If you read my previous review about Glen Riddle's Man O' War, you're probably expecting more of the same. You couldn't be more wrong. The War Admiral Course at Glen Riddle Golf Club is an excellent course, in excellent condition, with incredible challenges, and some stunning views.
(A view of the 18th green from the fairway. This shot requires a 150 yard carry over water)
Glen Riddle Golf Club, War Admiral: The Course
Although it shares the same clubhouse and facilities as its sister course, Man O' War, War Admiral is a far superior facility. We decided to play the Blue Tees which offer 6,390 yards of challenging club selection as well as a rating/slope of 71.0/135. This course will challenge any golfer who decides to take it on.
The front 9 is carved through some wooded area and it isn't until you get to number 9 that you see the change in the layout. Water becomes a factor on the majority of the holes moving forward and there is little room for error. Forced carries, layups, OB and hazards make club selection as important as ball striking. Fortunately the carts come with GPS which I recommend you trust, the yardage given to carry and to layup is valuable!
(The first hole is the #1 handicap. A 589 yard par 5 with water along the left and woods guarding the right)
(A view of the 9th green from the fairway. From the edge of the fairway the carry is about 135 yards to the green)
The Par 3's
The course has 4 par 3's, two on the front and two on the back. With the exception of the 10th hole, the par 3's are straightforward and play at reasonable lengths. The 4th hole is a 160 yard par 3 and the 7th plays at 145 yards. Both are fairly straightforward but wind can play a factor.
(7th hole is a tree lined 145 yard par 3 with bunkers guarding the front)
On the backside, the 17th hole might be one of the easiest holes you encounter all day. It's the 18 handicap hole and plays 136 yards straightaway. I did manage to find a bunker short right but that was due to a poorly struck ball. The 10th hole is a beautiful par 3 and one of the more intimidating shots you have on the course. It's 188 yards of all carry to reach the rather small green. A bunker guards the right side as if this green needed more protection.
(The 188 yard, par 3, 10th hole will make your knees weak)
What Else
The course is a private course and you can tell by the conditions it gets less play than Man O' War. The greens roll very true and my friend who played at Whitemarsh Valley said this course was equally as difficult. Missing the fairway here left you in some gnarly rough or dropping your ball due to hazard.
The course was a little soggy which was odd since we had no rain. Perhaps they were over watering it to compensate for the dry spell we were going through or they need to work on the drainage system. It wasn't terrible but it was noticeable in some fairways.
(The 330 yard 14th hole is a par 3 requiring a safe tee shot and carry to the green. I donated a ball here)
It looks like there will continue to build houses on this property. It could add to the scenery and make it even more challenging. Some of the homes along here are really beautiful and it looks like a fairly new community.
What WAM Thinks
I think this is a great golf course that is worth playing any chance you get. The challenging combined with the conditions and the beauty really make for an enjoyable experience (or frustrating if your not playing well). Although I mentioned how tough it is, there are a few scoring holes like #11, a 297 par 4 and #6, a 335 par 4.
If you only have time to play one of the Glen Riddle Courses, I highly recommend this be the course you play! If you have a golf group with some good golfers and some who don't play regularly, don't be afraid to split the group between Man O' War and War Admiral to make it enjoyable for everyone!
Location: Berlin, MD
Cost: It varies based on time of year and time of day. I think we paid $100 including cart/range
Slope/Rating: Blue Tees were 71.0/135
Proshop: Small but they have club rental and most things you'll need.
Range: A great grass range and putting area included in the cost.
My Score: 91 (43-48)
Play Again: Yes, but I'd like to move to the Blue tees and for them to improve the conditions.
Website: www.glenriddlegolf.com
Note: Check out the "Blogs I Follow" list on the right side to see what I'm reading. Want to get on the list? Send me and e-mail at wamgolf@yahoo.com. I recently added Great Golf Links to the list as well as Overhead Baggage.
Also, this post was part of my Ocean City Golf Trip. Enjoy!
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