I'm going to let all golf courses in the Mid-Atlantic in on a "little secret". There is a simple two part formula that can make any course successful. This formula might sound like simple common sense, but after many rounds at a variety of different courses, there are two traits I see in the most successful courses.

The first ingredient is a "quality design". Yes, what “makes” a quality design is subjective but a consensus of true quality always includes tremendous variety.
What this means is the course needs enough "difference" to keep repeat business coming back.

Greens should have more than three possible pin placements. No two holes should look alike. Holes should bend from right to left and left to right. There should be at least two blind shots somewhere on the course. There should be enough space between tees on each hole where the hole can play a different on any given day.

The second and most important ingredient to all golfers is a "reasonable price". It doesn't matter how good the course is, if you don't provide a good product at a reasonable price then most golfers will find another place to play. The days of over priced golf are at an end and the public golfer has to consider value with today’s current economic conditions.

I know this formula sounds simple but I’ve seen it overlooked by many courses. There is one course however that has this formula down to a science and no course does it better than the Bridges Golf Club in Abbottstown Pennsylvania.

The classic design of the Bridges Golf Club provides an outstanding test with a plethora of variety. There's the dog-leg left short 339-yard Par 4 2nd where accuracy off the tee is paramount. Then and then there's the 430-yard Par 4 9th and 422-yard Par 4 10th where par is a great score. Each club in your bag will make at least one appearance during your round.

But the variety that stands out the most at the Bridges Golf Club is found on the greens. Don't expect any multi-tiered cloverleaf patterns like most modern designs. What you get is a plethora of both size and slope to contend with. Some greens have an overall general slope from back to front like the short 325-yard Par 4 14th. Then there's the devilishly contoured 540-yard Par 5 5th green, where you might find yourself putting across a prominent "knob". Depending on the speed of the greens these "knobs" can turn a birdie hole into a three putt bogey in a heartbeat.

But with all this variety most would expect a hefty greens fee to play the course. Lucky for you there isn’t any better “bang-for-your-buck” anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic. The highest current price to play the Bridges Golf Club is just $59 dollars for a weekend morning round and it includes cart!

If you're looking for a hidden gem at a good price, look no further than the Bridges Golf Club to play your next round.

Amigos Favorite Hole: With the ever present variety abound at the Bridges it was a tough choosing a favorite hole. In the end we settled on the 540-yard Par 5 5th as ours.

For the true "dog-leg fans" out there you will love this hole. At the tee you’re forced to lay-up to position yourself just beyond the corner of the dog-leg. During our round this called for 215 to 230 yard hybrid leaving an uphill 230-yard second shot to the green. This is a reachable in two Par-5, but the uphill second shot is a tough shot considering the pay-off. The prudent play is another lay-up leaving a wedge to the green.

Like a couple of holes at the Bridges your approach shot is to a blind green. Judging distance and club selection to any blind shot is a challenge but it's a much easier shot with a wedge. If you take the three shot approach then a smooth wedge to the center of the green leaves a manageable birdie attempt. At worst, that gives you a solid par for the scorecard.

Once on the green the variety continues to surprise you. What you can't see until you reach the green is a devilish "knob" sticking out like a pesky pimple just waiting to ruin your day. Hopefully pin position will be kind during your round. If you must negotiate this "knob" you'll fully understand what the term “devilish” really means.