Next time you’re heading to College Park for a University of Maryland football game, make it a full-day trip and check out Paint Branch Golf Course. The nine-hole course is designed to be played in fewer than two hours. The course is all par 3s and 4s, with the longest hole covering 347 yards from the white tees. It’s perfect for beginners and groups playing before or after work. Since the course plays between 1,635 and 2,035 yards, it forces golfers to select the right club at every tee. The course features a driving range, which is visible from University Boulevard — the main highway leading to Comcast Center and Byrd Stadium. Tee times are not available by reservation, as it’s first-come, first-serve.
- Address: 4690 University Boulevard, College Park 20740
- Phone: 301-935-0330
- Cost: (call pro shop for updated rates)
- Nine holes: $13-$26
- Yardage: From Red: 1,635; From White: 1,816; From Blue: 2,035
Best Hole: No. 9. Running parallel to No. 1, the 219-yard, par 4 is reachable from the tee for even the average hitters. But beware of the water hazard on the left of the fairway and the bunkers guarding both sides of the green.
Hardest Hole: No. 1. The 347-yard, par 4 is the course’s longest, and features a pond on the right side of the fairway, which can pose a problem for golfers with short, inaccurate drives. Big hitters, however, can reach the green in two with ease.
Keep an eye on: Fellow golfers. The scorecard reminds players the course can be played in one hour, 32 minutes. Pace is important at Paint Branch because tee-times are first-come, first-serve.
Plan on losing this many balls: 1-3. Water comes into play on three holes, and you’re more likely to find your ball in the woods than in the water. The course is beginner-friendly, so average golfers might not lose any equipment.
REPORT CARD
(score out of seven)
- Difficulty: 4.5
- Scenery: 5.5
- Atmosphere: 6
- Overall: 5.5
