Maryland golf: Blue Mash or Waverly Woods

[johnnybogey]

hey guys,

 

Making our annual trip down to Maryland to visit in laws. Have time for one round of golf. Which would you guys recommend?

 

Blue Mash

 

or

 

Waverly Woods

 

Played waverly last year so leaning towards blue mash but wanted to hear thoughts from those who regularly play these tracks and hear your thoughts.

 

Plan to give each a ring to see if greens are currently being aerated.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

You can't go wrong with either one. It's almost like picking your favorite child!! They are owned by the same ownership, so both are very well run and in great condition.

Blue Mash has an incredible stretch of opening holes, maybe the toughest 3 opening holes in the area, seriously. Good call on calling ahead, for aeration possibilities.

Given that you have played Waverly I might go with Blue Mash, but if that was your first time at Waverly last year, you probably remember thinking afterward. Man if I knew hole 3 kicked that hard to the right, or I should lay back a bit off the tee on 12, I could have scored better. Waverly is definitely a tough go round the first time.

Blue Mash is a bit more straight forward, not any real blind shots or course secrets you should know. Both have outstanding practice facilities.

It's really a tough call, Waverly is my home course, but in your case, I might go Blue Mash this time.

Have a great time and let us know how it goes.

[boomer234]

Though I haven't played Waverly, you can't go wrong with Blue Mash. Uncommonly for courses of its price in the DC area, there are no squirrelly/tricked up holes (except maybe #8). If you play there, make sure to warm up with your long irons because the first four holes may all require them. Then you get a nice break until 11, and another break until 16 and 17.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='boomer234' timestamp='1374802067' post='7540764']
Though I haven't played Waverly, you can't go wrong with Blue Mash. Uncommonly for courses of its price in the DC area, there are no squirrelly/tricked up holes (except maybe #8). If you play there, make sure to warm up with your long irons because the first four holes may all require them. Then you get a nice break until 11, and another break until 16 and 17.
[/quote]
I almost said toughest 4 hole opening stretch, but after hitting driiver,FW om No 3. Being able to ht a 5 or 6 iron on no.4 is a bit of a relief.

Of course then you have an uphill approach in the Par 5, 5th as well, but at least that's a wedge.

For me the first real relief comes on 6. Whew!!!

We shouldn't even tell him about the closing stretch of 16, 17 and 18. Ha what a killer stretch there as well.

Just a fantastic course.

Oh and if these things matter, Blue Mash definitely has the edge in the 19th hole talent department as wel!

[johnnybogey]

Ok guys. All set for blue mash. Really looking forward to it and thanks for your input.

Will report cam with my score and thoughts on the opening three holes. Lol. Should be interesting.

[boomer234]

It's not like they are the hardest holes in the world but pars are good scores. Make sure to aim for the left side of the green on both #1 and #2 as all the trouble is on the right, and the opposite for #3.

[johnnybogey]

Got it. Thanks for the tips boomer. If par is good for you guys, double should be good for me.

Looks like the forecast is clearing up too. Should be great weather for a round.

[eagle1997]

blue mash: you won't be disappointed. i'm in the monday men's league there and conditions have been superb this entire year. the little break in temps will allow the greens to be watered less, and they should speed up a little bit (they were a little spongy this past monday).

[b]some of the 'secrets' of blue mash:[/b]
#1. you can miss as much as 30 yards short and left of the green on your approach, and it will kick down the hill, leaving a relatively simply up and down.
#2. playing from #3 fairway to #2 green isn't a bad thing. yes, it's a partially blind shot, but it opens up the green (to a degree) and is so much better than hacking it out from the weedy hill that is on the right side of the fairway.
#5. there is a speed slot down the left side of the fairway that will propel your ball forward and back toward the center. of course, this brings the left trees into play.
#6. always plays a half-club longer for some reason.
#7 & #8. they dare you to go for it. don't. play down the right side, hit it on the green and GTFO. par is a very good score on both of these short par 4s.
#9. you can miss big time to the right. miss slightly left, and you're wet.
#10. pin placement is key to club selection. there is a huge ridge that bisects the green. also, if you go over, or right, grab a ball.
#11. anywhere on this green is a great shot. and if the wind is blowing, anywhere dry is a very good shot.
#12. anything to the right is doneski. you can get there in 2, but aim at the cluster of greenside bunkers on the approach and hit a little cut or very left side of the green. you want no part of the right side.
#14. the farther you hit it, the better. take all the fairway bunkers out of play with a driver off that tee.
#15. there are a few hidden bunkers if you try to cut the corner of the dogleg. aim left and pick a club that won't reach the woods. i usually try to take it just right of the 150 stake (white tipped marker) and hit 3w to 125-145 in.
#16. good luck.
#17. plays 1/2 to 1 club more than distance. again, anywhere on this green is a good shot.
#18. a fun par 5 finishing hole. add a full club on the approach.

#19. the bartenders (and cart girls) are very nice, and very nice to look at. if you see a buxom brunette, become a honorary capitals/nationals fan and she will take the time to chat you up.

enjoy!

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='Carolina Golfer 2' timestamp='1374803979' post='7541046']
[quote name='boomer234' timestamp='1374802067' post='7540764']
Though I haven't played Waverly, you can't go wrong with Blue Mash. Uncommonly for courses of its price in the DC area, there are no squirrelly/tricked up holes (except maybe #8). If you play there, make sure to warm up with your long irons because the first four holes may all require them. Then you get a nice break until 11, and another break until 16 and 17.
[/quote]
I almost said toughest 4 hole opening stretch, but after hitting driiver,FW om No 3. Being able to ht a 5 or 6 iron on no.4 is a bit of a relief.

Of course then you have an uphill approach in the Par 5, 5th as well, but at least that's a wedge.

For me the first real relief comes on 6. Whew!!!

We shouldn't even tell him about the closing stretch of 16, 17 and 18. Ha what a killer stretch there as well.

Just a fantastic course.

Oh and if these things matter, Blue Mash definitely has the edge in the 19th hole talent department as wel!
[/quote]
Seems so simple on paper doesn't it

[boomer234]

Good advice on #7 and #8 which are both birdie holes IF you lay up correctly (though I rarely see birdies there because the greens are tricky). On #8 take a club that goes 10-15 more yards than you expect to need to clear the bunker on your layup. The tee shot is a bit uphill, the bunker angles leftward so anything on that side will need more distance, and the fairway is banked so you don't need to worry as much as you might think about blowing it through. From the back tee it's about 200 to clear the bunker but I try to hit a 220 shot right at the 100 yard marker.

On 16, you might want to be careful about your tee shot if you are playing from the forward tees. Last time I played the blues 3 out of 4 people hit it through the fairway on the right side.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='boomer234' timestamp='1374865117' post='7545220']
Good advice on #7 and #8 which are both birdie holes IF you lay up correctly (though I rarely see birdies there because the greens are tricky). On #8 take a club that goes 10-15 more yards than you expect to need to clear the bunker on your layup. The tee shot is a bit uphill, the bunker angles leftward so anything on that side will need more distance, and the fairway is banked so you don't need to worry as much as you might think about blowing it through. From the back tee it's about 200 to clear the bunker but I try to hit a 220 shot right at the 100 yard marker.

On 16, you might want to be careful about your tee shot if you are playing from the forward tees. Last time I played the blues 3 out of 4 people hit it through the fairway on the right side.
[/quote]
#16...or you could just play with PuppetMaster and watch him launch a nice 300 yard draw of a bomb over those bunkers and have a nice little wedge in. #Stupidlong

[johnnybogey]

Awesome. Thanks for the hole by hole tips. Will definitely refer to this post prior to teeing off.

As for the 19th, wearing a ny mets hat probably not a good idea huh?

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='johnnybogey' timestamp='1374868000' post='7545550']
Awesome. Thanks for the hole by hole tips. Will definitely refer to this post prior to teeing off.

As for the 19th, wearing a ny mets hat probably not a good idea huh?
[/quote]
Your Mets Blue will be fine, as long as your cash is green

And truthfully, you are really in between right there. Oriolesl fans can't find there way past I-695 and National fans, have already given up on this year and are waitng for the Redskins season to start!!

[johnnybogey]

Had a great time playing this course. The course was excellent. Extremely challenging with tight fairways on some holes. Even with the great advice I received in this thread I still struggling. Frustrating part was the countless number I times I hit my driver straight as an arrow only to find that it went through the fairway to the other side and into the rough.

We played our round in 4.5 hours which was great. Marshall even came up to us and reminded us of the pace of play. The group behind us was a hole behind. I wasn't annoyed as he was very nice about it.

Overall, great facility. My brother in law lives about 20 minutes away so very convenient.

Thanks again for the tips and hope to get out there again sometime.

On a side note, we went to arundel hills mall in Sunday. I can't believe you can exit the mall, take a short walk across to a casino. LOL.

[eagle1997]

glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for the course report. give me a heads up next time you are in town and have room for a 4th. i promise i won't make too many 'karate kid' jokes.

SWEEP THE LEG, JOHNNY!

or

http://gethimabodybag.ytmnd.com/

(note: turn down your volume before clicking the link)

[johnnybogey]

Eagle. Lol. Nice link.

Will let you know the next time I venture down to MD. We got partnered with two guys who worked for dept of defense. Guess you get a lot of government employees in that area.