There are several golf courses near Deep Creek Lake MD. People may not realize that a popular attraction in the deep creek area is golfing and there are many local courses to help you have a great golf outing.
Best Golf Courses Near Deep Creek Lake MD
Deep Creek Lake is Maryland’s largest freshwater lake. Golf enthusiasts will find several picturesque and challenging courses in the vicinity, providing an excellent opportunity to enjoy a day on the greens amidst beautiful scenery. With a range of courses to choose from, east coast golfers of all skill levels can find a course that meets their preferences and abilities.
Deep Creek Lake is located in western Maryland. It is approximately 180 to 200 miles from Washington, D.C. The drive typically takes around 3 to 3.5 hours, but this can vary based on traffic conditions and your specific starting and end point.
Oakland Golf Club – Top Choice
Oakland Golf Club is about 20 minutes south of Deep Creek Lake in the town of Oakland, Maryland. This 18-hole course has a mix of challenging play and scenic beauty. The course’s landscape includes rolling terrains, strategically placed hazards, and scenic views.
The course has a rich history, with its origin dating back to the 1930s. Over the years, it has seen various upgrades and renovations, but it still retains some of its original charm. Being situated in Garrett County, Maryland, the golf course benefits from the region’s scenic beauty, characterized by dense forests, rolling hills, and picturesque landscapes. This course has six par 5s, six par 4s, and six par 3s. Reviewers have stated that it is a tough but fair course.
One notable aspect of the Oakland Golf Course is that it’s a public golf course, meaning you don’t have to be a member to play. The club typically offers standard golfing amenities such as a pro shop, practice facilities, and more. This is a great course and will be an ultimate highlight for golfers looking for a unique experience.
The Annual Western Maryland Amateur Tournament is a golf tournament held at the Oakland Golf Club in Oakland, MD. The event usually draws a mix of local golfers and those from surrounding areas. The tournament typically uses a stroke-play format over two days, and golfers are grouped into various flights based on their handicaps to ensure competitive balance. It’s an amateur championship, so participants are usually required to have an established USGA handicap. This ensures that players are grouped appropriately based on skill level.
Thousand Acres Golf Club – Top Choice
Thousand Acres Golf Club is located in the Deep Creek Lake area of Maryland. Specifically, it’s situated on the eastern side of the lake. Craig Schreiner, ASGCA, designed this championship golf course. At a par of 72, the course stretches out to 7232 yards from the longest tees, and include five sets of tees making it a great game for every golfer.
The distance from various points around Deep Creek Lake to Thousand Acres Golf Club can vary, but generally, you’re looking at a drive of just a few minutes to perhaps 20 minutes at most if you’re coming from the opposite side of the lake or from central locations like McHenry.
Thousand Acres Golf Course is integrated into the Thousand Acres community. This means that many of the properties and homes within the community might have views of the golf course, or even direct access to the fairways. While the golf course is open to the public, being a resident of the Thousand Acres community offers the convenience of living close to the course, making it easier for golf enthusiasts to enjoy regular rounds of golf.
Lodestone Golf Club
Lodestone Golf Club is one of the highest-rated golf courses near Deep Creek Lake. The course was co-designed by Hale Irwin, a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee and three-time U.S. Open champion. It has breathtaking views of the mountains due to its location on top of Wisp Mountain.
Lodestone Golf Course has 18-hole championship golf course. The course is characterized by its challenging design, with large sweeping fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and undulating greens. It’s a course that requires strategic play, and its diverse layout ensures that golfers of various skill levels will find it both challenging and enjoyable.
In addition to 18 holes of championship golf, Lodestone has beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The conditions here are well maintained and feature Bermuda grass and bentgrass greens to ensure top-notch playing conditions.
Lodestone Golf Club is located in the Wisp Resort complex in McHenry, Maryland, near Deep Creek Lake. Wisp Resort is a mountain gem that offers a range of recreational activities, including skiing, snowboarding, golfing, and more. This nearby resort hotel is where guests can stay and enjoy easy access to the golf course as well as the other amenities and activities offered by Wisp Resort. From scenic mountaintop views to a world class golf experience, this will be a great experience for people of all golfing skills.
Fantasy Valley Golf Course
Formerly known as Wisp Resort Golf Course, Fantasy Valley is located on Marsh Hill Road at the base of Wisp Resort in McHenry, Maryland. The challenging course has been known for its challenging layout amidst mountainous terrain, with scenic views and a variety of holes that cater to different skill levels. It is about 4 miles from the Lodestone Golf Course.
One of the defining characteristics of this 18 hole golf course is its tree-lined fairways. The wooded landscape not only adds to the course’s beauty but also presents golfers with added challenges, demanding precision and strategy. In recent years reviews have stated that the course conditions are not as well maintained as they once were.
In addition to the 18-hole main course, Fantasy Valley typically offers practice facilities, including a driving range and putting greens. A pro shop is also available, offering golf gear, equipment, and other essentials.
Fantasy Valley operates as a public course, so golfers don’t need a membership to play. That said, they might offer memberships or packages for frequent players or guests of Wisp Resort. Its location at Wisp Resort means that golf is just one of the many recreational activities available. Depending on the season, visitors can also engage in skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and more.
Preston Country Club
Preston Country Club is located in Kingwood, West Virginia, and is about 40 minutes from Deep Creek Maryland. While country clubs traditionally operate on a private membership basis, some also offer opportunities for public play or host public events. You’d need to check with Preston Country Club directly to understand their current offerings, membership packages, and any opportunities for non-members to play.
Rocky Gap Casino Resort
Rocky Gap Casino Resort is a popular destination located in Flintstone, Maryland. This is about a one hour drive from Deep Creek Maryland. Set in the scenic Rocky Gap State Park, it offers a mix of recreational activities, entertainment, and relaxation opportunities.
One of the main attractions at Rocky Gap is its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. This 18-hole mountain golf course. The course has yards of beautiful scenery and challenges suitable for all levels of golfers. It meanders through picturesque valleys and around the mountainous terrains of Western Maryland.
The casino at Rocky Gap offers a range of gaming options including slot machines, table games like blackjack, roulette, and poker, as well as occasional special gaming events and promotions.
In addition to the casino, Rocky Gap Casino Resort also has a full service spa, friendly staff, and several dining options. This will be a great time not just for golf enthusiasts but for their partners and children as well. Visitors can kayak, canoe, and also go fishing.
Alpine Lake Resort
Alpine Lake Resort is a serene destination located in the hills of Terra Alta, West Virginia. It is about a 40 minute drive from Deep Creek, Maryland.
Alpine Lake has an 18-hole golf course with a picturesque setting, challenging golfers of all skill levels against a backdrop of West Virginia’s natural beauty. In addition to golf, this 3 start resort also has other things to do besides golf.
The resort provides various accommodation options, from hotel rooms to vacation rentals. Given its lakeside location, the resort offers numerous recreational opportunities, such as fishing, swimming, hiking and boating.
Best Golf Courses Near Deep Creek Lake MD
The mountains of western Maryland has abundant wildlife, beautiful natural surroundings and many great opportunities for golfers to play courses with amazing views. In fact, the Deep Creek golf courses are one of Maryland’s best-kept secrets. Some of the best golf courses near Deep Creek Lake Maryland include Thousand Acres Golf Club, Oakland Golf Club, and Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort.
