A short twenty-minute drive northeast of Frederick takes you through the town of Walkersville and, if you are a golfer, to an off-the-beaten-path course nestled in the countryside. Glade Valley Golf Club is a beautifully laid out course at the foot of the Catoctin Mountains, well-kept, and a joy to play.
When the weather is at its most pleasant, usually in the spring or fall, I enjoy walking a round of golf (often nine holes) as an excuse to spend a few hours in nature. For reasons I’ll share in this article, Glade Valley has become one of my favorite golf courses around Frederick to walk.
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Glade Valley Golf Club: Rankings
Here are some of the rankings for The Glade Valley Golf Course in Walkersville, MD:
- No. 16 Public Course in Maryland. GolfPass 2024
- Best Golf Courses Near Frederick. Golf Digest 2023
- No. 10 Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses. Golf Advisor
- 4.4 out of 5 Stars. GolfPass 2024
Glade Valley Golf Club: Basics
- Location:10502 Glade Rd, Woodsboro, MD 21798
- Distance From Frederick: ~9.9 miles from downtown, 20 minutes
- Designer: Jim Reck (1991)
- Rates/Pricing: $42-$62 depending on day/time (See Below)
- Scorecard: link
- Walkable?: Yes
- Tee Times: online link
Glade Valley Golf Club: Course Stats and Rates
Glade Valley is a gentle layout and not an overly taxing course. From the tips, it’s 6,866 yards with a 70.7 rating (6,403 / 70.7 from the white tees). It’s a layout anyone can play, whether a beginner or someone with low handicaps who wants a challenge.
It’s a rolling hills layout nestled among hardwoods. There’s water on 5-6 holes, but rarely do you play a hole that you feel is impossible to par.
Green fees at Glade Valley Golf Club are incredibly affordable. The most you’ll pay (on weekend mornings) is $73 for a round, and you’ll pay only $62 after 11 am and $41 after 2 pm on weekends.
Weekday rates are generally $20 cheaper, and seniors (over 60) and juniors (under 17) also have special rates. It’s one of the best deals in golf around Frederick.
Enjoying a Walking Round at Glade Valley
My favorite aspect of Glade Valley is its gentle rolling hills and quiet nature vibe. In fact, my best rounds at Glade Valley have been walking rounds. Glade Valley is the perfect walking course.
You can play with a cart; if you are playing 18 holes with a group, it’s an excellent course to ride. But on good weather days, especially spring and fall, I enjoy walking rounds (usually nine holes), and Glade Valley is perfect for walking.
The front nine is shorter than the back nine, and I believe the back has more interesting holes. The back nine is definitely harder including the par 4 handicap 1 hole #10, a 474 yard bomb.
Walking the course will take you through several wooded areas between holes, past cornfields (hole 6), and around ponds. It’s an easy course to walk and a great excuse to enjoy the Catoctin Mountain countryside.
Glade Valley Golf Club has been around since 1991 but always seems in excellent condition. I’m generally impressed with the quality of the greens and fairways, and you can tell its a course that (while not a fancy, private track) takes maintenance seriously.
Notable Holes at Glade Valley Golf Club
As mentioned, I like the front nine better than the back nine. Here are some of my favorite Glade Valley holes:
Hole 2. A 400-yard par 4 requires a safe approach shot to a green nestled in one of the course ponds.
Hole 6. It’s a long, straight par 5 that goes on forever. I like it because it borders a farm with cornfields, you’ll probably see deer.
Hole 7. After emerging from the cart path in the woods, you’ll have a blind tee shot uphill before another tough approach shot to a water-protected green.
Hole 11. Very long and straight par 5 to a green (again!) protected by water. It makes the decision to go for it in two much more tenuous.
Hole 14. This short par 4 is a classic ‘target’ tee shot where accuracy is much more important than length. A slew of bunkers protect the green in front.
What Else You Need to Know About Glade Valley
- Green Valley has great practice areas: driving range, putting green
- There’s a great clubhouse, snack bar, and beverages at reasonable prices for before or after your round
- Memberships are available in various packages for those who live close by and want unlimited play!
