If location, challenge and unique course design are important to you in choosing a place to play, then the Hampshire Greens Golf Course in Ashton Maryland should be on your list of "must play" courses.

Located off New Hampshire Avenue just outside the Washington beltway, the course serves as a haven for both city and suburban golfers.

The course is owned and operated by the Montgomery County Revenue Authority.. I know when most golfers think "county owned" or "municipal" we think decent price with an uninspired design. We think open fairways, receptive greens and a boost in playing confidence.

Well if you haven't played Hampshire Greens then those stereotypes should be thrown out the window. The course can challenge even the best of players and the design is comparable with most upscale courses in our area. The thick rough, large bent grass greens and fairways offer an upscale venue at a county owned price, exuding a design combination of both classic links style and modern American.

Tall fescue grass protrudes beyond the second cut of rough to punish wayward shots and along the fairways and around the greens the extremely large bunkers offer both a test of escape-ability and an eye-catching contrast.  The course blends the two distinctive design styles perfectly capturing it's own unique character.

But what makes Hampshire Greens an even better choice is the price.  The Montgomery County Revenue Authority has done a great job offering an upscale design at a reasonable price. It's hard to find great price, challenge and upscale design at the same course but somehow Hampshire Greens makes it work.

Amigos Favorite Hole: The hole that intrigued us the most at Hampshire Greens was the number-2 578-yard Par 5.  When you approach the tee the hole subtlety informs you that you had better be prepared. This long Par 5 offers a great risk reward choice that can set the defining tone for your round.

The easiest shot on the hole is from the tee. A large generous fairway gives ample room to let the driver loose. But for those right-handed "slicers" out there, be sure to aim left.  A hill guards the right side of the fairway, making for a very tricky second shot if the slice decides to join the party.

Once safe and in the fairway, you're presented with one of the most difficult shots on the course. Along the left side of the fairway is a water hazard that encroaches ever so slightly to a narrowing fairway.

In the distance left and on the other side fairway is the green standing as target for only the very accurate ball striker. We recommend playing the hole in three shots. If you hit a fairway wood or iron to the fairway just 100 yards short of the green you're left with a more manageable approach shot and a roll for possible birdie.