CROSS CREEK GOLF CLUB
Course Architects: Brian Ault, Tom Clark & Associates
Year Opened: 2003
Location: Beltsville, Maryland
Slope: 129. Rating: 71.5
Par: 70
Yardage: 6,356
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 5 517 Yds 10 - Par 4 355 Yds
2 - Par 3 163 Yds 11 - Par 4 436 Yds
3 - Par 4 431 Yds 12 - Par 3 175 Yds
4 - Par 4 397 Yds 13 - Par 5 515 Yds
5 - Par 3 210 Yds 14 - Par 4 457 Yds
6 - Par 5 492 Yds 15 - Par 3 206 Yds
7 - Par 3 187 Yds 16 - Par 4 389 Yds
8 - Par 4 341 Yds 17 - Par 4 302 Yds
9 - Par 4 366 Yds 18 - Par 4 417 Yds
Par 35 3,104 Yds Par 35 3,252 Yds
Key Events Held: Children's Hospital Futures Golf Classic (2004).
HISTORY: Although opened for just a short period of time, Cross Creek Golf
Club has already started to develop a special history. The LPGA Tour's
developmental tour, the Futures Golf Tour, made its first visit to Cross Creek
in 2004. Originally scheduled for 54 holes, the tournament was shortened to
just two rounds due to heavy rain which forced the cancellation of the final
round. When it was all said and done, Courtney Wood finished as the winner, as
she carded rounds of 67-69 to edge Allison Hanna by one for her first career
Futures Tour title. The low round of the week was carded by Kim Augusta, who
shot 66 in round one. Cross Creek played very difficult during tournament
week, as only seven players in the field finished under par. The Cross Creek
layout is quite unique, as three holes (13-15) are located in Montgomery
County while the rest of the course is laid out in Prince Georges County.
The course was crafted by Ault, Clark and Associates, a design firm located in
nearby Kensington, Maryland. The architects have done some exciting work
around the east coast, including Ballamor Golf Club in New Jersey, Diamante
Golf Course in Arkansas and Worthington Manor in Maryland. Not to mention
redesign work at Kingsmill Country Club's River Course and Congressional
Country Club in Washington. Cross Creek was created on an old quarry site and
features rock cliff walls on some of the holes and uses some of the large
boulders from the quarry as its 150-yard markers. Water significantly comes
into play on seven holes of the elevated and wooded layout.
REVIEW: The course opens with a dogleg left par-five. A tee shot from the back
buttons will require a 200-yard carry over a pond. To have any chance of
reaching this hole in two, your opening shot must skirt the left side of the
fairway, which of course will bring the trees into play. Two large bunkers
guard the left and right side of the lay-up area, but a successful approach
will leave a simple pitch to a fairly deep green. A great hole to start on, as
a birdie here can really kick-start your round. A medium iron is all that is
needed at the par-three second. However, the correct club is made difficult
due to the tall oaks that surround the smallest green on the course at just 26
yards in depth. Leave your tee shot short and a grass hollow awaits, left or
right and you'll be bunkered with little chance of getting up and down. The
first real test at Cross Creek comes at the third, a straightaway par-four
with danger down the entire right side. Not only that, your tee shot must
favor the left side, as all shots will kick toward the right. A medium to long
iron will be needed to reach the two-tiered green that slopes from back to
front with sand and water on the right. Making par here will be a real bonus.
Although under 400 yards in length, the fourth is no simple Simon. Miss left
off the tee and you're in the midst of a hazard and trees, and right, well,
you get sand. If you're lucky enough to hit the fairway, only a short iron
awaits, however the slightly elevated putting surface is guarded by a
horseshoe shaped bunker on the left. Your best bet is to play to the right of
the flag and hope your approach kicks down to the hole. Despite its downhill
appearance, the par-three fifth plays its entire 210 yards. Club selection
will be difficult, as the left side is guarded by water, allowing the wind to
play havoc with your shot. By the way, a devilish little pot bunker short of
the green is no bargain either. One of the few benign putting surfaces, so
getting up and down shouldn't be too difficult. Tempting as it may seem, the
sixth hole is a par-five you should play with caution. Just 492 yards, one
might think that this is an easy birdie hole. Well, with trees guarding both
sides of the fairway, an exact tee shot is a must. When and if this happens,
then a decision must be made. Most likely a fairway metal remains, but
remember water and OB left and sand and trees right could sway our decision
process. To top it off, the green is the third longest on the course at 39
yards deep and the tightest at 21 yards in width. There is no shame in making
par. The seventh is certainly one of the signature holes at Cross Creek. A
beautiful par-three of 187 yards with water and wetlands protecting the front
left and around the rear perimeter. The putting surface is the widest on the
course and with a left pin placement, sure torture on a windy day. Favor the
right side, make par and move on. The final two holes on the outward nine
require brain, not brawn. Both holes are just in the mid-300s from the tips.
The eighth requires just an iron off the elevated tee to a very wide fairway.
But hitting it straight is a must, as OB looms left and trees right. The green
is uphill and is a two-tiered, severely undulating surface. With a front flag,
use the slope to your advantage to get close enough for birdie. The ninth is a
dogleg to the right with water protecting the right side of the green and out
of bounds to the left. Once again, a long iron or a fairway metal will leave a
simple wedge to a green tilted to the right, protected up front and to the
left by sand. The putting surface is undulating with a front right pin
placement the most difficult. The front nine are the holes you want to go low
on, as you'll see with the inward nine. For the third straight hole, the 10th
is another short par-four that necessitates just a long iron or fairway metal
off the tee. The hole bends slightly to the left, but back to the right
towards the green. Fescue grasses protect the left hillside while a lateral
hazard guards the entire right side through the green. The putting surface is
one of the smallest on the course at just 27 yards in depth with a pair of
bunkers protecting the right front. A back right could be tough to get close,
so play left and make par. One of the hardest holes on the course, the 11th is
a rugged straightaway par-four of 436 yards from the Black Gold tees. A long
and straight tee shot is needed, as water left and trees right protect the
landing area. What makes this hole even more difficult is the approach shot.
Water extends all the way through the green on the left side and any errant
shot just off the green right will kick directly into the rough and trees.
With the pin back-left and the wind blowing, you'll be happy if bogey is the
best you score. The 12th is a downhill par-three that features three large
bunkers that protect one of the smaller greens on the course. The putting
surface slopes from back to front and left to right, so play below the hole
for your best opportunity for birdie. The first of the quarry holes, the par-
five 13th is a beaute. The tee shot is uphill and blind to the landing area
and cannot be missed left. From the top of the crest, the player is rewarded
with a fantastic view of the green, just in reach of your second shot. Laying
up will leave an uphill pitch over a pair of bunkers to a fairly simple green.
Anything worse than par will be a severe disappointment. Two of the most
difficult holes on the course, the 14th and 15th cause plenty of concern. The
number one handicapped hole, the 14th is a bear at 457 yards. Out of bounds
protects the entire left side along with rock outcroppings. But what makes
this hole even more difficult is the mound the stands on the right side of the
very narrow landing area. This makes it hard for the big hitter to use driver
off the tee. So now you have a long iron to a very tight green, just 28 yards
in width. This hole has double-bogey written all over it. Now its time to
tackle the 15th, a difficult par-three of 206 yards. Playing over water and an
environmental area, this one-shotter requires pinpoint accuracy and length.
The putting surface is fairly flat, but it is the second widest green on the
course at 36 yards. If the wind is blowing, another double could be in the
offing. On paper, the final three holes don't seem to pose much
trouble...wrong. The 16th is a sharp, 90-degree dogleg to the right. A long
iron or fairway metal will leave a medium to short iron to the green. The key
to this hole is not to drive through the fairway or miss left, as a lateral
hazard envelopes the entire left side. Although just slightly undulating, the
putting surface is one of the hardest to hit, as it stretches 42 yards in
length and is just 22 yards wide. A back-left pin placement can add 20 yards
to your approach. This hole will produce a few three-putts. Every course
should have a hole like the 17th. If you need a birdie, then grab the big dog
and let it rip. Just 300 yards and bending slightly to the left, the 17th is
one of those great short holes that can make or break your round. A stream
travels down the entire left side of the hole and a deep bunker well below the
putting surface guards the same side of the green, the longest (44 yards) on
the course. The 18th is a solid finishing hole that features water, trees,
sand and possibly wind. The further you hit your tee shot, the straighter it
needs to be, as the fairway narrows at the 200-yard marker and only widens
slightly thereafter. To make matters more difficult, trees flank both sides of
the fairway and two bunkers protect the landing zone on the left. Now you're
faced with an approach into the widest green on the course, with water and
sand looming right. With a back right pin, this is one exciting finishing
hole.
OVERALL: Called "The Best Drive of I-95", Cross Creek Golf Club is a lot of
fun for all players. Not the longest of courses, but remember it's a par 70
layout, very tight with plenty of hazards. It features numerous bent grass tee
boxes, a mix of small and large putting surfaces, and a well-maintained
facility. "Man and Mother Nature have given us an unbelievable opportunity to
create something that looks like the high country of Colorado, versus the low
lands of Maryland," commented the course designers. How about a $2 million
clubhouse and full-service restaurant and bar? Located just minutes from the
expressway and downtown Washington, D.C., Cross Creek is an enjoyable layout
with beautifully framed fairways and greens. Let's not forget affordability.
Even during weekends and holidays, it's less than $70 to play while during the
week, just under $50. Sounds like a deal to me.