Category: Course Review

Course Review – Night Hawk Golf Center

A 9-hole Par 3 course in Gambrills

Night Hawk Golf Center Par 3, Tee box #1

Played: January 2026, 18.0 Handicap, Played the one set of tees, Score: 71, Walked, Cost: $17.50 ($0.97 per hole, $0.32 per “par,” and 84 yards for $1.00) – inexpensive. Being a very short course, a casual-pace 18 holes took under two hours and 2,841 steps. The course was listed in my T11 golf watch, which provided yardages and kept my score. I got two birdies but also lost two balls.

Conditions: The conditions of any Maryland golf course are not going to be their best in January. The conditions are likely to be much better and greener in a couple of months.

All nine holes had mats at the tee boxes, and the rules section of the scorecard indicated their use was required. The course was predominantly flat with slightly raised greens. The greens, reportedly creeping bent grass, were small, dormant, brown and somewhat matted, and were sufficiently sloped and “swailed” to make them interesting. The condition of the greens leads to some erratic putting, on par with freshly aerated greens. There were no significant water hazards on the course even though my watch showed the drainage channels throughout as water hazards. All were dry but, even so, it would be difficult to chip/putt out of if the ball found one. There were only two small sand traps on the course, on holes 7 and 9. The weather was heavily clouded and in the mid-40s with only a slight breeze on the front nine. A drizzle began just after I started the back nine. Walking is required as there are no electric carts available.

Tee times: None required and not an option on the website.

Course Notes: The Night Hawk Golf Center is privately owned, and its biggest draws are probably the large driving range and miniature golf course. The Par 3 course is likely used primarily by less serious golfers, but it is an option if you want to get a little more confidence in your short game and have just an hour or two. It is a par 54 for 18, is just 1,466 yards long and can be enjoyable to play just for fun. The course is very flat with only two small sand traps, on holes 7 and 9, and no water hazards other than the previously mentioned drainage canals. An unusual feature of the course is its dual use as a footgolf course where the player kicks a soccer ball from the tees to a much larger hole near the greens. White tee markers were located near the tee box mats to start each hole. Blue flags mark each golf hole and near the greens were red flags to mark the much larger footgolf holes. It wasn’t printed in the “local rules” but it’s fair to say that you get a free drop from the footgolf hole.

Having recently played another Par 3 course, I brought only my 8-iron through lob wedge and putter, but only used my pitching wedge, sand wedge, putter and occasionally the 8-iron to chip near the green. The holes range from 57 to 110 yards long. Full wedges, three-quarter wedges and half wedges were pretty much all that was needed. The greens are small and generally sloped to make them interesting. Trees were potentially troublesome on holes 1, 3, 4 and 5 as was the short net along the driving range on the left side of hole 6. Overall, I had two birdies, two double bogies and two triple bogies. One lost ball went into thorn bushes on the left side of hole 5, leading to a triple, and one went over the relatively short driving range fence on the left side of hole 6, leading to a double. Looking at the course, one wouldn’t think about needing to have extra balls – but there were plenty of other balls in both locations, so I wasn’t alone. There is no course rating according to the Maryland State Golf Association website so your score can’t be used in handicap calculations even in season.

Walking is required as there are no motorized cars available to rent. Make sure you bring a scorecard if you haven’t played there before because the map on the back will help you find the next tee box.

Contact Information: nighthawkgolfcenter.com, (410)721-9349

Hole-by-hole

#1 – At 63-yards this is the second shortest hole on the course. The tee box is set back into the trees and branches extend out to hamper high shots to the green. About half way to the green is a drainage ditch that could potentially catch a low shot. Since there were no leaves on the trees, on the front nine I tried to go through the limbs but failed. On the back nine I tried to hit it low and run it up. I made it over the drainage ditch but it ended up well long of the green. Good chipping and putting got me a par and a bogey.

#2 – A 70-yard hole with the tee box in the open and the green nestled back in the trees and slightly elevated. A half pitching wedge for a par and a bogey.

#3 – An 86-yard shot from the trees to the open green. Branches just in front of the tee box were potential problems but didn’t interfere. A half pitching wedge on the front nine fell well short and a three-quarter pitching wedge hit the green and held. Bogeys on both sides.

Hole #1, Night Hawk Golf Center Par 3 course

Night Hawk Golf Center Par 3 course, Hole #2

Night Hawk Golf Center, Green #3

#4 – This 103-yard hole has matured trees/woods down the left with branches jutting out to menace shots directly at the green. A full pitching wedge was able to barely clear the limbs both times, leading to a par and a bogey. Hitting too far to the left will put you into the woods though at the time I wasn’t thinking about that – just on the limbs protecting a direct shot at the green.

#5 – On the front nine, this was the hole where I realized that losing a ball was possible. Down the left side is out-of-bounds, protected by an area of trees, underbrush and thorn bushes. At 90 yards it didn’t appear too difficult until I pulled my tee shot left and ended up with my first triple bogey. Being smarter the second time around, I hit a three-quarter pitching wedge onto the green and two-putted for par.

#6 – The longest hole on the course at 110-yards, the entire left side is the driving range with a fairly short net. The right side of this green slopes hard toward the drainage canal and can be tricky. On the front nine, I chipped on and three-putted for a double bogey. On the back, I pulled my pitching wedge over the netting and into the driving range to lose my second ball. My second tee shot found the green and a two-putt lead to another double bogey.

Hole #4, Night Hawk Golf Center

The 7th Green, Night Hawk Golf Center

Night Hawk Golf Center Hole #8

#7 – A 70-yard hole with a sand trap on the right side of the green and some sawgrass. On the front nine, I hit a half pitching wedge and one-putted for my first birdie. On the back I thought I’d try something different (dumb idea) and hit a three-quarter sand wedge over the green. Two poor chips and a three-putt lead to another triple. This hole and #9 are two of the more visually interesting holes.

#8 – A straight forward 84-yard hole where I managed to miss the green both times, chipped up, and two-putted and three-putted for a bogey and double bogey.

#9 – This 57-yard hole is visually similar to hole #7, with a sand trap and sawgrass on the right side of the green. Half sand wedges resulted in a bogey and the second birdie of the day.

Night Hawk Golf Center Hole #9

#10 to #18 – Replays of the first nine holes, as described above. Since I’d just seen and played the front, you would think that you would be able to play better on the back nine. Often, that doesn’t work out for me, like today shooting a 34 on the front and a 37 on the back.

Summary: Overall, I enjoyed the round. Admittedly, I rushed a little on the back because of the rain. On the plus side, two birdies. On the minus side, two lost balls and the rain. On my next trip there I want to see the course conditions and experiment a little more with various wedges and pitching and chipping options. Let me know about your experience at Night Hawk.

Praise the courses we have. Clayt

January 11, 2026
Course Review – Severna Park Golf Center

Completed scorecard for Severna Park Golf Center, January 2026

Played: January 2026, 18.1 Handicap, Played the one set of tees, Score: 67, Walked, Cost: $17.00 ($0.94 per hole, $0.31 per “par,” and 111 yards for $1.00) – inexpensive. After paying the “replay fee” for my “back nine,” I was told that I could keep playing after 18 – so you can get an even cheaper per hole/per par/per yard rate… Being a very short course, a leisurely 18 holes took 2 hours and 15 minutes. Got a hole-in-one on the third hole.

Conditions: Eight of the nine holes had mats at the tee boxes, but it was obvious that many people used tees in the grass nearby. The greens had been freshly aerated, with large holes, making accurate putting even on short putts challenging, but were soft and receptive to good tee shots. The “fairways” and areas around the greens were in good shape given the season. The sand traps were damp and compacted, and some were a little weedy. The pond in front of the 8^th green was frozen and had numerous balls on the ice.

Tee times: The website made it appear that you could make tee times, but none were shown to be available. It’s possible they turn this function off in the winter. The course is much more likely to need it in the summer. Being suspicious it was the latter, I just drove to the course and only one group was out playing. You can see the entire course from the parking lot. This time of year, walking on will most likely work. During summer weekends, if the website still isn’t taking tee times, you may want to call first.

Course Notes: Severna Park Golf Center is predominantly a very large driving range augmented by a miniature golf course and the nine hole Par 3 golf course, which opened in 1964. Given the nature of the Center, the Par 3 course appears to be played primarily by kids and families. Looking at the satellite imagery and the drawings on the back of the scorecard it looks like it might be a fairly boring course – but it had enough elevation changes, undulations, sloped greens, wind and a pond to keep an old 18 handicapper interested. Everyone else there was carrying either their bags or just a couple of clubs. The only ones that I used were the 8-iron, 9-iron, sand wedge, pitching wedge and putter. Not knowing what to expect, I brought the whole bag of clubs and a pushcart since I’ve only got a “cart bag” and it’s pretty heavy. The holes range from 56 to 128 yards long. Many of the greens are fairly small and have steep edges which can make chipping and putting dramatic. I took a double bogey when my chip didn’t make it far enough up onto the green and rolled back down to its original position. Holes 1, 3, 8 and 9 are the most notable. Hole 1 is from the top of the hill, practically in the parking lot and overlooking the entire course, hitting down into the valley. Holes 3 (56-yards downhill) and 9 (111-yards uphill) share a green, from opposite directions. Hole 8 is a 117-yard carry over a pond. The only trees to get in the way are on the sides of the 5^th, 6^th and possibly 9^th holes. There is no course rating for the course according to the Maryland State Golf Association so your score can’t be used in handicap calculations. Surprisingly, my Voice Caddie T11 had the course in its database and provided yardage (which I generally ignored at my peril) as I played. Local news reports suggest that discussions are underway to potentially sell the property to a developer to build 135 townhomes, so if you want to check this one off your list you may want to get there sooner rather than later.

Contact Information: severnaparkgolf.com, (410)647-8618

Walking: Yes. It’s the only way to get around as there are no motorized cars to rent. And, as it’s a par 54 and short at 1,880 yards, it won’t be nearly as tiring as walking a 5,000 to 6,000-yard course. The course is a little hilly and there is a steep climb/stairs getting on and off the course. A casual round of 18 took just 3,400 steps according to my T11 and was completed in 2 hours 15 minutes.

Hole-by-hole

#1 – A steep downhill tee shot listed at 79-yards, but playing like it is 60 to 65 yards long. There are bunkers in the left front, right front and behind the green. The rear bunker can be putted out of but the front bunkers may need a sand wedge. It’s downhill if you hit it over the rear bunker, which is possible if you hit your 79-yard club well, so you could end up with a long shot back to the green.

#2 – A slightly uphill 98-yard hole with a steep uphill slope behind it to stop any shots too long. There is a sand trap on the left side but it is far enough to the left that it shouldn’t come into play too often. A 90 to 100 yard shot seems about right.

#3 – This 56-yard hole is my new favorite since I got my hole-in-one. Downhill and playing more like 50-yard with a big drop-off on the left side and behind the green – the two placed you don’t want to go. On my “back nine” I went left, chipped up and it rolled back down to my feet, leading to a double bogey. Make sure you get your chips up on the flatter parts of the greens. A few tree branches hang over the left side so watch out if the flag is on the left. Watch out for players on the 9^th tee box shooting at the same green from the other direction. The scorecard indicates that you should have the right-of-way, but not everyone reads the back of the scorecard.

#4 – A straight-forward short 105-yard hole that played downwind at about 95 yards. There is a sand trap on the right front of the green and the green drops off on the left side.

#5 – Measuring 127- yards uphill on the markers, there is a steep uphill behind the green that will bring long shots back down. Short tee shots will not make it to the green. Trees line the right side and there are a few overhanging branches to avoid.   A 120-yard shot seemed about right.

#6 – A 122-yard hole along the back of the course, with trees down the right side and a few overhanging branches to contend with. The one place not to land is in the bunker on the left with a rather steep face and woods close behind the green on the next shot. Took two shots to get out of the dense sand and earned a triple bogey after three putting.

#7 – The longest hole on the course at 128-yards, with two sand traps guarding the front left and front right of the greens. Both appear steep enough to require a sand wedge to get out. Seemed to play about 115 yards downwind.

#8 – Probably the most interesting hole and the hole most likely to take and keep your ball. It is a 117-yard shot over a pond (frozen on this day). There’s plenty of room to the left and right of the green but only water in front and woods if you go too far past. A bunker is to the right rear but doesn’t probably come into play too often. You can get away with a short tee shot but only if it’s 60 to 70 yards long, but then you still have to hit over the pond on the next shot.

#9 – This hole is listed as 111-yards back uphill to a green shared with hole #3. It seemed to play more like 120 to 125-yards into the slight breeze. You’re backstopped by the hill if you hit over the green but shot short of the green will never make it on. Trees along the right side shouldn’t come into play. Watch out for players on hole 3 shooting to the same green from the other side. According to the scorecard, they are supposed to have the right-of-way.

#10 to #18 – Replays of the first nine holes. Since you’ve just seen and played the holes you would think that you would be able to play them better the second time. That didn’t work for me, shooting a 31 on the front and a 36 on the back. Almost all the difference came on holes 3 (hole-in-one versus double bogey) and 6 (bogey versus triple bogey).

Overall, I enjoyed the round. On the plus side, I had the hole-in-one and the weather was good on the “front side.” On the minus side, the wind started to pick up and it got a little chilly on the back side and the greens were freshly aerated. I’ll definitely be back, preferably after the greens have healed and the weather has warmed up, provided it isn’t a new housing development. Praise the courses we have.

January 5, 2026
Course Review – Blue Heron

Blue Heron Golf Course, Stevensville – CQ’s first course in his journey to play all of Maryland’s 100 public courses

Played: Late November 2025, 18.0 Handicap, Played White (middle) tees, Score: 84, Walked, Cost: $20 ($1.11 per hole, $0.24 per “par”) – among the least expensive in Maryland. Few people were on the course so 18 holes went pretty quickly.

Conditions: Greens were heavily top dressed with sand and the grass was being left long to aid in recovery over the winter, making putts slow and very challenging. I had six three-putts, almost always due to not hitting the ball hard enough to get it near the hole on the first putt. Tee boxes were also in rough winter condition but since I used a tee on every hole it didn’t really impact the score. The fairways and rough seemed to be in good condition. 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.

Tee times: None, just walk in, but you may want to call before to make sure there isn’t a tournament or league play. During the summer, there is league play on nine holes at 9am on Mondays and Thursdays and 5pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Course Notes: It’s a pretty par 63 executive course with nine par 3s and nine par 4s, owned and operated by Queen Anne’s County, just across the Bay Bridge on Kent Island. While the course is short it is also fairly tight and there are numerous opportunities to lose balls, most likely in the water but also the woods – so bring plenty of balls. I lost two during this round and three in the round before. The front nine, built in 1959, has holes similar to urban park setups (holes 1, 2, 3 and 6) and some that are more reminiscent of Myrtle Beach with plenty of water and low drainage/swamp areas. Holes 11, 13 and 17 don’t have any water hazards but lost balls are still possible. The rest of the holes on the back all have water potentially in play. The back nine, added in 2002, seems more interesting than the front and features a fairly unique triple green shared by holes 10, 12 and 14. The course was named a Top Ten Short Course in America in 2006.

Contact Information: BlueHeronGolf.org, (410)643-5721

Walking: Yes, as a par 63 executive course it is an excellent walking course totaling just over 4,000 yards from the Blue tees, 3,991 from the Whites and 3,319 from the Reds. All but the 9^th and 16^th greens are adjacent to the next tee box. I completed the latest round in just 6,089 steps as recorded on my Voice Caddie T11 watch.

Hole-by-hole

#1 – A narrow, straight 319-yard par 4 with evergreens along the entire right side of the fairway to keep balls from hitting Romancoke Road. There are a few trees spaced out along the left side separating you from the hole #9 fairway. If you’re going to miss the fairway, that’s the side to miss it on. The priority is to keep the ball in the fairway. I chose a 3 iron, which I hit thin but managed to get close enough to try to hit the green with a 7 iron. You only need to hit a 170 yard drive from the Whites to have less than 150 yards to the center of the green. A small, shallow sand trap guards the front left side of the green. I left the ball just a foot short of the green, putted it to within five feet and sunk the putt for a par. Sadly, the last par I’ll see today. Even par after one.

#2 – A 320-yard dogleg left par 4 that has a little more generous fairway than the first hole. The entire right side is out of bounds (homes) though there is a reasonable amount of room on that side to miss the fairway. Evergreen trees are on the left side up to the dogleg and you have to hit the tee shot at least 150-160 yards, along the left side of the fairway, a little less on the right side, to have any shot at the green. I managed to top a 3 wood to the corner of the dogleg and left a long, partially obstructed, shot at the green. I pushed a 5 iron to the right, leaving the ball on pine straw with the sand trap between me and the green. Chipped over the trap but hit the ball a little too firmly and it rolled off down the other side of the green about 10 feet. Next chip was a little chunky and the ball didn’t make it up the hill and onto the green. Next chip saw the ball roll to about eight feet from the hole. Two putts. Triple bogey. Three over par after two holes. As you will discover, I need to work on those short chips. I suspect most people with an 18 handicap do.

#3

#3 – A 187-yard slightly downhill par 3 with out of bounds (homes) along the right side. Plenty of room to miss on the left. I optimistically hit a 5 iron but swung a little harder and pushed it to the right, nestling up to one of the out of bounds markers/fence post. Had to hit it with a putting stroke to get it away from the fence then chipped it to about five feet from the hole and made the putt to save a bogey. Four over.

#4

#4 – A short 105-yard par 3 over a small pond. The rest of my group splashed their tee shots. I tried to take a little off the pitching wedge since I hit over the green the last time but after watching them, I hit it over the green again. Chipped chunky again and just barely made it onto the green, putted really short of the hole, taking two more putts to get it into the hole for a double bogey. Six over.

#5

#5 – A 287-yard hard left dogleg par 4 with the first shot over water to a landing area and the second over water to the green. Along the left side is water and mature trees but longer hitters may be able to go directly at the green by cutting that corner. Of course, I thought I might be able to carry my 3 wood with a little draw far enough to get in front of the green. Splash. I dropped where my ball crossed the edge of the second water hazard and had 105 yards to the green. My pitching wedge carried the ball to within about eight feet of the hole for a shot at par. Missed it and tapped in for bogey. Seven over.

#6

#6 – A tricky downhill 142-yard par 3 with water on both sides and behind the green, though the water isn’t clearly visible from the tee box. I managed to push a 7 iron to

the right and into the water. Dropped where it crossed, chipped up and two putted for a double bogey. Nine over after six holes.

#7

#7 – A relatively friendly and flat 162-yard par 3 with no real trouble. I hit my 5 iron over the green, chipped to about eight feet and two putted for bogey. Ten over.

#8

#8 – A 160-yard par 3 with a stream running across the “fairway” about 130-yards out – which shouldn’t be in play unless you top the tee shot or hit it fat. The green is up the hill on the other side and obviously slanted towards the front, with the pin in back, making you think you may need to hit a longer club than usual. So, even though I hit my 5 iron over the green on the last hole of about the same length, and even though a chip from the back of the green to a tight flag on a green sharply slopping away from you would normally be the last place you wanted to be hitting your second shot from, I decided to hit my 4 iron. As expected, I hit over the green. I chipped to the fringe and the ball rolled over the lip and down towards the hole stopping about ten feet above the hole. An excellent result followed by another three putt for another double bogey. Twelve over. Ouch.

#9

#9 – A 243-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg to the right near the green. Trees along the right side leading up to the dogleg makes that side of the fairway less desirable for a shot at hitting the green in two and a bunker on the left front of the green is in play for anyone trying to hit their second shot to the front. Anything 170-200 yards in the fairway should be an easy par, if the greens were in normal summer conditions. I hit a 3 wood into the right rough close enough to chip using a pitching wedge. The ball landed in the fairway in front of the green, rolled through a shallow hole for a sprinkler head, and lipped out to stop about six inches from the hole. Tap in for birdie. An eleven over 42 after nine holes. One birdie, one par, three bogies, three double bogies and one triple bogey on the front.

#10

#10 – A 323-yard dogleg right par 4 with water along the left side and trees on the right to keep you from hitting into the par 3 11^th hole. From the whites, you need to hit the drive at least 190 yards on one of the wider fairways to get a clear shot at the green or you’ll need to hit over the trees to a green you can’t see. If you hit it more than about 250 you’ll run out of fairway and likely have an awkward sidehill lie for your second shot. This is the first of the three holes that share one large green. Water is both short right and long left of the green. I hit what I thought was a descent drive with a 3 wood but didn’t clear the last tree on the right and had to hit my second over a tree with a 9 iron. Even though I made it there in two, I managed a three putt after pushing a short second putt to the right. Bogey and twelve over.

#11

#11 – A 133-yard par 3, with the pin in the back and playing more like 143 yards. Two sand traps protect the front right of the green but the hole was in the back so they weren’t really in play. Pulled my 7 iron to the left of the green, chipped up and two putted for a bogey and 13 over.

#12

#12 – A 130-yard par 3 over water with the pin up at about 110 yards. Only misses to the left where a sand track lurks will keep your ball dry. I hit the green with a 9 iron but was long left with a big downhill putt. Again, I hit the first putt way too soft for the winter greens and left it way short. Another three putt for another bogey. 14 over.

#13

#13 – A 286-yard slight dogleg right par 4 with no water and a relatively wide fairway. Woods line the right side and the 14^th fairway is to the left over the berms and a few trees. A sand trap short of the green will be in play for those hitting 240 or more from the Whites. You can get blocked from a direct shot at the green by the trees if you hit your drive too far right. I hit my 3 wood to about 75 yards left then hit a “too good” directly over the flag and off the back of the green. Chipped back and two putted for another bogey and 15 over.

#14

#14 – A 309-yard par 4 with water and woods along the right side and water across the fairway about 230-240 yards out so you may not want to hit your driver if hitting it that far might be a concern. The 13^th fairway is along the left side but trees between the holes and protecting the far left side of the water hazard makes a shot to the green from that side difficult. I hit my 4 wood to the center of the fairway leaving about 140 yards to the center of the green. The flag was on the back left near its connection with the 12^th. I hit my 6 iron a little left and landed in the rough near where the two greens connected. I chipped to within seven feet, just missed the putt and tapped in for bogey. 16 over par with four holes to go.

#15 – A 148-yard par 3 with the right side sloping down to water/woods/trouble. I hit a 6 iron 156 yards and went just off the back. Chipped to about five feet and two putted for a bogey and 17 over par.

#16

#16 – A 300-yard par 4 with water along the right side on the drive. On the left side from 150-250 yards out if hole number 10 and enough trees to make a good shot at the green difficult.

#15

It is possible to cross the water on the right and play towards the green on the 17^th hole as one of my playing partners tried with limited success. I hit my 3-wood just 178 yards into the trees on the left and had to punch a low 7 iron towards the green, rolling to about 15 yards short. A poor chip left me with a very long putt which I only got about halfway to the hole. Two more putts and I had a double bogey and 19 over par with just two holes to go.

#17

#17 – A 133-yard par 3 with a sand trap front left and water behind but not too close. Pin was in the back right. Woods and swamp to the right of the green but plenty of room to miss on the left. I hit an 8 iron onto the front left of the green. Putted about two thirds of the way to the hole, missed the seven-foot second putt and tapped in for bogey. Twenty over par and my sixth three putt of the day.

#18

#18 – A tight 304-yard par 4 with water down the left side and out of bounds down the right and a small pond in front of the tee box. I hit what is normally my trusty 4-wood, aiming to get it anywhere in the fairway but pushed it right to just inside the out of bounds marker/fence. I was blocked from shooting at the green by a row of trees between the fairway and cart path. Rather than chipping out to the fairway since my backswing that direction would be impeded by the fence, I chose to hit it down the right side toward the trap on the right side of the green. My 7-iron landed just past the sand trap and bounced right down to the cart path. I took a drop from the path, chipped it just short of the green, chipped to about two feet from the hole and tapped it in. I finished the round 21 over par on a par 63 course. Not my best scoring round.

Based upon the course difficulty, a 21 over par would be a good round for someone with a 28.7 handicap. I would have expected a lower score, but I’m not golfing to improve my handicap. I’m at Blue Heron to enjoy the outdoors, the scenery and to occasionally hit a good shot. Even with less than ideal green conditions I’d play this course again and would recommend it to others.

December 21, 2025