
Fantasy Valley Course
Wisp Resort




About this course
Fantasy Valley occupies mountainous terrain in Garrett County, Maryland's westernmost region, where the Allegheny Plateau creates the state's highest elevations and most dramatic topography. The course operates as part of Wisp Resort, a four-season destination property on Deep Creek Lake that developed its golf facilities to complement winter skiing operations. Dominick Palumbo designed the layout to work with the area's steep slopes and forested ridgelines, characteristics that distinguish western Maryland courses from the flatter terrain found elsewhere in the state. The routing navigates significant elevation changes across wooded hillsides, with holes that climb and descend through the property's natural contours. Players encounter narrow, tree-lined fairways where accuracy matters more than distance, and greens that often sit on plateaus or in natural bowls created by the mountain terrain. The design reflects the constraints and opportunities of building golf in this landscape, where dramatic views across the surrounding mountains come with forced carries and uneven lies. The course serves resort guests and regional golfers drawn to the Deep Creek Lake area, Maryland's largest freshwater lake and a recreational hub for western Maryland and neighboring Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The golf experience here differs markedly from courses in the state's coastal or piedmont regions, shaped instead by Appalachian geography and the practical realities of mountain golf, where weather patterns and seasonal conditions follow the rhythms of high-elevation terrain.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in MD
Quick facts
- Location
- McHenry, MD, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1980
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Dominick Palumbo
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,446 yards
- Difficulty
- 72/140
- Course Vaults score
- 5.9
Getting there
The journey to Wisp Resort begins at Pittsburgh International Airport, roughly two hours east through the Allegheny Plateau's rolling forested ridges. Baltimore-Washington International offers an alternative gateway, though the westward drive stretches closer to three hours as the terrain gradually climbs from the coastal plain into the Appalachian highlands. The final approach follows Route 219 as it winds through Deep Creek Lake country, where the landscape opens to reveal the resort perched at elevation - a mountain enclave where Maryland's western edge meets the quiet grandeur of the Garrett County peaks.

FAQ
Common questions about Fantasy Valley at Wisp Resort
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Fantasy Valley at Wisp Resort has a Course Vaults score of 5.9 out of 10 based on 18 logged golfers.
Fantasy Valley was designed by Dominick Palumbo.
Yes. Fantasy Valley at Wisp Resort is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Fantasy Valley is 70.
Fantasy Valley plays 6,446 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Fantasy Valley is 140.


