
Original Course
Turf Valley Resort

About this course
Original at Turf Valley Resort, nestled in the rolling hills of Ellicott City, Maryland, is a testament to a bygone era of resort golf, retaining a familiar charm across its classic layout. Opened in the mid-20th century, the course unfolds across parkland terrain characterized by mature trees and gently undulating fairways. While not overwhelmingly long by modern standards, Original favors strategic play and thoughtful club selection with a premium on positioning. Designed by the lesser-known architect, Ault, Clark and Associates, Original demands respect for its subtly contoured greens and strategically placed bunkers. The course has remained largely untouched over the years, offering a nostalgic experience for golfers seeking a traditional round. Local lore suggests that the par-3 5th, often playing directly into the prevailing wind, has been the undoing of many a casual match, a testament to the course's deceptively challenging nature. Though not a major championship venue, Original holds a strong regional presence and remains a popular destination for local golfers and resort guests alike. Many members regard the 19th hole at Alexandra's American Fusion restaurant in the clubhouse for its renowned Maryland crab cakes, a fitting end to a day on the links and the comradery the course fosters.
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
- Ellicott City, MD, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1959
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Ed Ault
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,762 yards
- Difficulty
- 73.1/134
- Course Vaults score
- 7.7
Getting there
Most arrivals to Turf Valley Resort begin at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), a straightforward twenty-minute drive west into the rolling piedmont countryside of Howard County. The route traces the Patapsco River valley through a landscape that quietly transitions from suburban sprawl to wooded hillsides and open pastureland, the kind of terrain that once defined the horse country between Baltimore and Washington. Turf Valley itself sits tucked into this pastoral middle ground - a low-profile resort that has long served as a discreet retreat for those seeking proximity to the capital corridor without the formality of a destination club, its entrance marked by little more than a turn off Turf Valley Road and the promise of something unhurried beyond.

FAQ
Common questions about Original at Turf Valley Resort
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Original at Turf Valley Resort has a Course Vaults score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 14 logged golfers.
Original was designed by Ed Ault.
Yes. Original at Turf Valley Resort is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Original is 71.
Original plays 6,762 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Original is 134.




