Marlton Golf Club
Location » Upper Marlboro, Md.
Phone » (301-856-7566
Fees » Monday-Friday $41; Saturday-Sunday $50
Par/Yardage/Rating/Slope
71/6181/69.9/122
Conditions » 1
Layout » 3
Facilities » 3
Value » 3
* Out of a possible five golf balls
Description » Formerly Brandywine Country Club, the course closed in 1978 and was dormant for nearly two decades before KemperSports changed the name and revived it. It’s a short course with large, flat greens. Difficulty comes in the form of large bunkers, forced carries and elevation change.
Reasons to play » There are two distinct nines at Marlton, separated by a sprawling, semi-circular driving range, which has its own parking lot, as well as putting and chipping greens. Marlton winds through a massive housing development but most holes are tree-lined instead of fronted by homes.
Conditional love » Many areas of the course, especially those that don’t receive much air circulation, are roped off. Some tees are bare, others have ankle-high grass. Many fairways are in poor condition. Surroundings are often rocky. Greens aren’t in as bad shape — slow but true.
Irritants » Yardage and cart paths are poorly marked. Because of the scruffy condition of the fairways, small plates at 50-yard increments are hard to spot. A simple and cheap solution: Spray paint direction arrows and yardage on cart paths. It would clear up confusion and speed up play.
Toughest hole » No. 5, par 4, 421 yards
The dogleg right is the lengthiest par 4 at Marlton and plays significantly longer as players get little roll, hitting into an upslope. The approach is uphill again, to a diagonal green protected on the right by one of Marlton’s sprawling bunkers. Two tough shots, especially for those who play right to left.
Best hole » No. 18, par 5, 501 yards
After three tight, tree-lined holes that can haunt claustrophobics, No. 18 is a revelation, a rare, straightaway par 5 in which players can see the entire hole from the elevated tee. The tee shot is nicely framed by a large oak on the left and a bunker on the right. Any attempt to lay up is complicated by a massive fairway bunker.
Charitable hole » No. 6, par 4, 375 yards
On many tee shots at Marlton, players are forced to consider steep slopes. Fortunately, most of them will funnel shots in the desired direction. The best example is the saddle-shaped fairway at No. 6, where shots left and right will kick toward the center.
Signature hole » No. 17, par 3, 169 yards
The longest and most challenging par 3 at Marlton plays over a large pond and is framed by trees in a setting apart from the rest of the course. Attractive stone wall separates water from the green, as is the case at No. 2, another beautiful par 3 at Marlton.
Prettiest hole » No. 10, par 4, 382 yards
There are some stellar green sites at Marlton, such as Nos. 2 and 14. But the best is at No. 10, a dogleg right playing downhill to a narrowing fairway and a small green surrounded by offset trees and vegetation.
