that the course is closed for renovation until May 2009.  My next choice is the Northwest Golf Course in Silver Spring.  The course is located in the Northwest Branch Park...northwest branch of what I do not know (I think it is a branch of the Anacostia River).

Northwest GC is designed by Ed Ault, a well known designer in this area.  The course is a typical American parkland layout.  Although there is water on the course, none of it comes into play...the creeks merely provided boundaries between holes.  The tree-lined fairways were tight enough so I had to consider whether to hit my driver or 3 wood off the tee-box, but not tight enough for me to lose any balls into the woods.  However, the rough was really thick and I lost one ball in the tall grass...fortunately I found four balls hidden in the rough left by other unlucky golfers.  I normally bring my camera when playing a new course, but there were no scenic views worthy of a picture.  Overall, I would rate the layout as average.

On the other hand, the greens make this a "must play" course.  Ed Ault provided the golfer with large greens for targets on the approach shot, but somehow I still only managed to make two greens in regulation.  Getting on the green is the easy part...putting the ball into the hole was the challenge.  There were no straight putts the entire round and the green was faster than I am used to.  I needed 20 putts for the first nine holes and I rolled at least three off the green because I struggled gaging the proper speed.  On the back nine, I start to get a better feel for the greens and managed to use a respectable 14 putts.

There was no yardage book for the course, but fortunately I was paired up with a golfer who knew the course well.  His name was Minor and he looked like he could be a coal-miner from western PA, where I grew-up.  Minor helped me with suggestions on the proper line to hit.  His advice really helped on the 453 yard, sharp dogleg right, par 5, #8 hole. 

Northwest #17

He suggested hitting my 200 yard club hugging the tree-line to get to the turn without blowing through the fairway.  I struck a 5 wood to the turn as he suggested and then followed it with a well struck 3 wood up the hill to within 20 yards of the green.  Unfortunately I only advanced the ball 10 yards with my third hit...a very bad chip shot.  Another chip attempt and a two putt gave me a disappointing 6 for the hole.  Actually I am usually happy with carding a 6 on any par 5 but I was seeing birdies on this hole.  Minor left after nine holes and I missed not having his company and advice on the back nine.  Since it was a Monday, there were very few people on the course, so I felt like I had the course all to myself.  I did have some unexpected company while putting on the 17th green.  I spotted a stag and his harem of 3 doe crossing the fairway.  I took a picture of this.