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 8th 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 5th, 6th and possibly 9th 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 9th 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.