Wisp Resort, located in McHenry, is situated in the Alleghany Mountains of Western Maryland. Wisp is Maryland’s premier year-round resort with skiing and snowboarding on 33 trails spread over 170 acres in the winter and a myriad of activities in the summer: escape games, a mountain coaster, miniature golf, indoor swimming pools, and a lot of other family-fun activities. It’s also the home of two championship golf courses, Fantasy Valley and Lodestone.
Fantasy Valley was designed by golf course architect Dominic Palombo, Jr, in 1980 and renovated by Todd Schroeder in 2008. Fantasy Valley has been named as a “100 Must-Play Courses of the Mid-Atlantic” by Golfstyles Magazine. The course is seamlessly woven into the natural contours of the land as it plays through and along tree-lined fairways. The bunkers have been strategically placed, as have several water hazards.
Golfers have four tee boxes to choose from, with yardages ranging from 4,362 to 6,446 yards, suitable for every level of golfer. I found the White Tees at 6,035 yards provided a fitting challenge.
There are a lot of changes in elevation as you make your way around the course. This is evident on the first hole, a 510-yard par 5, dogleg left, which rises significantly as you turn at the dogleg. What makes this hole so interesting is the large hardwood tree that sits about 100 yards from the tee box, dead in front of you. You need to decide whether you’re going over it, under it, or around it. Hit the tree and you may be tempted to get a raincheck and try again tomorrow! Once you pass the tree and get to the dogleg, the hole opens up. You’ll need to hit one or two extra clubs on the next two shots to reach the green. The 3rd hole is a challenging, 170-yard par 3 that plays significantly downhill and one club less than the stated yardage.
There’s a good mix of open holes that let you swing away off the tee, and tree-lined gems that are going to require a little accuracy and finesse. Although the trees aren’t always dense, they will obstruct your path to the green. Then there’s the 4th hole, a 527-yard par 5 that is open off the tee but still requires accuracy. Hit it right, and you’ll need to deal with a steep bank that will create more of a baseball swing than a golf stroke. Hit it left, and you’ll be at the bottom of another steep bank. You’ll need to deal with a small lake and a couple of fairway bunkers on the left with your layup before approaching the green.
If Number 18 isn't the signature hole, it should be. It's a par 3 measuring 158 yards from the White Tees, playing downhill over water to a large, well-undulated green with beautifully sculpted bunkers on the left and in back. It’s very photogenic and looks like a hole any PGA TOUR pro would enjoy playing.
The resort staff is very attentive and knowledgeable about the area. If you don’t have what you need, they’ll find it for you. Hotel General Manager, Freddie Harrison, has a golf background and can tell you everything about either course. Our room was a two-room suite that featured a living room area with a couch, an easy chair, a work desk, a big screen TV, and a Keurig coffee maker. The king-size bed was very comfortable; there was a 2nd TV in the bedroom, as well as a refrigerator and a safe. The bathroom was updated with a walk-in shower and a separate sink area. It was a great place to relax and unwind after a day on the golf course.
Wisp Resort offers guests several dining options, but none better than the Last Chair Bar + Bistro. Last Chair has a very laid-back atmosphere, and guests can warm up inside during the cold winter months or relax on the Beer Garden Deck during the summer. It’s not your typical Ski/golf clubhouse menu, with appetizers like Candied Bacon Brussels Sprouts and Sauteed Mussels. Dinner Entrees include a house-cut New York Strip and Blackened Pecan Salmon, and my wife’s new favorite, their Cajun Chicken Alfredo. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the Blueberry White Chocolate Cheesecake or the Peanut Butter Brownie Tower. It’s all delicious!
5 months ago
This place gets a lot of undeserved hate. Its half the price of lodestone and not half the quality. There are some tight fairways and cool holes here. The pro shop is in a teepee which is cool too. Check this place out for sure.
5 months ago
If you are looking for a Pete Dye course this isn’t it. But I was pleasantly surprised by this course. Narrow fairways, greens were slow but in good shape some bunkers were bad but some good. Beautiful scenery and views. Very friendly staff. Had a blast on this course and will definitely visit again.
a year ago
Please read this before paying to play.
I am an avid golfer that has played courses all across the country. This is the worst bang for your buck imaginable at $75. In Sharon PA, there is a free golf course that blows this place out if the water. There is no irrigation system at the course, so the greens have no chance. They were littered with diseases and the lack of water was evident on every hole. The 18th is likely the signature hole on the course and was not puttable from the lack of grass. We had a group of 8 and for $75 a piece you are better off just renting a boat. The course truly made me feel like trailer park trash, so I took my shirt off half way through my round to work on a tan. With all of that being said, the starter was the nicest starter I had ever encountered, but probably because he knew his employers just scammed us out of $600.
5 months ago
Course was in good shape. And the view at hole number 10 was great! There were quite a number of challenging holes. But then again I don't get out very much to play. I would return to play another 18
2 years ago
