Clustered Spires Golf Club

When looking for pristine courses at an affordable price, golfers would be hard pressed to find a better spot than the Clustered Spires Golf Club.

Owned by the City of Frederick, the 185-acre club is the first public golf course in the county. The facility, located about two miles outside Downtown Frederick, is open to all skill levels. It features an 18-hole course; a three-tier, all-natural turf tee area; a practice bunker; two practice putting greens; hitting mats; as well as a pro shop replete with anything a golfer might need for a day on the greens.

Serving the public for more than 30 years, the club’s name reflects the grouping of five distinct church steeples in the Frederick skyline. Whether working on lowering their handicap, or perfecting their form, guests will enjoy the club’s location; it’s close to the city while also providing a quiet refuge surrounded on three sides by the Monocacy River.

Guests may pay per visit, with discounts offered to City residents as well as seniors, women, juniors, and military. Folks coming after 4 p.m. for twilight hours also receive a lower rate. A yearly greens fee is available to those who plan on coming more frequently.

The club offers lessons – a single session or packages with multiple sessions -- to golfers who want to hone their skills. According to Scott Peterson, the club’s general manager and head golf professional, lessons can be a great investment for players, so they learn the proper fundamentals and techniques of the game. “It makes it more fun down the road,” he noted.

Peterson is self-taught; hard work and practice created his passion for the game. When instructing others to improve their game, he works with the unique attributes each player brings. Leading the facility since 2015, he oversees all golf course operations, camps, clinics, inventory, tournament operations, merchandise, grounds and greenkeeping operations, food and beverages, and a staff of more than 50 employees.

In June, the club hosted a Junior Golf Clinic that focused on skills for children, ages 7 to 17. Once a week for four weeks, Peterson met with 10 participants for an hour-long session. “[The clinic] teaches them sportsmanship, camaraderie, and competition at an early age,” he said. “My key to [keeping kids engaged] is to keep it positive for them, so they will stick to the game.”

The club also runs a snack bar to refresh golfers before, during, or after their day on the greens. The onsite eatery is a wonderful place to have a cocktail or a beer, a hot dog or a burger and fries, and most of all, to relax and recharge.