Golf Course Review: Waverly Woods, Marriottsville, Maryland
WAVERLY WOODS GOLF CLUB
Marriottsville, Maryland
January 10, 2023
OVERVIEW
FACILITY TYPE: Semi-Private
YEAR OPENED: 1997
ARCHITECT: Arthur Hills
PAR: 72
LENGTH: 4,834 - 7,024
USGA RATING: 67.5 - 73.9
USGA SLOPE: 112 - 134
TEE OPTIONS: 7
WEBSITE: https://www.waverlywoods.com/
PHONE: (410) 313-9182
*Images shown are not from the most recent round on January 10
Waverly Woods is a semi-private, Arthur Hills designed golf course in the heart of central Maryland just off Interstate 70. Within an hour's drive, you can be in downtown Baltimore, Washington DC, Frederick, or Annapolis. Its central location is accessible to players from all over the state and the rolling hills and topography of the course are worth seeking out. It's a great course to play on sloped lies and consistently good greens.
During the summer, Waverly Woods is a factory, pumping out rounds until the sun goes down. In the summer, if it’s warm and there’s light, there are probably people playing or at least on the lighted grass driving range, putting green, or short game area. In this most recent round, however, the course was empty. One of the benefits of mid-January in the mid-Atlantic. We had a foursome that teed off a half hour ahead of us, and the next group teed off a half hour after us making it feel like we were all alone on the property which was a nice treat.
If I had to sum up Waverly Woods in one sentence it would be… The only flat lies are on the tee boxes. Arthur Hills designed many golf courses throughout his career with his more famous Maryland courses including Chevy Chase and Congressional Gold. He also designed Maryland National and Waverly Woods’ sister course Blue Mash.
FAIRWAYS: 3
GREENS: 3
BUNKERS: 3
SCENERY: 3
LAYOUT: 4
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OVERALL: 3.20
For the middle of January, the course was in great shape. We’ve had some heavy rains, ice, and snow over the last couple of months, yet the course was in better condition than I expected. To put the weather we’ve had in perspective, the clubhouse was all but closed down for renovation due to flooding only a few weeks ago. This same rain also flooded the practice putting green out front of the clubhouse yet you would never know by looking at it.
The course is always fun. It can be a little intimidating at first due to forced carries and blind shots but once you know your way around the course you understand it better. The course uses the rolling hills of central Maryland very well which creates a fun course where you can be creative with how you play it.
ACCESSIBILITY
COURSE DIFFICULTY: 3.5
WALKABILITY: 2.75
The course for the most part is walking-friendly though most people tend to take a car. There are a few longer walks between holes but it’s nothing unmanageable if you walk regularly.
The farthest walks are between holes 4 and 5, and between holes 9 and 10. There’s a moderate walk between 15 and 16 and again from 17 to 18 but neither are as long as the front nine. If it’s cart path only like it was during this round, it may be a better option to carry or push your bag so you’re not running up and down the sloped fairways so grab your stuff.
How you play will determine how easy or difficult the course will be to walk. Because of the slopes, if you're chasing balls all day, you're going to get pretty worn out. At the same time, if it's cart path only, walking may be the better option.
AMENITIES
GOLF SHOP: -
PRACTICE FACILITIES: 4
COMFORT STATIONS: 2
FOOD & BEV: -
Normally, Waverly Woods has a well-stocked golf shop with a little of everything you might need and sits as part of an open floor plan with the bar and dining area. Since the flooding, they are doing renovations, to what extent I don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised if they used the renovations as an opportunity to make a few improvements.
During this most recent round, there were two porta-pots on the course, one on each nine, and they had the bathroom inside the fitness center at the turn. After the renovations, the bathrooms in the clubhouse will reopen.
The bar and dining area are where you can grab all the usuals like a hot dog and chips to go or maybe sit down and have a burger and beverage after the round. This area was closed but I assume they'll be reopening along with everything else.
When it comes to good golf courses in Maryland, Waverly Woods has to be part of the conversation. It was built on great land by a great architect. Quirky at first but after a round or two you’ll get comfortable with the layout and want to keep coming back. It'll test your game. It's challenging yet fair. And it's a great place to understand how slope affects your ball flight.
MOVE BETTER - PLAY BETTER
COACH BLAINE ⛳🏌️♂️
For more, visit www.TourShotGolf.com
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