Caves Valley Golf Club – Played June 2019
- Rankings: Golf Magazine #99
- Location: 2910 Blendon Road, Owings Mills, Maryland
- Year: 1991
- Architect: Tom Fazio
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 7,006 yards, Par 72, 73.0 Rating/137 Slope
- White: 6,296 yards, Par 72, 71.0 Rating/133 Slope
- Gold: 5,527 yards, Par 72, 68.1 Rating/124 Slope
- Red: 5,336 yards, Par 72, 71.1 Rating/137 Slope
My final stop of this weekend jaunt was to the Maryland stalwart, Caves Valley Golf Club. After playing an older and newer earlier, this would break the tie in favor of newer courses.
For the history of the club, I will direct you to their website. It has all you could ask for.
I had an open spot in my group and I was able to fill it through Instagram. I really enjoy it when I can make a new friend. It is even better when that person is genuinely fun to play with.
After that shining introduction, you probably want to know who it was. My playing partner was Will, better known on IG as anditsasnaphook.
After we met in the parking lot, we headed into the locker room. Throughout the day I snapped some photos of the locker room building, driving range, and panoramas. I’ve included those in a gallery below.
Caves Valley Golf Club has a robust caddie program. After settling up in the pro shop, we were introduced to our caddie for the day, Robert.
Robert was an interesting guy. You can read more about him here.
After deciding to play the white tees, we were off!
Hole 1 – 386 yards – Par 4
We actually started on the back nine, so you may notice some differences in the lighting. The tee here is quite elevated, more so than it appears. Your gamble is going down the left side to shorten the hole. Be aware of the pin position because the green is two-tiered.
Hole 2 – 327 yards – Par 4
I loved the options on this hole. Longer hitters can challenge the green but must take on the water. For shorter players, like me, I could lay something down to the lower fairway (see photo below) and have a green light wedge. Two totally different ways to make birdie for very different players!
Below are a couple of closer looks at the putting surface.
Hole 3 – 478 yards – Par 5
For me and my fellow golfers who like to move the ball right to left, I didn’t love the visual on this tee box. That being said, there is plenty of room to bail out on the left side.
Avoiding trouble on either side is the theme of this hole since there is none you have to carry.
Hole 4 – 158 yards – Par 3
Pin position is paramount in determining your line of attack on this hole. The green is massively wide but very shallow. For instance, with this pin placement, the bailout area to the right is not a bad leave.
It’s quite a unique green from the shape to how it is angled to the tee. I would have expected it to be positioned parallel and play deep. I enjoyed this change of pace.
Hole 5 – 383 yards – Par 4
I almost forgot to get a shot of the tee markers. Here at Caves Valley, they serve double duty by functioning as mini trashcans.
There’s not much to write home about on this one. It’s a standard par four, straightaway, bunkers, and a manageable green. Not my favorite.
Hole 6 – 425 yards – Par 4
This is a proper test. The bunker on the inside of the dogleg keeps you honest off the tee, followed by a difficult shot into the green.
Of note are the trees, notice how they are clipped way up to the top. This is a purposeful act to keep recovery options open. I enjoyed the aesthetic.
Hole 7 – 479 yards – Par 5
With a blind landing area, your caddie is helpful here. The overall slope of the hole is from right to left. All the trouble is on the left as well. If you hit three shots up the right side of the hole, you can’t go wrong.
Hole 8 – 168 yards – Par 3
I don’t need to get into the strategy here. Just enjoy the beauty of the setting for this hole.
Hole 9 – 346 yards – Par 4
I liked the creek on this hole a little less once I heard it was totally artificial. The building on the left behind the trees keeps if flowing.
It’s still a pretty hole that plays substantially uphill.
The green appears much smaller from the fairway.
Hole 10 – 310 yards – Par 4
As our actual first hole played, this was a nice and easy start. With the hole playing downhill and short, I was able to poke something 180 yards down the fairway and have a wedge left.
Hole 11 – 522 yards – Par 5
I found this to be one of the more interesting holes at Caves Valley. Mainly from the change of direction throughout the hole. Everything is pushing you left but there is a huge dropoff on that side.
The figure-eight green is a nice finishing touch.
Hole 12 – 163 yards – Par 3
You can tell on this hole that Fazio was going for some Augusta vibes. It’s an attractive hole to be sure. Don’t be short!
Hole 13 – 508 yards – Par 5
Options abound here. You can challenge the bunker on the left of play safe in the fairway. Either way, it will be tough to get home in two because the second half of the hole is all uphill. The green is open, however, if you want to go for it.
Hole 14 – 314 yards – Par 4
If you can hit your driver high, this hole is an exciting challenge. The shortness of the hole dares long hitters to got for it while giving shorter players a traditional route to the green. I liked this hole a lot.
Check out this pin position!
Hole 15 – 175 yards – Par 3
This hole was a bitch! If you bail out left, the recovery shot is difficult and must be played back toward the massive hazard.
Hole 16 – 372 yards – Par 4
It’s pretty obvious you don’t want to miss left on this hole. Simply put, hit two solid shots and a birdie can be yours.
Hole 17 – 407 yards – Par 4
Hugging the right side gives you the best angle into this green. From that position, you can avoid the plethora of bunkers on the left.
Hole 18 – 375 yards – Par 4
I think Caves Valley Golf Club would really benefit from flipping the nines. I was underwhelmed by this hole as a finisher. It’s solid enough but other than the front bunker, it doesn’t provide much interest.
Caves Valley Golf Club is a very solid golf course. It was easy to tell that it was a Tom Fazio design. By that, I mean he is a master at producing visually pretty courses with traditional bunkering and contoured greens.
To me, there was just a little something lacking from this course to land it in the upper echelon of the USA. Worth playing, absolutely, but it was my third favorite of the trip for sure.
The customer service was top notch and I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. If you get a chance to play it, I would advise you to do so. Then you can debate me on its merits!
