HAYFIELDS COUNTRY CLUB
Course Architect: Brian Ault, Clark & Associates
Year Opened: 1998
Location: Hunt Valley, Maryland
Slope: 142. Rating: 75.4
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,041
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 380 Yds 10 - Par 4 362 Yds
2 - Par 5 555 Yds 11 - Par 3 167 Yds
3 - Par 3 180 Yds 12 - Par 4 398 Yds
4 - Par 4 411 Yds 13 - Par 4 433 Yds
5 - Par 5 531 Yds 14 - Par 3 200 Yds
6 - Par 4 437 Yds 15 - Par 4 384 Yds
7 - Par 4 417 Yds 16 - Par 5 553 Yds
8 - Par 3 210 Yds 17 - Par 4 441 Yds
9 - Par 4 385 Yds 18 - Par 5 597 Yds
Par 36 3,506 Yds Par 36 3,535 Yds
Key Events Held: State Farm Classic (2001),
Greater Baltimore Classic (2002),
Constellation Energy Classic (2003-06).
HISTORY: The property that Hayfields Country Club sits on has roots dating
back to the Revolutionary War and played a role in the nation's history since
its beginning. The historic farm was one of the first placed on the National
Register of Historic Places. History states that Lafayette, on behalf of the
French government awarded the Silver Tankard, known as the Lafayette cup to
Hayfields as one of the best farms in America. Rumor was that Lafayette gave
these tankards to every farm he visited and in return, a hot meal and a
night’s lodging were his reward. Located just north of Baltimore, Hayfields
had been under attack by many developers to destroy the farm for high density
housing on the land. The community and local government successfully fought
this effort for the past 20 years and had their minds set to stop any
development no matter what. The Mangione family's vision was to develop an 18
hole private golf and country club and 40 single family residential lots over
475 acres. The overall challenges seemed overwhelming, as the local government
was under a great deal of pressure to ensure the project met everyone's
expectations. The county had adopted protection through a Landmark Commission
to protect the historic buildings. After meeting monthly for a year (using the
park service standards for review) the project was approved, with only one
negative vote. The farmstead consisted of three houses each dating back to the
18th and 19th century. Each house got bigger and grander as the farm prospered
and the family grew. The last house built was known as the mansion and was
built of Beaver Dam marble, the same material as the Washington Monument. This
house was to be used as the Club House, which required an 8,000 square foot
addition for a banquet room for 200 people. This was the most challenging part
of the project and took the most time for Landmark Commission to approve. The
other buildings were all adapted for new uses. The stone slave quarter was to
become the members' bar and grille room. The barns were converted to a pro
shop and a cart storage building. The cattle barn, which had burned down to
the stone rubble walls, was rebuilt as the maintenance building and is the
envy of most course superintendents. Uniquely, the spaces between the
buildings, including the walled garden, were landscaped to reflect the
original farm gardens.
Opened officially in the summer of 1998, Hayfields Country Club was designed
by Ault, Clark & Associates, whose credits include TPC at Avenel, Kingsmill,
Turf Valley Resort and Hunt Valley Country Club. The private 18-hole venue is
a links-style design with generous fairways and an abundance of native grasses
situated between the fairways. The course has played host to the Champions
Tour, with Allen Doyle capturing the 2001 title and J.C. Snead winning the
2002 event. Snead set the course record of 64 during the second round, as he
went on to defeat three players by one shot. The win established a new record
for most time between Champions Tour victories for a player -- six years, 11
months and seven days. The win was his fourth on Tour and his first since the
1995 Senior Players Championship.
With cool rainy weather complicating the first two days of play in 2003, Larry
Nelson and Jay Sigel stood tied for the lead following rounds of 67-70. The
duo led Des Smyth and Jim Dent by one shot heading into the final round.
Standing on the ninth hole, a bee stung Nelson when he touched his belt on his
pants, but he was unflappable. The three-time major championship winner played
bogey-free the final nine holes, making two birdies along the way, as he
carded his second straight round of 70 to defeat Dent and Doug Tewell by two
shots. Sigel could do no better than 73 and tied for fourth. Nelson, who
birdied the 11th from 25 feet, iced the victory with a 15-footer for birdie on
the 16th. During the week, the par-5 18th proved to be one of the most
difficult holes on the course with an average score of 5.132, while the course
itself played over par at 73.169.
In 2004, Wayne Levi opened with a course-record tying 64 and led wire-to-wire
for his second career Champions Tour title. Levi, who finished with back-to-
back 68s, birdied the par five 16th to secure the win over a hard-charging
Hale Irwin, who matched the course record on the final day. Jim Thorpe, who
tied for fourth, trailed by seven shots after day one, but carded a Sunday 64
to equal the course mark. Levi was the lone player in the field to post all
three rounds in the 60s. For the week, Hayfields played to a scoring average
of 71.026. The most difficult hole for the week was the par-3 third with an
average of 3.216, giving up only 17 birdies during the event. In contrast, the
easiest hole was the par-5 16th, averaging 4.448.
The 2005 event was a runaway from start to finish, as Bob Gilder posted a
four-shot win over Morris Hatalsky for his eighth career Champions Tour title.
Gilder opened with a course-record tying 64 and closed with back-to-back 67s
for a tournament-record tying total of 198. Hatalsky tied the course record
during round two, as he birdied his final four holes for 64, but shot 69 on
the final day to finish alone in second. For the week, Hayfields played to a
scoring average of 71.151, while the Sunday scoring for the field was 71.338.
The most difficult hole on the course was the par-4 6th with a stroke average
of 4.259, yielding just 18 birdies for the week.
REVIEW: The course starts off innocently enough with a short dogleg right par
four, with a pond on the left. From an elevated tee, most players will use a
fairway metal or an iron to set up a simple short iron to a raised green.
Birdie is a distinct possibility, just ask Bob Gilder, who birdied the hole
all three days in 2005 en route to victory. The second offers another birdie
chance, despite the 555 yard length of this par five. This hole bends to the
right and the tee shot must be negotiated between bunkers on both sides of
the fairway. Although bunkers dot the left side towards the green, a
quality second shot can race up towards the surface. The third is a beauty
of a par-three, with water guarding the entire right side of the hole and a
huge bunker left of the green. Depending upon the wind, this hole with
no protection from the elements, could have a two-club difference. The
fourth, although routine off the tee, features an uphill second shot to a
narrow green which slopes from back to front. Par will be a welcomed score.
The player will be tested on the fifth, a stern par-5 from an elevated tee
with water guarding the entire left side to the green. It can be reached
with two perfect shots. Hale Irwin drained a 93-foot putt for eagle
during the final round in 2004, en route to his course-record tying 64. The
par-4 sixth uses the same body of water protecting the left side of the
fairway. The second-longest four par on the course, the second shot plays
uphill to a very quick and sloping green. There is good reason why the sixth
is ranked as the number one handicap hole. The seventh hole gives the
golfer a couple of options with a split fairway. The best play is top left
with a fairway metal, which leaves a short iron to a very narrow green.
Whatever you do, don't miss right off the tee or green, as the hole slopes
severely downhill. The signature hole is the downhill, par 3 eighth. From an
elevated tee, the green is fronted by a pond, making club selection a
difficult choice. Sand protects the right portion of the putting surface,
while another trap guards the back. The green is very wide and slopes from
right to left. The outward nine concludes with an uphill, dogleg left par
four, featuring a blind tee shot. Bunkers guard both sides of the fairway,
putting extreme pressure on the tee ball. Although just 385 yards, this hole
plays longer than it looks.
The back nine begins with a very short par 4, similar to the first hole, in
that it doglegs right and features the same water hazard. Once again, an iron
or fairway wood is the call, leaving a wedge to a sloping green. The shortest
par 3 on the course, the 11th is another birdie hole at just 167 yards. A
massive bunker is located short of the surface, but shouldn't come into play.
The green slopes from back to front, with your best shot at two coming from
below the hole. The 12th is almost a carbon copy of the second hole, only it's
a par four. Bending to the right, a solid tee shot will leave a mid to short
iron to a well- bunkered green. The dogleg left, par 4 13th features a pair of
options. The sensible play is straight ahead, leaving a mid to long iron into
the green. But if you need to make up some ground, cut the corner with a big
bomb off the tee and you'll leave yourself a flip wedge, setting up a birdie.
The 14th is a beautiful par three of 200 yards from the tips. It features
multiple tee areas, but the most intriguing is from the back buttons. You must
split the trees and carry the bush-covered creek. The difficult part however
is finding a spot on the green to hit your shot due to the sloping green and
the bunker guarding the front. The hole plays easier from the shorter tees
which are located on the other side of the creek. The 15th is a straightaway
par-4, requiring a 3-metal off the tee with water left and a huge bunker
right. Using a driver will leave a sand wedge to a long, narrow green. Birdies
can be made if your approach is below the hole. The final three holes provide
an excellent test of golf with a pair of par five's around the longest par
four on the course. The first three- shotter requires exact placement of your
second shot, as the hole narrows towards the green and is fronted by water
from 200 yards out. When in doubt, bail out left, as there is no margin for
error, short and right. If played correctly, birdies can be made as the green
is very receptive. The 17th, the longest par four on the course, is
straightaway, featuring a blind tee shot to a narrow fairway guarded by
bunkers on both sides and native grass. Your approach shot will be downhill to
a green guarded by three bunkers. This surface is one of the most difficult on
the course as it slopes severely from back to front. Par is always a good
score, but don't be upset making bogey. The longest hole on the course
completes the round at Hayfields. This 597-yard monster has numerous tee
boxes, so select wisely. Playing from the gold or blue tees, the golfer must
carry at least 200 yards of marsh and trees to reach the fairway. The hole
bends hard to the left and now features another carry over the same marsh and
another section of trees that forces the player to think about where to hit
the ball. The smart route is left, which leaves a longer third, however
playing over the trees will leave a sand wedge to an uphill and undulating
green. Most players believe all par five's are birdie holes, not this one.
OVERALL: At first glance, the Hayfields is not the most difficult course to
play...if the wind is calm. However, at over 7,000 yards, this venue is a
bear to play when the atmosphere is in flux and coming from all different
directions. It has been said that it is not uncommon for a six to seven club
variance from one day to the next depending upon the wind's characteristics.
The course features multiple sets of tees and generous fairways, so all levels
can enjoy play, but as is the case with most courses, accuracy is key due to
the abundance of native grass and hazards. The scenic course includes six
large ponds, 68 white sand bunkers and greens surrounded by quarry stone
walls. Views of Oregon Ridge and the golf course can be had by practicing on
the immense driving range and practice facility. The lone drawback might be
the likeness of a few of the holes (1 and 10 in particular). Don't let that
stop you from making a visit to Hayfields, if you get invited. The course is
very, very upscale and the Superintendent and staff keep the course in
immaculate condition.
