Pete Dye's Masterpiece in the First State of the U.S.: The Bulle Rock Golf Course

Set amid the gently rolling coastal landscape of Havre de Grace, Maryland, Bulle Rock Golf Course is the undisputed number one public course in the state. Named after the first thoroughbred stallion imported to the U.S. from England in the 18th century, star architect Pete Dye created a modern parkland masterpiece here in 1998.

With seven Tees per hole, the course ranges from a leisurely 4,133 yards to a daunting 7,375 yards from the championship tees. The course has proven its championship-caliber quality by hosting the LPGA Championship five times between 2005 and 2009, where world-class stars like Annika Sörenstam competed for the major title.

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Front Nine: Bunker craters, ravines, and the challenging Par-4 on hole 5

Typical of Pete Dye, the design demands strategic discipline from the very first shot, rewards clever play, and consistently punishes ill-considered risks. Even the opening hole, with its elevated, side-sloping Fairway, is reminiscent of Dye’s iconic layout on Kiawah Island.

On the 2nd hole, a par-5 stretching up to 572 yards, a curved water hazard about 100 yards from the green demands a deliberate lay-up decision, before a crater-like landscape of bunkers secures the left side of the green on the 3rd hole. The fifth hole proves to be the most difficult of the entire round: this 483-yard Par-4 climbs as a 90-degree dogleg to the left over rugged terrain and offers no forgiveness for an imprecise approach shot.

The course then leads to the midpoint of the round via a short Par-4 with a reverse-redan green complex on the 6th hole and a picturesque dogleg around a pond on the 9th hole.

Back Nine: The 665-Yard Monster and the Dramatic Finish

The Back Nine also offers dramatic parkland golf at the highest level. It kicks off with the 11th hole, the longest hole of the round—a gigantic Par-5 stretching up to 665 yards that, despite a slight downhill slope, presents a challenge with deep bunkers and undulating terrain. The gently curving Par-3 on the 12th hole is one of the course’s visual highlights, as a pond runs along the entire right side.

Hole 13 presents the most difficult hole of the second half of the round: a par-4 whose Fairway slopes down to the right into a deep ravine. The 529-yard par-5 on the 15th hole is also spectacular; its S-shaped layout takes the Fairway over a stream to the opposite side. The grand finale culminates on the 18th hole, a Par-4 stretching up to 485 yards that curves around a pond on the left and ends with an undulating green in front of the clubhouse.

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A premier tournament venue on the U.S. East Coast

Thanks to its strategic location between Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia, Bulle Rock is the perfect destination for a golf trip to the U.S. East Coast. To fully enjoy Dye’s multi-layered design, golfers should rein in their competitive spirit when choosing a tee and opt for a tee box one further forward. A visit to the superbly stocked pro shop rounds out the experience at this fascinating tournament venue.