Reviewed by: J , Shoots in the 100s

Summary:
The private Gibson Island Club is located on Gibson Island at the mouth of the Magothy River and the Chesapeake Bay. Gibson Island is midway between Annapolis and Baltimore. Access to the island is by causeway from Mountain Road (MD 177) in Pasadena, Maryland. Access is limited to island residents and club members. A yacht club, swim club and very competitive tennis club complement the golf club. Jump at the chance, should you be invited to play this course. If you don't know a club member, and really want to play, you can enter the annual Gibson Island Country School Charity Golf Tournament for a donation of about $200. Call the school 410-255-5370 for information. The tournament is in the early fall each year and always sells out. It is limited to 18 foursomes and includes golf cart and crab cake lunch at the Gibson Island Club.
The MacDonald designed course had 18 holes in the 1920s but the back nine were abandoned during WWII. The current 9 holes have "front" and "back" Tees so that play is usually 18 holes. The club pro Don Sackan is available for instruction and clinics. Numerous tournaments are held each year, mostly aimed at the 1,000 or so club members.

Customer Service:
Small but complete pro shop can handle any need from clubs to carts.

Similar Courses Played:
The crab cakes at the club are the best in the world!

Reviewed by: Marshall Henslee, Shoot in the 80s, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Summary:
This is a private course on Gibson Island, a restricted island in Chesapeake Bay. I am lucky enough to be married to a woman from Baltimore who knows a family with a membership.

The course is in good shape. Not great shape, but good. Looks like they don't have all of the equipment needed to make a course immaculate. As you might imagine, there is very little traffic on this course. A plus, in my opinion.

I played with somebody else's clubs, so it was hard to guage everything. However, some of the holes are beautiful. Great views of the Chesapeake with yachts and gorgeous sailboats.

One hole in particular killed me. I shot forty (par is 35) but would have had a 38 but for this hole. (It is only a nine hole course.) It is a short par 4 (315 yards) but the green is raised above the fairway and is so small as to make it very difficult to get your second shot on the green. I hit a good drive that left me forty or so yards off the green. I was looking straight up the hill to the green which was probably twenty feet above me. Very intimidating. I flew the green twice. Severe slopes on all sides. They call the green "The Birthday Cake." That is being kind.

In any case, I highly recommend the course. One of the most relaxing rounds of golf I have ever played. Almost made a hole in one.

By the way, I have no idea about the cost. As far as I know, if you have a house on the island, you can play on the course for a minimal monthly fee. I was never told about any guest fee. Thus, the high value rating.

Similar Courses Played:
Didn't have much interaction. We literally drove a golf cart from the house to the golf course and went straight to the first tee.