Hole-by-Hole course description written by Ben Destefan of The
Record Herald.
Click here to view original article.
Unique in design, stunning in scenery, abundant in amenities and
painless in price, Carroll Valley Golf Course at Liberty Mountain
Resort really does have it all.
The marvelous 18-hole masterpiece offers extreme diversity with
its six par 3s, five par 5s and seven par 4s that test every aspect
of the golf game. While changing clubs and making decisions on the
course, one can't help but take in the natural sanctuary that
surrounds this tranquil playground.
Carroll Valley is snuggled in at the base of the Catoctin
Mountains that provide vast views across the massive hillside along
with the beautiful attributes associated with the location. Streams
meander their way across the layout at numerous positions while the
mature trees give the course a traditional feel that golfers of all
levels can enjoy.
However, not everything that makes Carroll Valley special is
natural. Golf is only one characteristic of the course that has
appeal. The resort offers hotel accommodations along with
restaurant service to take a quick pick-up game with your buddies
and turn it into a weekend getaway.
The course prides itself on the 'Stay and Play' packages and
certainly makes convenience a priority as everything necessary for
a memorable experience is within arms reach.
Whether enjoying a weekend full of golf and dining or simply
setting up an afternoon tee time, affordability is also at a
premium. The rates at Carroll Valley are extremely competitive with
specials being offered based on day and time. Regardless of when
you play, you will not be disappointed when the round is completed
other than maybe wanting to go for 18 more.
Front nine
After taking a few steps from the clubhouse and glaring down at
the lake and back at the hotel, the first tee box awaits. Carroll
Valley starts the round off with a booming par 5 that will test the
driver from the opening swing. The slight dogleg right features a
green that still seems forever away when lining up for the second
shot. Knock one close on a short chip and the round should start
with a solid score.
The second hole will have you guessing early on as only half of
the fairway is visible from the tee with the stretch of short grass
that extends past extreme, 90-degree right turn being guarded by a
group of towering trees blocking any sight of the flag. A well-hit
drive can clear the trees and cut the hole in half quickly, but a
ball that fades right is going to be in real trouble.
Get comfortable trying to read the putting surface here as luck
with the flat stick is going to be hard to find the rest of the
way. While the greens roll magnificently and are manicured to
perfection, they provide as much frustration as they do fancy which
can easily be experienced at No. 3.
The first of the par 3s appears fairly routine as long as you
clear the stream in front of the dance floor. So you hit the green
and stuck one close and birdie seems eminent? Not so fast Tiger, as
this surface is ready to change that circle on the scorecard to a
square in a hurry.
The green slopes dramatically from back to front with
undulations causing a guessing game when it comes to speed and
breaks. Depending on pin placement, you more than likely want to
stay below the flag off the tee if you are going to have any chance
at a two-putt.
Now shift from the softest of touch to the most demanding of
drives as you arrive at the 584-yard, par 5 fourth. The longest and
hardest rated hole on the course features a blind tee shot that
needs to stay left of the bordering road and right of the
vegetation in order to set up for a decent second swing.
Here a decision must be made to lay up or try to carry the
stream that once again appears in front of the green. Unless you
bombed your drive or have extreme confidence in a club over 200
yards, lay up if you want to keep the ball dry. Hit the slightly
elevated putting surface with your third and a birdie here is not
unthinkable.
The next stretch of the course can concede quality and
potentially much-needed scores if played well. The fifth hole is
the second par 3 that requires a long iron to reach its relatively
flat green compared to what has already been encountered and will
provide a solid tally if you land close.
A pair of par 4s follow with the sixth playing uphill into a
narrow fairway that will demand accuracy from the driver. The
seventh features much of the same as a few random trees come into
play halfway down the strip of short grass. If the bunkers are
avoided on both, especially the two around the green on seven, some
positive momentum might be on the agenda.
Moving on to No. 8, you are faced with your third par 3 on the
front and probably thinking that the low scores should keep on
coming. Well, yes, but it won't be easy. Carroll Valley does
feature the six par 3s, but all of which play close to or over
200-yards except No. 3, which certainly makes up for the yardage
with its green.
The eighth is no exception as it plays to 223-yards from the
back and also features a tough to navigate putting surface if you
do hit it in one. Good score here or not, plan to forget quickly as
you pull up to No. 9.
The finishing hole on the front followed by the beginning hole
for the back are arguably two of the prettiest and most challenging
holes in the area. A lake creates a border as well as an obstacle
for both as you are given two choices when standing at the ninth
tee. First, play it safe and put one out in the short fairway to
the left of the water or second, grip and rip a driver over the
sprawling blue sparkle and hope to land somewhere on the other
side.
Either way, a powerful second shot will be required to either
clear the water this time or to get up the hill toward the green
that overlooks nearly the entire course with the backdrop of the
resort hotel. Keep your composure and miss the four bunkers on the
hillside and you might have yourself a hole to remember for the
score along with its beauty.
Back nine
You might as well keep your eyes wide and mouth slightly open as
you begin play on the back. The 10th features the lake on at least
two shots as it borders the right side of the extremely slim
fairway and then extends out in front of a small landing zone
before the green.
The drive must be dialed in to hit the short grass and a second
shot is going to need to have some confidence behind it to clear
the water. Not that keeping the ball dry isn't enough of a task but
you must also miss the sand around the green to secure par
here.
Carroll Valley then reels the golfer back in as you meet up with
your fourth par 3 of the day. Once again, the hole plays long at
213 yards from the back but should provide some relief if you found
the water on the previous two holes.
Diversity shines as you move onto the par 5 12th that lunges
over 500 yards across the base of the mountain and requires two
full swings from the average golfer before thinking about knocking
one close. The green is gorgeous as a stream snakes its way across
the fairway and awaits a muffed approach from the front.
The 13th and 14th act somewhat as twin par 4s in regards to both
length and layout. Both play fairly straight-away with measurements
of slightly over 400 yards with the only real difference being the
stream that crosses over from No. 12 to guard the dance floor on
the 14th. Accurate second shots on this duo will reward your
efforts.
The 15th is home to the second par 3 of the back and fifth of
the round with the flag positioned uphill far enough that the
surface is not fully visible from the tee, making it a guessing
game in terms of ideal spots to land. Replace your ball mark, sink
your putt and move on to the second hardest rated hole on the
course.
Before breaking out the driver, be aware that the fairway at No.
16 is not nearly as large as it may seem. The hole funnels to the
left and into vegetation that will quickly conceal you from finding
the blind tee shot. Trees are also to the right but act as somewhat
of a guide since the ideal drive will nearly kiss the last visible
branch en route to sitting pretty in the middle. Reach the slightly
elevated green in two and the stretch run could be a promising
one.
Carroll Valley's final par 5 is a monstrous gem that begs for a
pounded drive, well struck second shot and a soaring approach that
will stick to the downhill putting surface when it lands. Homes
that are literal architectural marvels watch over the hole from the
right while a hump conveniently covered with sand hides the green
from the left side of the fairway during your second shot.
It is simply fitting in the way the round concludes, especially
with the new ownership of Liberty Mountain. Not only is the 18th
the sixth par 3, but it runs parallel to the ski lifts that
transport thousands up and down the slopes of Ski Liberty in the
winter months.
The green rests near the hotel and provides a breathtaking view
of the hillside and its valley that now provide two fabulous forms
of recreational activity. Whether you enjoy teeing it up in the
warmer months or shredding the slopes in the winter, Liberty
Mountain Resort has you covered with four seasons of enjoyment.