Golf Course Review: Ocean City Golf Club (Newport Bay Course), Berlin, Maryland
OCEAN CITY GOLF CLUB
(NEWPORT BAY)
Berlin, Maryland
February 13, 2023
OVERVIEW
FACILITY TYPE: Semi-Private
YEAR OPENED: 1959
PAR: 72
LENGTH: 5,205 - 6,657
USGA RATING: 67.5 - 71.0
USGA SLOPE: 113 - 126
TEE OPTIONS: 4
WEBSITE: https://oceancitygolfclub.com/
PHONE: (410) 641-1779
I hate to admit it but I’ve lived in Maryland on and off for 10 years and this was my first round of golf in Ocean City! For some of you reading this, it’s going to be hard to believe, but I finally made it a priority to get my butt to the beach and tee it up.
Ocean City Golf Club has been around since 1959 making it the first course built in Ocean City. Ocean City Golf Club is a 36-hole facility featuring two 18-hole Championship courses; The Seaside Course and The Newport Bay Course.
The Newport Bay course almost felt like 2 different nines, with the front nine winding slightly inland with tight, well-protected fairways, contoured greens, bunkers, and trees. By the time we made the turn onto the back nine, it felt like a new course, with holes winding along the shoreline, providing amazing views of the water and creating whole new challenges with the wind and water.
COURSE CONDITIONS RATINGS
FAIRWAYS: 2.5
GREENS: 3
BUNKERS: 3.5
SCENERY: 4
LAYOUT: 3.5
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OVERALL: 3.30
Considering the fact I played in mid-February between rain storms, the course was in good condition. Yes, it was a little soft with some minor flooding in places but that’s to be expected from a course that’s at Sea Level, especially with the amount of rain the course experienced recently. This made the course play a little longer than it would normally play since there was no release on drives, but as long as you play the right tee boxes for your game, you will still have a great experience.
The greens, while on the slower side, rolled true. I was able to make a handful of important putts and approach shots and wedges were able to spin as predicted, making for an easier time getting up and down to put together a solid round.
The trickiest part of the course in my opinion isn’t the length, but the layout and the wind. Because of the way the course winds throughout the property and edges along the shoreline, longer off the tee isn’t always better. Instead, I often found myself taking less than driver and opting to position myself with a better angle to take advantage where I could.
Depending on how far you hit the ball, it may not be unusual to drive it through the fairway, and depending on the hole, you can either blow it into a different fairway, in which case you can still post a good score, or you’re going to find yourself in the marsh and having to drop the ball.
Always keep the wind in consideration as it is the course's main defense. Take more club if needed and remember that a hurting wind hurts more than a helping wind helps 😉
ACCESSIBILITY
COURSE DIFFICULTY: 3
WALKABILITY: 4
Maryland isn’t known for having really long golf courses. Many of the golf courses in Maryland are older and therefore built based on the way the game was played 50-100+ years ago. When Ocean City Golf Club was built, the game was played using persimmon woods and balata balls. As such, it’s not an overly long golf course but instead places an emphasis on placing the ball in the right spots, looking for angles, and giving yourself opportunities by missing in the right places.
Being situated on the bay near the ocean, the course is relatively flat with a few small elevation changes on tee boxes and greens where they have been built up but otherwise, the course makes for an enjoyable walking experience with minimal distance between holes. I highly suggest walking the property if you’re an avid walker and giving it a try if you usually don’t walk.
AMENITIES
GOLF SHOP: 3.5
PRACTICE FACILITIES: 3.5
COMFORT STATIONS: 3.5
FOOD & BEV: 3.5
The clubhouse has recently undergone renovations bringing it into the modern era. The old clubhouse with a vintage feel, dark and classic, has been replaced by a modern and elegant design, bringing light and space into the clubhouse, providing a great atmosphere to hang out before the round or enjoy some food and drinks afterward.
The golf shop was well stocked with anything you may need before your round and the practice facilities provide a great opportunity to get your swing dialed in before you head out.
SUMMARY
With so many courses to choose from in the Ocean City area, Ocean City Golf Club is a classic that everyone should play. I love older courses and while this course isn’t 100+ years old like many of the established clubs throughout the mid-atlantic, it certainly has a feel to the design that’s unlike modern courses. The layout is classic, the staff is friendly, and the green fees are affordable. The course has many great views and has some unique holes that fit the land beautifully that you’ll be sure to remember for years to come.
MOVE BETTER - PLAY BETTER
COACH BLAINE ⛳🏌️♂️
For more, visit www.TourShotGolf.com
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