ANNAPOLIS

The rolling Chesapeake Bay terrain delivers a surprisingly challenging test that punishes wayward drives with thick stands of mature hardwoods and strategically placed water hazards on seven holes. What elevates this Maryland track above typical municipal fare is the brilliant routing that takes full advantage of natural elevation changes, particularly the dramatic downhill par-3 16th that plays over a creek to a well-guarded green. The conditioning consistently exceeds expectations for a public facility, with firm fairways that reward precision over brute force.