Bayside Resort Golf Club – Played June 2023
- Rankings: Golf Digest Public #79
- Location: 31806 Lakeview Drive, Selbyville, Delaware
- Year: 2005
- Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Signature: 7,525 yards, Par 72, 76.4 Rating/148 Slope
- Champion: 6,835 yards, Par 72, 73.2 Rating/142 Slope
- Member: 6,439 yards, Par 72, 71.4 Rating/139 Slope
- Blended: 6,048 yards, Par 72, 69.9 Rating/135 Slope
- Club: 5,589 yards, Par 72, 67.2 Rating/126 Slope (Men’s), 73.3 Rating/128 Slope (Women’s)
- Forward: 5,125 yards, Par 72, 64.4 Rating/116 Slope (Men’s), 70.2 Rating/118 Slope (Women’s)
The last stop on my trip was Bayside Resort Golf Club in Delaware. This was my first course played in the state so I was intrigued to check it out. Typically, Jack Nicklaus courses aren’t my favorite, so let’s see how this one stacks up.
The course is the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Delaware and it is part of the larger Bayside Community. There is a large housing development that encircles portions of the golf course, but thankfully not all of it. The rest of the course features bay views and forested playing corridors. Let’s get into the tour.
Hole 1 – 369 yards – Par 4
The first hole plays over water but the carry isn’t onerous and the fairway is wide. If you go farther left with your drive the hole is shortened considerably.
The green is surrounded by sand and slightly elevated.
Hole 2 – 517 yards – Par 5
Picking the proper line on this tee shot is a challenge. If you miss left the fairway runs out and if you miss right the ball is wet. Playing in the early morning sun was an extra difficulty.
If you can put two good shots together, the green is vulnerable to attack. But that is a big if.
Hole 3 – 172 yards – Par 3
The first bay view comes on this hole. It would be interesting to see this look with no trees, but I’m not sure about the environmental rules on that. Either way, it’s a pretty hole.
Hole 4 – 361 yards – Par 4
The hazard isn’t in play on this tee shot and the trees are much more of a concern anyway. Fire your drive left of the bunkers for a good angle to the green.
The green is not large and is surrounded by bunkers. Do not miss long!
Hole 5 – 402 yards – Par 4
This dogleg left features two water hazards, the one you can see and one further up on the far corner of the hole. Anything right of the bunker in the fairway is very acceptable.
If you put your drive in a good spot, the green opens up. Be careful to not miss left though with the slope and rough on that side.
We had a spectator on the green.
Hole 6 – 489 yards – Par 5
We’ve got a serpentine hole to navigate here. If you can carry the hazard then straightaway is the play. Otherwise, you’ll have to play around it, first left and then right. There is an additional hazard on the far left side that continues to the green.
Hole 7 – 149 yards – Par 3
This isn’t a long hole but if you miss left your score can add up. Anything finding the green should make for an easy par.
Hole 8 – 414 yards – Par 4
There’s no reason to miss right here because there is room left of the bunkers. You won’t be in the fairway if you miss over there, but you also won’t be in the hazard.
Hole 9 – 341 yards – Par 4
This slight dogleg right is a scoring opportunity to finish off the front nine at Bayside Resort. A drive of about 220 yards will set you up to attack the pin.
The greens are not overly dramatic here but they do have enough sloping to keep your attention.
Hole 10 – 361 yards – Par 4
The aggressive line on this tee shot is directly over the bunkers on the left. You can see the water on the right and that continues all the way to the green.
This is a view of the green from the left side.
Hole 11 – 481 yards – Par 5
Here is another hole with a hazard up the right side. If you can fit a good drive up the left side, going for the green in two is the goal.
Second and third shots into this green must contend with several bunkers.
Hole 12 – 373 yards – Par 4
This hole is a dogleg left with a split fairway. The tee shot is quite awkward and must not be missed to the left.
This view is from the extreme left side and is not an advised strategy!
From behind the green, you can see the bisecting hazard and overall difficulty of the hole.
Hole 13 – 142 yards – Par 3
The green sits at an angle to the tee but our box was moved a little to the right so it played straighter. The main obstacle is the small bunker in the front.
Take note of just how narrow the green is. With a short club in your hand, precision is required.
Hole 14 – 512 yards – Par 5
This hole is shaped like a backward question mark. Getting your drive in the fairway is only the first goal because there is a hazard that will affect the second shot as well.
Hole 15 – 181 yards – Par 3
The member I was paired with astutely mentioned that I had the benefit of not having any scar tissue from past experiences here. I was able to step up and hit a shot onto the green. When I got up to the green, I could see why it was difficult. The putting surface is sloped and not large for the length of the tee shot.
Hole 16 – 389 yards – Par 4
The tee shot here needs to be between the bunkers. All you really need is to get to the 150 yard marker and the second shot will open up.
Hole 17 – 368 yards – Par 4
This hole is routed similarly to the first hole. It bends to the left around a large water hazard. There is some room on the right but it slopes away and has rough to deal with.
I went a little too far to the right and had to contend with an uneven lie to an elevated green.
qdqdwdqdqwddq
Hole 18 – 418 yards – Par 4
The finisher at Bayside Resort was a bit awkward. You have a fairway that angles from right to left along the water. If you go too far to the right the fairway runs out into trees.
My drive was pretty good up the right center and I was almost blocked out from the green. It didn’t strike me as a just result.
The green juts out like a peninsula into the water hazard that started at the beginning of the hole. Missing either direction can put you in a tough situation.
Bayside Resort can give players trouble, especially if they are off with the driver. There are plenty of birdie opportunities but big numbers can be as numerous as the water hazards. The course had a bit of a Florida feel, which makes sense with its bay setting. It’s a nice amenity for the residents of the community and if you find yourself in the area, I would check it out.