Cape Charles, VA--

The question, “why travel to the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore?” A simple and complete two word answer: “Bay Creek.” Consisting today of an 18-hole Arnold Palmer championship golf course—soon to be joined by a Jack Nicklaus course—this tract of Chesapeake-fronting links is great place to test your game all while enjoying beautiful surroundings.

Voted to Golf Digest’s 2003 “America’s 100 Greatest,” Bay Creek presents bunkers, subtle changes in elevation, water hazards and generous, though tree-lined, fairways to challenge and delight golfers of every level.  With five sets of tees ranging from 5229 yards from the Reds (rated 69.8 & 119) to 7204 from the Palmer tees (rated a whopping 75.2 and 142), you will find as much to test your game as you could possibly need.

Our staff's round began on the back nine.  Many thanks to the kind Starter for helping find my ball that leaked right into some long grass off the 10th tee.  I should have made use of the generous Practice and Range facilities before stepping to the tee!   The green at the 10th, like fourteen others on the course, is protected by multiple greenside bunkers.  The greens themselves are large and undulating, though accepted the balls well--heavy rain over the preceding week saw to that.  For the amount of rain they had however, the course was in commendable shape with only the lowest of depressions showing any residual effects from the many down pours.  Fortunate for our group, the weather was sunny and spectacular with just the slightest of breezes to help us deal with the game of golf.

Water plays many parts at Bay Creek, above and beyond any precipitation.  Forced carries on one of the par threes on each side, water fronting greens on several holes and water running the length of several of the longer holes provide both visual stimulation AND intimidation.   Do you want postcard holes featuring water?  Bay Creek has several.

The dog-leg right to water-fronted green, par-4 third hole is the number one handicapper.  It’s also one of the most beautiful holes you’ll ever play.  The battle with this titan isn’t length as it only plays 374 from the whites (play the tips though and it’s 460!), but rather the necessity of finding the fairway (in order to) and carrying the long expanse of Allegood Pond and the rock wall fronting the green.   This hole along could justify the trip to Port Charles and your green fees…if you need more, keep reading.

The par-5 18th is another visually stunning hole.  From the tees you can see the bunkers surrounding the well-protected green.  What you can’t see is the water hazard bisecting the whole 250 yards off the tee, though you do see the water as it wraps around the right side of the landing zone.  Tee to green the hole only plays 470 yards (from whites), so no big deal right?  Wrong! If you keep your tee shot short of the rough fronting the hazard, you still have a forced carry of over 200 yards to miss the massive bunker sandwiched between the water and the green.  The long narrow fairway to the right and short of the green is another option for where to target your second, but leave a longish uphill approach to a small green protected left and long by the aforementioned sandwiched bunker and further left by water.  Thanks Arnie for a great golf hole, one of many here at Bay Creek.

For additional information of Bay Creek Golf Club please visit www.baycreekgolfclub.com or call 757-331-9000 to reserve a tee time.