Discover the Secret Delaware on Your Golf Tour

In a little over 10 years Delaware, the second smallest state in the union has put itself on the golf destination map. The reasons range from the pleasant climate to affordable and easily available courses. In that sense, Delaware is an excellent alternative to some of its other more famous, more crowded and more expensive cousins.

Although it is possible to drive across Delaware in a couple of hours, it wouldnt be a golf tour if you didnt stop at some of the best public courses in the country. The charms of Back Creek and its sister course Frog Hollow near Wilmington would make a good first stop on your golf holiday.

Back Creek has been adjudged one of the best modern courses in America by Golf Week an accomplishment considering Delaware is known more for its mushrooms than golf. Back Creek is an 18-hole links style course located in Middletown, incidentally on a property previously owned by Delawares first governor Joshua Clayton. Add it to your golf package for the challenging play it offers on most holes, six of which have serious water hazards. Another fairly unconventional hazard on this David Horne design is the backyards of houses bordering the fairways. In all Back Creek at $54 is a good investment for a day spent winding through pleasant greens and over 80 bunkers from tee to green.

Before your golf travel takes you to a new destination, swing away at Back Creeks sister course, the Frog Hollow. The Frog Hollow Golf Club is another superb 18-hole links style championship course running nearly 6608 yards. It could digest a delicious lunch at the adjoining Pub at Frog Hollow and work up a great appetite with some tricky holes, over 50 bunkers a good number of water hazards. The next stop on your golf holiday line-up is most likely to be the Three Little Bakers Golf Club in Willmington, probably as much for its dinner theatre as it’s golf. Once you have dined be ready for the challenge this 18-hole championship course will throw at you. Open since 1973, this 6609 yard par 71, semi –private course lies on the historic banks of the Pike Creek just a few minutes south of the Mason-Dixon line. Designed by Edmund Ault, this beauty takes you through a heavily wooded creek valley with severe elevation changes posing big challenges on most holes. A stop at Three Little Bakers would cost you just $51 and is great value for money on a golf vacation.

Although central Delaware offers two promising public courses - Jonathans Landing and the Wild Quail Golf Club, both are very appealing and affordable. There are several off-course attractions (slots, NASCAR) too and would give the non-golfing members of the party a little more to do on their golf vacation. Your golf travel itinerary must include southern Delawares Baywood Greens, an Ault & Clark design which at par 72, 6982 yards is often called the Augusta of the North for its eye-catching landscaping. Other notable courses that should figure on your golf tour would be Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View and The Rookery.

As they say, good things come in small packages and Delaware sure is a good thing for any golf holiday.

We Recommend
Delaware Valley Golf Club, the Region’s Premier Touring Golf League. www.delvalgc.com