OCEAN CITY GOLF & YACHT CLUB

The windswept fairways here demand respect for the coastal breeze that can turn a routine approach into a white-knuckle proposition, especially on the long par-4 finishing stretch that defines this Eastern Shore layout. Russell Roberts' design makes clever use of the natural wetlands and mature hardwoods, creating elevation changes rare for Maryland's coastal plain while keeping water in play on nearly half the holes. What separates this track from the resort course pretenders is its commitment to firm, fast conditions that reward strategic thinking over brute force—a welcome throwback in an area cluttered with target golf.