Review: Rocky Gap Golf Course (Part 1)

In Maryland, once you go west of Hagerstown, it's tough to find space for golf. The terrain is rugged and there is quite literally very little land between the Potomac to the south and the Mason-Dixon Line to the north. Maryland quite infamously narrows down to less than 2 miles wide when you reach Hancock. It's small wonder than that the first golf course you find past Hagerstown is very nearly in Cumberland, 50 miles to the west. It's also little wonder that Rocky Gap Casino, Resort, and Golf Course is pretty much on I-68, the main road through western Maryland, so much so that the exit for the resort (and state park) pretty much feels like its for Rocky Gap and nothing else.

There is another reason to be curious about Rocky Gap beyond geographic convenience — it was designed by Jack Nicklaus. Now, I should probably qualify that statement and say that I highly doubt Mr. Nicklaus, he of 18 majors fame, made more than a cursory publicity visit to Rocky Gap (if he even did that). It was almost certainly someone at his architecture firm who did the real work. Still, it says Jack Nicklaus designed the course on the website, and I've never played a Nicklaus golf course. So, what could his team to with the rugged landscape of western Maryland? Let's find out.

The first hole does a decent job at setting the tone for the round in terms of what you're going to see. The landforms are severe and the fairway pretty clearly had to be carved out of a hillside. This par 4 is about 380 yards, and the fairway is pinched between three bunkers, two left and one right. A fade is the better choice on the tee. A good drive will leave just a wedge. The green is medium sized with a bunker left, and while I wouldn't call it a particularly wild or interesting green, it's definitely not flat. All in all, a reasonable opening hole.

The first hole.

Approaching the first green.

The first green.

The second hole is also about 380 yards, though it plays quite differently. The tee shot climbs dramatically to a fairway that turns left around a deep bunker. You ideally want to reach the top of the hill to get a view of the green, but between the bunker left and the scrub-covered hillside right, there's not a massive amount of space for a driver. It's not impossible, but nor is it the most inviting prospect. If you do use driver successfully, your reward will be a little wedge slightly downhill to a green cut into the hillside with a bunker left keeping slightly wayward approaches from bounding down into oblivion.

The second hole.

The second green.

The third hole is a long 450-yard par 4 playing through a chute of trees to a wide, sloped fairway with native areas and woods on both sides. The fairway does end at some point, but you'd have to hit it at 300 yards for that to be a concern. The second shot is a mid iron over that central valley to a green on the far side. It's got a single, deep bunker front right, and the green is medium sized and angled from left to right. You definitely want to approach the green from the left side of the fairway; even so, this is a tough second shot and a tough hole overall.

The third hole.

Approaching the third green.

The third green.

The fourth hole is a shortish par 3 at 160 yards, which is made even shorter as the hole plays significantly downhill. The green is sloped from left to right, following the slope of the hillside its carved from. There's a shallow bunker left and a very deep one front right. Neither are fun to be in. Still, the hole isn't long and the green, while not massive, definitely isn't small. 

The fourth hole.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is a dramatic 540-yard par 5 tumbling a hundred feet downhill to a massively wide fairway split into upper and lower levels by a pair of central bunkers. While the upper side gives you a better angle, the fairway ends about 275 yards out, meaning that longer hitters will run out of driver space. The right, lower side has more space, but it also puts you behind trees and prevents you from going directly at the green in two. The trees pinch in from the right around 75 yards from the green, so you either need to lay up well short of that or get past that on the lay-up. A single bunker protects the right side of the green, which is otherwise pretty straightforward. Even so, this is a fun and memorable hole, and definitely the sort of thing you expect to see in such a mountainous setting.

The fifth hole.

Approaching the fifth green.

The fifth green.

Speaking of holes that feel carved out of the wilderness, the sixth hole is quite intimidating when you step onto the tee. Actual golf terrain is scarcely visible. All you get is a few slivers of the green in between dense underbrush. This is a 220-yard par 3 with a green far below in a valley, but while the tee shot looks incredibly difficult, there's actually plenty of open space down there to work with. It's not easy, and the green has a couple of bunkers around it, but it's nowhere near as tough to lose a golf ball here as you might think.

Not much to see from the back tee on the sixth hole..

It's a little better from the next tee up, but not by much.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is a medium-length par 4 playing to a narrow fairway with forest on both sides, as well as a single bunker right. That bunker can be cleared with a driver, but with little wiggle room it's a tough choice to make. A good long iron or fairway wood will leave a short iron for the approach. The green here is on the far side of a tiny stream (barely more than a trickle when I was there, though admittedly western Maryland was experiencing a pretty severe drought), and while it's quite narrow, it's also pretty flat. Find the green and you'll have a decent chance at birdie.

The seventh hole.

Approaching the seventh green.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole is not a long par 5, being just over 500 yards, but it also plays dramatically (if steadily) uphill. It would take two big shots to get to the green in two. The hole isn't overflowing with hazards, with just one small fairway bunker right, but since the hole is quite narrow, it doesn't need much else as it squeezes through the trees. The green here is the most interesting part of the hole; it's separated into three distinct sections, an upper tier at the back, with a central ridge dividing the front two-thirds of the green into roughly equal halves. Find the wrong section of green, and two putting will be a challenge.

The eighth hole.

Approaching the eighth green.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is another mid-length par 4, and like the second this one plays up to an elevated fairway. With the hole bending slightly left and a cluster of trees positioned in the corner, you really need a draw on hand if you want to use driver here. For most, a fairway wood is the play, hopefully reaching the top of the hill and leaving a short iron or wedge second shot. The green is fairly narrow and squeezed between two large bunkers.

The ninth hole.

The ninth green.

That's it for this week, next week we'll check out the back nine.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Chestnut Praline

The brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, New York

Description (from the website): "As the holidays draw near and excitement grows for the first snowfall, gather together with Chestnut Praline Imperial Ale. With each sip, the warm butter flavor of toasted chestnuts glazed with sweet caramel will transform any wintry day into a cozy celebration of the season. From our Southern Tier family to yours, we wish you nothing but joy and sweetness this Holiday Season!"

Would I buy it again? I've reviewed quite a few of these heavy Southern Tier imperial ales in the past couple years; they seem to have found a niche in making varied and interesting imperial ales at a reasonable price. They mostly hit too, and this is no exception. It is buttery and nutty and excellent to drink, particularly as we head into the Christmas season. I would absolutely buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Naked Elf

The brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "Gone are the cherries, honey and chocolate malt that dress up our holiday favorite Mad Elf, leaving “him” stark-raving nude. It’s all about the bare necessities – malt and yeast – to lend notes of cinnamon, allspice, clove and tangy fruity esters to this classic Belgian-style ale."

Would I buy it again? I've told this story before, but I was not initially a fan of Mad Elf, which was a shame considering how much I enjoy most of their other beers. I did eventually get past that distaste and I do enjoy Mad Elf now, but still, I like it despite the cherry, not because of it. This has no cherry, and while it may be weaker, alcohol wise, the other Mad Elf tastes are fully present and even more forward here. So whisper this in hushed tones — I think I prefer this to the standard Mad Elf. Not by a wide margin, but subtly so. I wish this came in six packs on its own, because I would definitely buy that.

Beer of the Week

The beer: The Great'er Pumpkin

The brewery: Heavy Seas Beer, Halethorpe, Maryland

Description (from the website): "Great’er Pumpkin is a bold, seasonal ale that brings together the rich flavors of pumpkin and autumn spices in perfect harmony. Brewed with real pumpkin and a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, this beer offers a warm, spiced aroma and a smooth, full-bodied taste. The malt sweetness complements the earthy pumpkin flavors, while a subtle hop bitterness balances the richness, creating a well-rounded and satisfying brew. Bourbon barrel aging enhances the profile with notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon, making it the ideal choice for those who enjoy the flavors of fall in a beer that’s both flavorful and comforting."

Would I buy it again? This is very good — it's got that deep flavor that comes from the bourbon barrel aging process, it's got pumpkin and cinnamon, it's heavy but still relatively pleasant to drink. I have no complaints about this beer, and if the price was right, I probably would buy it again. That said, I am missing the maple syrup that the Southern Tier imperial pumpkin beer I had last month possessed. That flavor really completed the pumpkin beer profile. Of course, not every heavy pumpkin beer needs maple flavoring, but while this beer is quite good, it's lacking that X factor to make it great. 

Review: Gauntlet Golf Club (Part 2)

It's time to check out the back nine at Gauntlet, go here to see the front.

The tenth hole is a short par 5 at 475 yards, but while the green is reachable in two for quite a few people, you do have to contend with what is the narrowest fairway on the course. Trees crowd in from both sides, and flanking bunkers pinch in right where a solid drive would land. If you do hit driver, though, you can get far enough to open up a view of the green; using a 3 wood will leave you with a blind second shot. The green is small and benched into a small hillside, with bunkers short left and right. 

The tenth hole.

Approaching the tenth green.

The tenth green.

The eleventh hole is a long par 4 at 445 yards, doglegging significantly (though gradually right) around marshy woods and eventually the lake for the second half of the hole. There are no bunkers on the drive, though of course sticking close to the hazards right will give you a much shorter approach than playing more safely out to the left. The approach will be a mid iron to a medium-sized green with a single bunker right. The water's not in play but does provide a nice backdrop, though the view would be even better if some of the trees behind the green were cleared out. 

The eleventh hole.

The eleventh green.

The twelfth hole is a short little par 3, playing just 140 yards. Of course, the green here is tiny, probably the smallest on the course, and it's angled from right to left behind a bunker, with another bunker lurking long. It's really not a difficult hole, and if you do hit the green the surface is almost completely flat, but it's also no pushover. Miss the green and bogey becomes a decent score.

The twelfth hole.

The twelfth green.

The thirteenth hole is the longest hole at Gauntlet, playing 560 yards (it was even into the wind for my round) alongside the lake the entire way. Beyond that obvious hazard, a line of ... I'm not entirely sure what to call it, since only one is a formal bunker while the other two bunker-like patches are dirt with some bushes planted in the middle. Anyway, a line of bunker-like hazards cut diagonally across the fairway where a long driver would end up, which further encourages you to aim out left, worsening your angle for the next shot. There's a small central fairway bunker about 125 yards from the green to give you something to think about on the lay-up, but mostly you want to favor the right side close to the tree line. That will give the best angle into the green, which is small and significantly two-tiered, with bunkers left and right.

The thirteenth hole.

Approaching the thirteenth green.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is a mid-length par 4 with a simple, open drive to a wide fairway. The approach will be a wedge or short iron into a large, fairly undulating green with a single bunker left. It's not a particularly complicated hole, but that's fine. It represents an opportunity to breathe before the last few holes, which are generally quite difficult.

The fourteenth hole.

Approaching the fourteenth green.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole is quite the back-breaker par 3, playing an uphill 245 yards. The two bunkers in front are quite intimidating, but they're actually 20-30 yards short of the green, so they're not actually that much of a concern. While the green is generally open, it's also quite narrow and slightly elevated. Tee shots that miss either left or right thus have to contend with a tricky chip that you can't easily bump and run; you basically have to go with a high, lofted recovery shot if you want to hold the green. Meanwhile, people who miss short have a pretty easy chip, provided they don't find one of the bunkers. This is actually kind of a clever hole in that the longer, low-handicap golfer who more often misses laterally instead of falling short is punished just as much, if not more so, than the golfer who simply comes up short of the green. It's a very difficult hole either way, but it's equitable in its difficulty. At least it is for me, someone who doesn't struggle for length but does have issues with short game.

The fifteenth hole.

The fifteenth green.

The sixteenth hole is 375 yards and bends hard right about 250 yards out. Fortunately, the corner of the dogleg is wide open, which means you can quite easily cut the corner, leaving yourself a much shorter approach and the best angle into the green. People who play safely out left will have a full wedge or short iron into a very well-bunkered and quite shallow green. The small bunker directly in front is especially nasty, since it's got long, thick rough surrounding it. I can speak from experience: you do not want any part of that stuff. 

The sixteenth hole.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is the sort of hole you can't help but smile at. The tee shot on this 370-yard par 4 is pretty nondescript — the hole bends hard left about 225 yards out, so you'll need to hit a long iron or fairway wood, favoring the left side close to the bunker and small stream cutting across the fairway to give yourself a shorter approach. The second shot then promptly ascends 50 feet up the side of a hill to a ridiculously narrow green dominated by a tier of biblical proportions that's also flanked by deep bunkers. Frankly, those bunkers are the best-case scenario if you're off-target, as anything else will get bounced far, far away, leaving you with a pitch up to a shallow target from 10-15 feet below the surface of the green. Even if you do hit this green, if you're not on the right level you'll be faced with a putt going up (or down) 2-3 feet. Have fun two-putting in that situation. I wish the tee shot was a little more interesting, but this is still one of the craziest and most fun holes I've ever played. Of course, it's easy for me to say that, seeing as I hit the green in regulation, found the right level, and made an utterly ordinary par. Ask someone who just made a triple bogey what they think of this hole and I'm sure you'd get a different response. 

The seventeenth hole.

Approaching the seventeenth green. I couldn't even begin to hazard a guess as to why there are three random rough-covered mounds in the middle of the fairway.

The seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole is a fairly long par 4 at 425 yards, and since this is a Dye family golf course, you're probably expecting me to follow up with "with water running down one side." But no, no water here, though there is a valley right with tall (but not impenetrable) grass that you could definitely play out of. You still want to avoid it, but it's not an automatic penalty, which is nice. Anyway, the fairway bends (and slopes) right around this valley, and you can play safely out left or challenge the dogleg more directly. Doing so will leave just a wedge second shot. The green is protected by a cluster of small bunkers in front and left and is very wide and shallow. It's separated into three sections, cascading down from left to right, and if you find the wrong section, you'll have a very challenging putt. This is a tough finishing hole, but it's also not annoying difficult, and I appreciate that.

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

The eighteenth green.

PB Dye golf courses have been a mixed bag for me. I really liked PB Dye Golf Club, but I admittedly played that very early on in my golf course reviewing days, and if I ever went back I'm not sure I'd be quite so generous in my assessment. Then there's Moorland at the Legends Resort, which I was decidedly not a big fan of. 

Gauntlet was definitely a surprise for me. I knew it would be interesting, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy the course as much as I did. I don't usually have a lot of fun with the courses where most holes are lined with dense trees, but the playing corridors here were plenty wide and I rarely had issue with width. I also wasn't expecting so much elevation change; Gauntlet has tons of rolling hills that are a lot of fun to play across and around. There was a lot of variety to the greens as well; some were small and flat, some were large and gently undulating, and a few were absolutely insane. Not my favorite set of greens ever, but solid enough.

Very importantly, Gauntlet is walker friendly. It's a tough walk, to be sure, but there aren't any massive walks between greens and tees. It's another thing I was really surprised by. And the price isn't terrible either; at 3 PM on a Saturday, I paid $55 to walk. For suburban Virginia, that's not too shabby at all, and you even get a fun and very good golf course for your trouble. It's a long way to go, but I'd definitely play here again.