Renditions GC
Davidsonville, MD (20 miles outside DC, W shore of Chesapeake Bay)
T&L Golf, Feb/Mar 2004
OldDominionGolf.com
Directions:
From Philly: 95S to 301S to Annapolis, then Rt 50W for a cpl exits, look for signs
From Baltimore - take I-97S to Rt 50W towards D.C. approximately 4.2 mi, exit Rt 424. Proceed south to Davidsonville. Then take Rt 214W approx 2.4 mi. Entrance is on the right, just before the Patuxent River Bridge.
'02 Fees: $79 Wkdy, $89, Wknd Ride
Note: Renditions is a member of Tee Time Golf Pass, with some significant discounts
Tee times 7 days in advance
Almost Augusta
From T&L Golf Feb/Mar 2004:
"...just like battling the swirling winds of Augusta's 12th at this do-or-die one-shotter. The surroundings are a bit bare, but the terrain is spot-on."
From OldDominionGolf.com: For those seeking the 'Grand Slam Experience' without the travel hassles, there's a pretty darn good imitation just a short drive away-Renditions Golf Course. Renditions will open its tee boxes next April, offering public golfers a chance to play legendary golf holes without sacrificing a lung to receive the privilege.
The course offers 'Golf's Grand Slam Experience' by replicating 18 famous golf holes from legendary courses in the U.S. and British Isles-all of which have played host to at least 1 of golf's 4 majors (and the 'The Players Championship,' known widely as golf's '5th' major). It includes simulations of Augusta National's Amen Corner, the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass and three links-style British Open holes (amongst others)
Set in an abandoned salt & gravel mine. It's got some open land, stands of trees and wetlands-it was ripe for environmental reclamation after 60 years of pretty heavy industrial use.
Renditions' principles built exact replicas of these famous holes to as close as plus or minus six inches from the real thing.
The devil's in the details. "We really try hard to make it look exactly the same. Where there's a dogwood, we'll put a dogwood. Where there's a pine, we'll put a pine. We'll put in azaleas as well (and other flowering plants for the rest of the season). We'll do whatever we possibly can to make the holes look as close as feasible to what you'd see if you actually went there."
"They're extremely close--by using aerial photography, the distance of the holes is very accurate and the positioning of bunkers and hazards is fairly easy to adapt to. I'm not saying that if you walk the course you'd swear you were in Scotland or Georgia, but it's a pretty tight approximation."
As a result, holes from The Country Club, Inverness, Oakmont and Winged Foot await you in Davidsonville, Maryland-in addition to those mentioned above.
Renditions will also carry the themed golf experience beyond the fairways. The brand new clubhouse is designed to look much older, dating back to the era when Bobby Jones won the 'Grand Slam' in 1930.
Best Bar Nearby: Per the Washington Post, "Renditions's gimmick is that it's essentially a greatest hits course, containing reproductions of holes from legendary sites like Augusta National, Carnoustie and the TPC at Sawgrass. The 'caddies' who help you get carts to and from your car wear plus-fours and newsboy caps.
Unsurprisingly, the bar also plays up the game's history -- it's dedicated to the men who've won the Grand Slam of the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Old photos, magazine covers and newspaper front pages cover the walls of the lounge, which tries to mix a country-club atmosphere with a small, traditional pub.
Annapolis's Fordham Copperhead Ale is available on draft; the top burger is the Blue Onion -- angus beef mixed with cracked pepper, and topped with melted blue cheese and one of the restaurant's delicious onion rings. This was one of the few courses to serve me a beer in a proper pint glass, but if you want to go sit on the patio at this Anne Arundel club, you need to ask for a plastic cup."
Where To Grub:
Fat Guy Recommendations: Just a few exits south on Rt 50 is the convivial harbor of Annapolis, home of the U.S. Naval Academy and one of the quaintest towns in America. I ate a couple of the better dishes I've ever had at Middleton Tavern (2 Market Space, 410-263-3323, www.middletontavern.com). Just steps from the harbor, with a colonial setting circa 1740 (Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin were regular patrons when riding Middleton's ferry from Rock Hill), and a roaring fireplace complimenting perfect Maryland crab soup with 5 or 6 gargantuan claw meat chunks. The filet Oscar was one of the most flavorful steaks I've ever had, just magnificent. My buddy Tom also recommends Buddy's Crabs for a celebrity fave crab spot with second floor views overlooking the harbor. Or, Travel Channel ranks Chick & Ruth's Delly (www.chickandruths.com) as their #57 place to chowdown for 2010, for what's likely the world's largest menu milkshake. Groups of 5 or 6 Navy cadets often struggle to polish off their 6 pound milkshake ($16.50).
Further Distractions: Tour the U.S. Naval Academy, get your inheritance-envy on while taking in all the yachts on the harbor, or shop in Annapolis' rich collection of anti-chain boutiques, antique stores, ice cream parlors, etc.