 Change and hope are the two cornerstones of all Presidential campaigns. The 2008 race is just heating up and even though the faces have changed the promises sound the same. As Americans we want to believe the promises and want a President that truly delivers!
Well, I can't promise our next President will deliver but I can assure you Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro Maryland meets all preconceived expectations and sets a new standard for high-end daily fee courses in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Carved out of 1,200 acres in Upper Marlboro Maryland, Lake Presidential Golf Club opened May 1st.
Recently we made our first trip out to the course and were blown away by the design, conditions and overall golf experience.
The expansive 10,000 square foot clubhouse and man made 30-acre Lake Presidential are the prominent centerpieces on the property. The clubhouse has a beautiful wrap around deck overlooking the 9th and 18th green and Lake Presidential comes in to play on the last two finishing holes on both the front and back nine.
 As you make your way to the first tee you can't help but notice the mature course conditions. For a course that has only been open for a few weeks, it seems it's been here for years. The rough is thick and lush, the fairways are in near perfect condition and the greens look so spotless it's hard to believe you're not on a private club with only a few members.
On the course, variety is abound with most every conceived design characteristic used somewhere on the course. Some greens have multiple tiers perched above fairway, while others are recessed below the fairway in a bowl challenging your ability to adapt to the slight change elevation.
The front nine is dominated by wide expansive fairways with strategically placed bunkers, while the back nine is tree lined requiring accuracy and shot making. There are short par 3s with birdie opportunities and long par 3s where par is a good score. There are risk-reward par 5s and demanding long par 4s with split fairways. Lay-up tee shots and a drivable green. No two holes even slightly resemble one another.
Simply put Lake Presidential "delivers" and the expectation of what a high-end daily fee should be...has arrived. If you have a must play list, make sure Lake Presidential Golf Club is on it...it will be a golf experience you will soon not forget.
 Amigos Favorite Hole: With 18 signature holes to choose from and many that stuck in our mind after our round, we decided the 570-yard Par-5 No. 8 was our choice as favorite.
On the tee all you see is an uphill tee shot to a narrow target with trees and lake right and a hill with trees on the left. Aiming down the left side of the fairway is the best option where you will be positioned for a strategic lay-up with your second shot.
Even the longest of hitters will find this Par-5 a true three shot hole. The green is situated slightly down hill guarded by a long bunker and Lake Presidential on the front and right side. The back of the green is protected by two bunkers and a devious collection area you can't see from the fairway. Hitting this green in regulation is a challenge even with a wedge in your hand.
Course review ratings are conducted on a five point scale. ( 1 = Double Bogey 3 = Par 5 = Eagle)
Tees:
Lake Presidential Golf Club is a Par 72 course with five sets of tees ranging from 7,230 yards to 4,970 yards. If you’re a 15 of above handicap we recommend you play the middle tees at 6,165 yards.
Each tee box was immaculately groomed and the varied spacing between each tee set makes the course play dramatically different but equally challenging for all skill levels.
Fairways:
The fairways were in excellent shape and even with the several inches of rain the previous couple of days there no drainage issues anywhere on the course. Since the course is new there were a couple of areas still being groomed but nothing out of the ordinary.
The fairways play firm so expect some roll if you put the ball in the fairway. Expect some uneven lies as well, the rolling terrain has tons of character with swales and slopes from tee to green.
There is a couple of Par 4s where selecting the right club off the tee is paramount. If you over club you can easily end up in a bunker or if you under club you'll have a long shot to the green. The course makes you think with each shot.
Rough:
For a course that just opened, we were amazed at how thick and penalizing the rough was, especially around the greens. It takes years from most courses to grow in rough this well. It seems the management has done an excellent job allowing the course to mature a bit prior to opening.
The fairway rough was penalizing as well but most fairways are wide enough to accommodate some variation in tee shot direction. You really have to spray the ball to get into a ton of trouble.
Traps:
The course is very well bunkered both along the fairways and greenside. One of the most intriguing aspects of the design is the mix of collection areas around the greens. This compliment to the greenside bunkering is ingenious.
There were a couple of times where my approach shot went a bit long in hopes of staying clear of a greenside bunker. But when I arrived at the green, I found my ball captured by a collection area. If you enjoy entertaining and challenging chip shots, you’ll love Lake Presidential Golf Club.
Greens:
The greens were in perfect condition running at a moderate true playable pace. Some have multiple tiers and false fronts but all are moderately contoured with varying sizes.
The most diverse collection of 18 greens I've ever had the opportunity to play on any one course.
Amenities:
The 10,000 square foot clubhouse is meticulously appointed and spacious with a wrap around deck overlooking the 9th and 18th greens. The place exudes a private club feel with a large locker room that would make most private clubs envious. The open layout of the Restaurant at Lake Presidential within the clubhouse is the perfect place to relax and unwind after your round with dinner and drinks.
The practice facility is very nice and a bag of warm up balls is included in the greens fees. The range is well marked and the grass tees are a nice touch.
An expansive practice green is perfectly situated on your way to the first tee where you can gauge the speed and feel of the greens before you start your round.
Staff Services:
Everyone on the Lake Presidential staff was very accommodating and definitely made us feel like a private club member for the day.
The starter was very informative providing detailed information for our first round at the course.
Pace of Play:
On and overcast Sunday Mothers Day with rain forecasted later in the day, there were only a few golfers on the course. We had no issue with pace and felt like we had the course to ourselves. There was a marshal out and about who made his rounds checking on us and the other groups who did come out to play.
Overall Average:
4.9, Birdie Course
Outstanding Course, must play recommendation
We would like to thank Head Golf Professional Nathan Presnal and First Assistant Jeffery Brooks for having us out to visit and review Lake Presidential Golf Club.
Course Information
Location:
2817 Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro MD 20774
Tee Time Phone:
301-574-3330
Course Type:
Public
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Year Built: |
2008 |
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Architect/Designer: |
Jeff Potts & Chris Cole |
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Number of Holes: |
18 |
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Greens: |
L93 Bent Grass |
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Fairways: |
L93 Bent Grass |
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Water Hazards: |
True |
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Rounds Played Annually: |
N/A |
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Greens Aerated: |
N/A |
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Overseeding Schedule: |
N/A |
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Number of Traps: |
70 |
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