I have to start out with my home track. I learned the game on these narrow fairways and now live beside the 16th green, so I’ve got a bias for the course.
Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go…Chesapeake Bay Golf Course at North East has nothing to do with the Chesapeake Bay. While the course has some water on it, it is about half a mile from any navigable water, and that’s not even the Bay. CBGC North East is located just south of the town of North East, MD, which lies at the head of the Northeast River which flows into the Bay about 2 miles to the south. So don’t expect stunning vistas of the great Chesapeake from any tee box.
CBGC NE started as nine holes in 1990 and went to eighteen in 1994, so the track has matured nicely. Every hole was carved out of the woods and they began their life as extremely narrow slots. They have been widened quite a bit, so just remember that as you try to keep your drives in play.
This is a short yet challenging par 70 that stretches 6400 yards at the tips. Only two holes are side-by-side, the rest are lined by woods or homes. The regular tees come in at 6000 yards give or take, so the driver is left in the bag most of the round. If fact, clubbing down is the rule on this course because in order to score you MUST BE IN THE FAIRWAY. More than one golfer has commented that they’ll never play CBGC NE again because they lost too many balls or couldn’t score or both. These guys either just had to hit their drivers or tried to out muscle the course. If you approach your round with the idea that keeping the ball in play is not boring and pars are your friend, you’ll have a great round.
All but three greens are small, long and narrow. They are normally well maintained and run true. Reading them however is a challenge that I still haven’t mastered after 13 years.
Downsides of CBGC NE: Cart paths are mostly unpaved, although management has promised paving this year, as they did last year and the year before that, etc. Bunkers are varied in sand consistency, depth and maintenance quality. Even after 14 years there are still rough, bare, rocky spots around the course. With lost balls etc, weekend rounds can hit 5 hours. (I’ve gotten around in 3 ½ hours playing a match play tournament, so slow play is not the course’s fault.)
Reasons to play CBGC NE: The golf challenge is the thing; you need a plan and must make golf shots in order to score. It is the most difficult course to recover from bad shots that I’ve ever played. The fairways have been in great shape as have the greens and tee boxes. The cost is reasonable for the round, especially with the deals available. Great view from the club house over looking four holes and the food, mostly grill fare and a few entrees, is very good. Staff is top-notch.
This is worth trying more than once as its with experience that the course will grow on you. I still like it the best of all the local (affordable) tracks. Try it and let me know your thoughts.
Fairways and greens,
Jim
