Bowie Golf Club, Bowie – CQ’s second course in his journey to play all of Maryland’s 100 public courses
Played: Mid-December 2025, 18.0 Handicap, Played Gold (Senior) tees, Score: 84 (adjusted – see hole #9 comments) Cart, Cost: $38 ($2.11 per hole, $0.54 per listed par stroke and $0.57 per estimated par stroke, $0.45 per shot for me) – an inexpensive round in Maryland. Few people were on the course so 18 holes took just under 3.5 hours. Temperatures 40 to 45 degrees, cloudy, with winds about 10 mph gusting to 24 (a bit chilly).
Conditions: The course is undergoing major construction to significantly upgrade its driving range. The tee boxes on the 1st and 18th holes and the green on the 9th hole are all significantly impacted by the construction, making all of those holes play significantly shorter than the scorecard reflects – probably more like a par 66 than the par 70 reflected on the score card. Construction is reportedly on pace to be completed by the spring. At that time, it is reported the 9th hole, which was a par 5, will become a par 4, and the 18th hole, which is currently a par 4, will become a par 5. While the course will remain a par 70, it seems likely the course rating and slope will need to be reviewed and possibly changed. Greens were in good condition though the grass was just a bit long and putting was slow – not unexpected in winter golf. Tee boxes were in rough shape and many of the holes had temporary tee boxes set up. The fairways and rough seemed to be in descent condition given the time of year. Leaf coverage in the fairways and rough were nominal considering the time of year and no balls were lost or time spent hunting for balls in the leaves. At tee time, the course was still frozen from below freezing temperatures from the day before and overnight. At the beginning of the round you needed to hit in front of the green and let it roll/bounce on. As the round progressed, the top half inch of turf thawed but below that it was still frozen and you still needed to hit well short of the pin instead of flying it to the hole. Winter golf can be tough in Maryland – too cold and its rock hard, too warm and its mush.
Tee times: Available on the website or by calling or walking on, though the website indicates that calling or walking on would cost more than the website. The website appears to be updated on pricing but some sections of the site appear to be dated or not working. GolfNow.com appeared to have better prices than the course website for the couple of date/time combinations I checked so you may want to check that out before booking a tee time.
Course Notes: The course is owned by the City of Bowie and leased to/managed by Indigo Golf. It’s what I’d call a park-type golf course, with a lot of fairways separated by scattered trees and not much water or wooded areas to contend with. You shouldn’t lose balls here very often though it is possible on a couple of holes. The course is a par 70 with (normally) three par 3s, four par 4s and two par 5s on the front; and two par 3s, six par 4s and one par 5 on the back, subject to change in the spring of 2026. The course is fairly generous with their fairways and greens and the mature trees are the primary means of getting into trouble on most of the holes. The gold tees total 4,928 yards (normally) and the white tees are 5,838 yards (normally). Generally, the sand traps on most holes are well placed and designed but on this occasion were not well maintained – a situation rumored to be problematic throughout the year. Putting out of the traps was possible on many and frequently appeared to be the best means of escape. A traditional open faced sand wedge tended to skid off the compacted sand and hit the ball thin. The core structure of the clubhouse is a masonry farmhouse built in 1727 while the golf course opened in 1959 as the Belair Golf and Country Club. The clubhouse and snack bar appear somewhat dated and plans appear to be underway to update them. Twelve holes (1-5, 8, 9,12, 14, and 16-18) don’t have any water hazards or woods/out of bounds to contend with. Holes 6 and 7 have out of bounds along the entire left side of the fairway and greens. Hole 10 has water down the left side and out of bounds on the right. Hole 11 has woods down the entire right side. Hole 13 has a forced carry over water of about 100 yards. Hole 14 has a small forced carry over a pond and woods down the right side. (Hole 18 has the new driving range down the right side and out of bounds was marked during this round. However, the high fencing for the range was being installed and should be completed by the time you read this.)
Accolades: Bowie was named the 20th “Best Public Golf Course in Maryland – Golfers’ Choice 2025” by GolfPass in March 2025. According to their website, they make the “annual Golfers’ Choice lists by curating the reviews submitted by everyday golfers.” Additionally, the Bowie Golf Club website golfbowie.com indicates the course “has long enjoyed the reputation as one of the City of Bowie’s premier public golf courses and best value.” As far as I can tell, it is the only golf course in Bowie.
Contact Information: golfbowie.com, (301)262-8141
Walking: Bowie is a very walkable course, with each green close to the next tee box. During the construction, the 9th green is substantially farther from the 10th green but it will be much closer after the driving range is completed. And half of the par 4s are cart-path only so you may need to walk some anyway. I took a cart and still managed to walk almost 4,000 steps. I hope to walk the course some day and will report back on the number of steps taken.
Hole-by-hole
#1 – A dogleg left that normally plays 301 yards from the gold tees played about 230 yards with the construction of the new driving range just to the right of the normal tee boxes – with all tees located together. At 230 yards the green is potentially reachable if you can bend your drive around the large trees guarding the corner. If you are thinking about trying it, the trees and a drainage area on the left will punish you if you cut off too much of the corner and the trees on the right side of the fairway may block you out if you hit straight through the fairway. A 140-160 yard shot towards the 100-yard marker appears to maximize the chances of a clear second shot to the green and leaving you with just 60-90 yards to the center of the green. I hit a 6-iron off the tee and cut the corner a little closer to the trees than I wanted. Since I cut the corner sharply, it left me just under 40 yards to the center of the green with the pin in the middle. A short pitch bounced just in front of the green, as planned due to the frozen greens, and settled to within about six feet right of the pin. I was able to one-putt for my only birdie of the day. Minus one after one.
#2 – A 160-yard par 3 with a large bunker on the front right side as the only serious impediment. Pin was in the front left with the green sloping to the front right. There was a moderate head wind and with the greens still frozen I decided to club down to a 7-iron to try and bounce it onto the green. I greatly overestimated the bounce and/or underestimated the head wind and it stopped just short of the left side of the bunker. I chipped up about 10 feet short of the hole with a straight uphill putt. Just missed it to the right and tapped in for a bogey. Even after two holes.
#3 – A 288-yard slight dogleg right par 4 with a temporary tee box that made it play slightly shorter and straighter. There are thick trees down the right side and only sparse tree coverage on the left make the left side the preferred side to miss on. The green is deep and narrow with a large trap on the left and a small trap and mounding on the right. I hooked my 3-wood left into the rough almost to the next tee box but still had just a short pitch to the green. I hit my pitching wedge just a little too well and the ball landed near the hole and bounced and rolled off the green between the mounds. A tentative chip caused by a big slope down to the pin got me onto the green but just barely. My first putt was a couple of feet short of the hole. The next downhill putt found the hole for a bogey and one over after three.
#4 – The hardest rated hole from the white tees but only the seventh hardest from the golds, this is a straight par 4 with thick tree cover down the right side and a bunker to the left of the green. Its primary defense is its length at 319 yards and a heavily sloped green from back to front. I topped my 3-wood, leaving just under 200-yards to the center of the green. Hit my 4-wood off the toe and into the trees on the right. Punched a 7-iron under the tree limbs and it rolled over the green. Another poor chip got me onto the fringe. I used the putter to get within two feet then one putted for a double bogey and three over after four holes.
#5 – A 168-yard par 3 with a narrow and deep two-tiered green with a large bunker on the right side. Hit my 7-iron to the right rough between the green and the trap, pin high. Used an 8-iron like a putter and was left with a three-foot putt that went in. Par and three over after five.
#6 – A 340-yard par 4 with trees down the right side and trees and out of bounds (Laurel Bowie Road) down the left side. The landing area slopes downhill so you can expect to get a pretty long drive if you’re anywhere near the fairway. A large bunker is to the front left of the green but shouldn’t be in play most of the time. Hit the tee shot with my 3-wood and found the rough with about 85-yards to the center of the green but the pin at the front of the green. I hit a soft pitch to try to bounce the ball onto the front but it stopped about five yards short. I chipped a little too hard and sent the ball about 15 feet past the hole. I left the downhill putt about two-feet short and made the bogey putt. Four over after six.
#7 – A reachable 397 par 5 with heavy trees and out of bounds down the left side, heavy trees on the right on the tee shot, and water short and left of the green. A good tee shot can leave you with an iron into the well protected large green. Water is to the left of the green, a berm and sand trap is in the front, additional traps front right and right side of the green, and a fairly steep valley if you go over the green. I hit a fairly descent drive down the right side that came to rest on a large patch of frozen dirt with about 175 yards left to the center of the green and a back pin. Concerned about the frozen green and water to the left of the green, I decided to hit a 6-iron towards the right side of the green. I hit the dirt first causing a weak shot that stopped between the two front bunkers with a good view of the back pin. I hit the pitch shot a little too well and rolled it past the hole to the fringe. I used my putter to come back down the hill, leaving it about 16 inches from the hole. I tapped it in for a par and four over after seven.
#8 – A short uphill par 3 measuring 130-yards with a green that slopes heavily towards the front and traps on the right and back left. I tried to hit a ¾ 9-iron but hit it a bit too well, landing it near the pin, and bouncing it off the back into a sand trap on the back left side. The sand was packed down and frozen and the green was sloping away but the lip was smooth, making me think that putting was the best option. The shot made it onto the green but left about 12 slightly downhill feet to the hole. I just missed the putt but tapped in for bogey. Five over after eight.
#9 – This is normally the hardest rated hole from the gold tees – a 443-yard par 5 with trees and out of bounds down the entire left side and tree cover down the right. However, with the construction of the new driving range, the old green has been dug up and a new green, much closer than the old one, is still growing in. The hole is now playing like a slightly downhill 160-190 yard par 3 with a very small “green” mowed into the fairway. The only way to know the true distance of the hole is to use a rangefinder, which I don’t have. I estimated the hole to be about 170-yards and hit my 5-iron over the green and against the construction drainage barrier. I took a free drop, chipped it onto the “green” and two-putted for a bogey. Six over par after nine holes. That could be a 39 on the front – though it would obviously have an asterisk in the record book. If I added two strokes for the two shortened shots then it would be a 41, which is more realistic of how I played the front nine. The new 9th hole, reportedly going to be ready for play in the spring, appears likely to be a par 4.
#10 – A short 265-yard par 4 with water down the left side, out of bounds down the right side, a small pond in front of the tee box, the fairway sloping towards the water and a big downhill to the green on the second shot. It should be easy to hit a long iron into the fairway and still have a short iron into the green. I chose to hit a safe 3-iron and do just that. Sadly, I pushed it to the right, hitting a tree and sending it out of bounds. My second 3-iron tee shot landed just right of the fairway and rolled to the center with just 70-yards to the center of the green. I hit a ¾ lob wedge to the front of the green and it bounced on but well short of the middle pin. My first putt was uphill with a hard right-to-left slop which I left didn’t hit high or hard enough – leaving it about six feet from the hole. I missed the putt and tapped the next one in a triple bogey. Nine over par after ten holes.
#11 – Rated the hardest hole on the back nine from the gold tees, it’s a straight par 5 with woods down the entire right side and intermittent tree coverage down the left. The fairway is moderately narrow and slopes towards the woods. A large, deep bunker guards the front left of the green. Hit the driver low and down the middle but the ball came to rest on the upslope in the fairway with about 200-yards left. I chose to hit a 5-iron to keep it in play and leave a short iron into the green. Turf-first contact caused the ball to only make it about 100-yards, stopping in the rough next to the cart path. A free drop resulted in the ball landing in thick rough, below foot level, with about 110 yards to the center of the green. An off-center strike resulted in the ball landing in the sand trap, a deep one with a high lip and wet, compacted sand. I decided to try to blast the ball out using a closed face sand wedge to dig down into the sand. It successfully launched the ball over the flag, landing softly about 12 feet past the hole but leaving a sharp downhill putt for par. I stubbed the toe of the putter and barely got the ball halfway to the hole. My second putt stopped just to the left of the hole and the tap-in resulted in a double bogey and eleven over after eleven holes.
#12 – A 273-yard slight dogleg right that might be one of the easiest holes on the course. There’s a small sand trap on the right about where a drive would land and pine trees on the left side but the fairway is pretty generous and the green is otherwise unguarded. I hit a 3-wood down the left side, settling on pine straw with only about 60-yards from the center of the green. I tried to it a ¾ sand wedge but the clubface slid under the ball leaving the ball well short of the green. I chipped up with a pitching wedge to about eight feet below the hole. Just missed to the putt to the left and tapped in for a bogey. Twelve over after twelve.
#13 – A short 140-yard par 3 with a forced carry over a pond of just under 100-yards. The large green slopes from left to right, has water on the right and a large sand trap on the left. I hit a pitching wedge short of the green and it bounced onto the green but well short of the pin. I hit the putt short and didn’t aim high enough, resulting in a 7-foot second putt straight up hill. I missed the par putt, tapped it in for a bogey and my third three-putt in the last four holes. Thirteen over after thirteen.
#14 – A 277-yard slight dogleg right which had a temporary tee box that made the hole pretty straight. A small bunker is short right of the green and a large bunker is on the left. I hit my driver down the right side, just a little right of the front bunker and was left with a short pitch shot to a back pin. The pitch rolled to about six feet with a straight uphill putt. The ball looked into the hole as it went past and stopped about three inches away. My first par since the 7th. Thirteen over after fourteen.
#15 – An uphill, reachable 240-yard par 4 with a set of bunkers down the right side with woods farther right and a large bunker in front of the green to stop the long hitters from getting to the green on their tee shots. I hit my 3-wood down the right side, flying over the bunkers and stopping just at the tree line. A tree blocked me from shooting straight at the front pin but I was able to chip a pitching wedge to the front fringe. I hit the putter from the fringe to within three feet and sunk the par putt. Two pars in a row. Thirteen over after fifteen.
#16 – A 267-yard dogleg left par 4. I hit my 3-wood with a draw to within about 20 yards of the green. I decided to hit an 8-iron like a putter to roll the ball up onto the green. I hit it too firmly and blew it at least 12 feet past the hole. Long story short – three putted to turn a birdie opportunity into a bogey. My fourth 3-putt on the back nine. Fourteen over after sixteen holes.
#17 – An uphill 150-yard par 3 playing into the wind. A large bunker guards the right side. Landed a 6-iron onto the front of the green and it bounced/rolled to about eight feet below the hole. Just missed the putt and tapped in. Par to stay fourteen over after seventeen holes.
#18 – Normally a 345 dogleg right par 4 – but playing somewhere between 210 and 240 due to the tees all being moved up for drainage work associated with the new driving range. From the other side of the creek at the bottom of the hill, it’s a blind teen shot over the hill with out of bounds marked along the other side of the cart path on the right near where the fencing for the driving range was being installed. Once the high fencing is completed, you shouldn’t have to worry about hitting it out of bounds or of someone on the driving range hitting you. I opted to hit a 3-iron towards the left side of a large pine tree I judged to be where the green was located. The ball stopped about 30 yards short of the green. I hit a pitching wedge to the front edge of the green to get it to roll to the middle pin but by now the top layer of the greens had melted and the ball landed much softer than hoped and left a 30-foot uphill putt. I hit the putt to within about three feet and made the “par” putt. It would appear the layout of this hole will return to normal once the drainage portion of the project is completed. Fourteen over for the round (84?) on a shortened Bowie course.
I plan on returning to Bowie once the construction is completed to see if I can score any better. I recommend you try this “Top 20” course for yourself and let me know what think. I’m also planning my next outing, my third course on the road to playing all 100 Maryland public courses. Concerns, comments or suggestions and where should be my next (in the middle of winter)?