OCEAN CITY GOLF CLUB

The Maryland coastal plain serves up a deceptively challenging test through pine-lined fairways that demand precision over power, with several doglegs that punish wayward drives into the sandy waste areas. Water comes into play on five holes, including a memorable par-3 where prevailing winds off the Atlantic can turn a mid-iron into a prayer. This is honest public golf that rewards course management and local knowledge, where regulars who understand the firm, fast conditions in summer hold a distinct advantage over visiting bombers.