THE PRESERVE AT EISENHOWER
This historic golf course has been renovated to be in synergy with its surroundings creating a truly memorable golf experience. The connection of golf to the ground will be clear to the player. Everything outside of the lines of play has been enhanced, and the golf course design harmonizes with land it sits on. They work together to elevate the habitat for the property’s full time residents, as well as the round of golf for the visitors.
The Preserve at Eisenhower blends a unique bunkerless design by Andrew Green with a thriving environmental preserve. The tee to green renovation of the course was done in tandem with a stream restoration by the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration with the help of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. There’s no better game to be connected to nature than the game of golf. The environmental restoration work that was done makes the connection between the course and the environment nearly seamless.
COURSE TOUR
Course Tour
Hole 1
A challenging starting hole will test golfers, especially in windy conditions. The generous fairway offers options, but players should favor the left side then approach the narrow green with caution and avoid getting short-sided left. Par is good and will set the tone for the round.
Course Tour
Hole 2
The fairway requires some care on both sides with heavily wooded areas protecting the uphill landing area. Depending on the conditions a fairway wood, hybrid, or iron off the tee will set up an uphill hill approach shot to a plateaued green complex with falloffs that can deflect approach shots away from the putting surface that is relatively short from front to back.
Course Tour
Hole 3
With multiple options from the tee, the top priority is to favor the left side of the fairway. A poor bounce even from the middle of the fairway can present a difficult approach shot from a cluster of hummocks and tall fescue. The green is positioned low in a valley requiring the right club selection to a putting surface green that slopes back to front.
Course Tour
Hole 4
The number one handicap hole plays long and uphill to a wide fairway that slopes severely downhill from left to right. Golfers must favor the left side of the fairway to avoid a missed fairway. Approach shots from the fairway will leave the ball well below your feet and favor a fade into this green which is large, accepting longer irons and fairway woods. Par is a good score here, setting the tone for more, challenging holes on the front side.
Course Tour
Hole 5
The new 5th hole presents length and a demanding tee shot that can’t waver from a center target line. Longer hitters may find the only flat area on this fairway that is guarded by a marsh. The green complex is forgiving assuming one plays away from the trouble left. This is the last of five consecutive par 4 holes requiring a series of accurate shots tee to green.
Course Tour
Hole 6
The newly designed 6th hole is the first of five par 3 holes each unique in design. This hole is fair and can be played from as long as 201 yards to a narrow but deep putting green with subtle but challenging breaks. Three is good here and on to the first of three par 5 holes.
Course Tour
Hole 7
This long stretching par 5 parallel to Generals Highway is wide and straight offering golfers plenty of room to unleash two good shots and reach the large putting surface in two. The green is guarded by hummocks and falloffs that require accurate wedge shots if it’s a three-shot hole. A birdie opportunity and redemption hole for those taunted by the five consecutive par 4 starting holes.
Course Tour
Hole 8
One of the most picturesque par 3 holes on the course, this hole will challenge players from any distance, especially from the back tees. The putting surface falls away in the back right corner of the green. The left side is guarded by a large hummock that obstructs the bail-out area of the complex. Coming up short will bring a false front into play situated just yards from one of the many restored streams on the property.
Course Tour
Hole 9
Gradually uphill from tee to green, this dogleg left makes a turn at the hummock guarded landing area. Keep your tee shot right and plan on a right entrance approach as errant shots left are penal. Adjust club selection for elevation change as placement is critical to managing hard to see breaks.
THE GROUND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SPECTACULAR
Some of the best golfing topography around with a mixture of highs, lows, and cross slopes has met what mother nature had in place to begin with. Along the edges of the golfing corridors invasive plants have been replaced with pollinators, and large boardwalks now span the restored Broad Creek and its new wetlands. Playing the walkable layout golfers get to experience the piece of ground the way nature intended, respect and appreciate it.
Restoring the stream was a great opportunity to repair a headwater in a sensitive location near the Chesapeake Bay. Stream restoration projects are intended to be self-sustaining. Once these projects get implemented nature will take over and maintain it for the future. Funds that were used in the restoration protect the land from future development ensuring this remains green open space for generations.
NO SAND IN SIGHT
There are purists in the golfing industry that say there’s no way every bunker should be removed from a course. Maintaining bunkers is incredibly expensive – a square foot of bunkering can require as much resources as a square foot of green space.
The Preserve at Eisenhower uses short grass, highs and lows, and strategic mounding growing fescue to create interest without the sand. These mounds aren’t repetitively rolling, but more irregular and in certain spots. Hit it inside of the 9th hole’s dogleg and you will find a hummock where you might expect a bunker. The awkward stance, tough lie, or mound to hit over can present a host of challenges. Miss even more and you no longer need to spend time looking for the ball. The hazard line is there, the environmental area is on the other side, and that’s not a place to play golf – which helps everyone’s pace of play.
Other golf courses that are looking to increase speed of play, reduce long term costs, or have a positive impact on the environment while still providing an awesome golf experience can draw inspiration from the Preserve at Eisenhower.
THE GOLF COURSE
YARDAGE BOOK
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The original layout of The Preserve at Eisenhower back when it was named the Dwight D Eisenhower Memorial Golf Course -
The original concept for the renovation of The Preserve at Eisenhower golf course -
The Preserve at Eisenhower Yardage Book course layout -
The Preserve at Eisenhower Yardage Book hole number 5 -
The approach shot for number 5 with the hummocks on the right during the renovation of The Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course -
The Preserve at Eisenhower Yardage Book hole number 6 -
Number 6 green at the Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course -
The Preserve at Eisenhower Yardage Book hole number 13 -
The plans from Andrew Green for the renovation of the 16th green complex at The Preserve at Eisenhower golf course -
The Preserve at Eisenhower Yardage Book hole number 16 -
The Preserve at Eisenhower Yardage Book hole number 18