The Clifton Park Golf Course, built in 1915, is the first public golf course in Baltimore. Hole #1, directly adjacent to the Clifton Mansion provides a starting point for a panoramic journey through new and old Baltimore. From the first green, players can look south to the city skyline and Clifton Tower. You can imagine Johns Hopkins himself standing in the tower with his telescope, searching the horizon for one of his many merchant ships. With any luck, he could discern his personal flag from the others, hop in a carriage down to the harbor, and greet the captain, personally. To the distant east is the silhouette of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. A few blocks away, Baltimore City College High School (est. 1839) is perched on high; the “Castle on the Hill”.
The golf course has beautifully maintained greens, well manicured fairways, and a delightful layout. Convenient, value priced and PGA managed, Clifton Park is a perfect answer to today’s fast paced, time-restricted lifestyle. It is an ideal natural resource, adding charm and value to the neighborhood; ecologically, socially, economically, and psychologically.
By Bud Key, Mid-Atlantic Director – TeeTime Golf Pass
Ben Hogan, revered by many as the most technically perfect ball-striker in history, is famously attributed with the quote: “Golf is not a matter of life or death, it’s more important than that.” This sentiment perfectly captures the deep passion and significance the sport holds for so many of us.
In the fall of 2023, I struggled through a round of 18 holes at my favorite local course. For several months, I
