The Newport Bay Golf Course at Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club in Berlin, MD, previously named the Bayside Course, has been completely redesigned and reconstructed by Lester George. Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club renamed the course due to the extensive changes and improvements, which offer better play options and magnificent views of Newport Bay, and the course has been nominated as one of Golf Digest's "Best New Courses" for 1998. The construction of this redesigned course has been completed and was performed by Quality Grassing of Lithia, FL.

Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club is a 36-hole private club, which is open to the public for resort daily fee play. George was given a free hand to change the course as he deemed necessary. "It's a totally new course with all new tees, greens bunkers, irrigation and cart paths, " George stated. "I have redesigned every hole and the practice range," he continued.

Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club performed this redesign to re-establish their dominant standing in the market by keeping up with modern player demand. Lester George was hired to maximize the potential of their waterfront site, taking advantage of the available vistas not previously exploited. "We chose Lester because we knew he'd show the creativity and passion needed to redesign this course," said Joe Harrison, Chairman of the Renovation Committee.

The land used for holes 17 and 18 was originally allotted for use by the yacht club, but the beautiful vistas were far too impressive to not be part of the course. Joe Harrison states, "What is unique about the layout of Newport Bay at Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club is the amount of waterfront property used in the golf course. A modern developer would come in and build homes on this land. The waterfront holes are a distinguishing characteristic of this course, maximizing the golfing experience."

The course provides broad, sweeping views of Grey's Inlet and Newport Bay from each hole. In addition, 11 of the 18 holes are bordered by the pristine salt marshes and waters of Newport Bay, incorporating many marsh features never before achieved. "This site provides us a truly unique opportunity to maximize water frontage and vistas not common to anything on the Eastern Shore," says George.

LINKS of INTEREST:
http://www.oceancitygolfclub.com
http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/articles/Ocean_City_Golf_and_Yacht_Club.asp