Waverly Woods GC
Woodstock, MD (about 45 minutes outside Baltimore)
1997, Arthur Hills
Black 7024, 73.1, 132, 72
Blue 6602, 71.4, 129, 72
White 6304, 70.4, 124, 72
Directions: From DC, take I-95 N to Rt 32 W to Rt 29 N to I-70 W, to Exit 83 and travel N 0.2 miles, turn right at Warwick Wy, proceed 1/3 mile to clubhouse on the left.
Fees: ~$64 Wknd, ~$47 Wkdy
Golfcourse.com Review: This forest-surrounded course has wide fairways, so golfers must be sure not to hit too far astray, else they'll be searching for their balls in the deep, dark woods. The rolling topography makes tee shots a breeze, but small greens demand accurate approaches.
Golfcourse.com Avg. Player Review: 3.5/5.0 Some mixed reviews, although most agreed it is a great layout in excellent condition with hard, fast greens. Some bitched about pace of play when path only rules are in place for carts, runs tight through a housing development with long distances green to tee, making walking difficult. Several references to this being a $45 course charging $72 Weekends. One guy said the snack bar chicks were great looking. A couple people bitched about the staff. With some blind tee shots, they say you'll play this a few strokes better after you've been around it a couple times.
Best Bar Nearby, Baltimore: Inner Harbor tourist faves include authentic Irish pub chain Tir Na Nog, Hooters, and uber-sportsbar ESPN Zone. Baltimore's 2 main bar districts are Fell's Point, one of the original urban-rennesiance projects and a beehive of mixed crowds, and Federal Hill, home of the Yuppie-crowd-gone-somewhat-blue-collar. Bohager's (701 S. Eden) is a classic Fell's Point indoor/outdoor meat market. OR, you gotta try the crab dip at Looney's in Canton. 3 blocks from the Inner Harbor you'll find Baltimore's best Gentlemen's club, Larry Flint's Hustler Club (409 E Baltimore, www.hustlerclubs.com). Voted as the #1 Gentlemen's club chain in the country by Exotic Dancer magazine, and also Baltimore's #1 club by the readers of local City Paper (www.citypaper.com ). Or hit the Baltimore outpost of the Scores chain of Gentlemen's clubs (615 Fallsway, 410-528-1117). For a list of City Paper's readers choice winners for 2006, go to http://www.citypaper.com/bob/story.asp?id=12673.
Where To Grub: Phillip's Crab House brings it's Ocean City tradition to the Inner Harbor. Great steamed MD blue crabs, great seafood, and some of the best warm sourdough rolls on the planet. OR, Kathy L. recommends Obrycki's Crab House (1727 E. Pratt). A half block from the Inner Harbor, hit a meat lover's paradise at Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao. Amtrak's Arrive Magazine recommends Ixia (518 N. Charles St., www.ixia-online.com) a "pillow-talk-reclining dining" experience. Eye candy abounds, from the chic urban clientele to the electric-hued art prints. Then there's the assortment of Italian-designed lounge furniture, including 2 Queen-sized beds upholstered in silver metallic and red snakeskin. The decor resembles a modernized version of a 40's supper club. On Sundays, try breakfast in bed with tempura Chilean sea bass and scrambled eggs in Thai yellow curry sauce. The live Jazz brunch is served 11:00-3:00. Or you can barely go wrong with most of the fantastic Italian restaurants in Little Italy, near the Fell's Point bar district.
Further Distractions: You gotta hit a ballgame at Camden Yards. I've always said that a little piece of God lives there. The first of the throwback baseball parks built in the modern era, and to my mind still the best of that ilk. Hit Boog Powell's BBQ while you're there.