Local Baltimore golf courses bringing golf to college students
As golf season approaches, local courses provide cheap resources
College students are always looking ways to save. They save on used books, dinner specials, and now, golf?
This spring, instead of paying higher greens fees or simply not playing at all, students can find what they are looking for with the Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation’s college student discount.
The BMGC offers local golfers and college students an affordable way to play five different courses for a reduced cost, and includes low prices on the Pine Ridge 
driving range and specials on food and drinks. For any local golfer, this is the best way to save some cash and still be able to play competitive courses.
BMGC sees this as a way to draw local college kids into the game, and hopefully get them to return to the courses in Baltimore. It wasn’t just about the reduced fee, but rather opportunities that students might otherwise not have.
“We offer this rate knowing that there is only so much that a college student can afford,” said Tom Pierce, the director of marketing for the BMGC. “But also we know that kids of this age are new to the game or just started the game, and there is easy accessibility to find the love for the game and to create golfers for life. We’re trying to give them that avenue.”
Founded in 1985, the BMGC has used over $9 million to renovate Baltimore’s local courses, which include Carroll Park, Clifton Park, Forest Park, Mount Pleasant, and Pine Ridge.
Much of its history was to give back to the community. Easy figures to point to are the $4 million in donations to Baltimore city youth programs and promotions just like this college discount.
Course openings
Since we were all busy shoveling out our cars during two blizzards in the past month, golf season hasn’t quite been on our minds. But the beginning of March marks the calendar for the start of another spring and a chance to make a tee time.
Recently, two of the five municipal courses, Clifton Park and Carroll Park, have opened. While Carroll only has walking availability, Clifton has their cart paths open.
“With course openings, it changes by the hour,” Pierce said when asked about the start dates. “Clifton and Carroll are more open and dry easier, so they are usually the first ones to open. Then Mount Pleasant, then Forest Park and Pine Ridge because of the amount of trees there.”
As the weather gets better, the courses begin to dry up and the greens get back to normal.
Greens and fairways still covered with snow at Pine Ridge
“I was there this morning, and there were five people at the Pine Ridge driving range,” said Pierce. “People are anxious.”
I hear about a discount, but what am I really going to pay?
The rates for this college pass in $23 at Clifton Park, $24 at Forest Park, $30 at Mount Pleasant, $34 for Pine Ridge, and only $12 at Carroll Park. These rates are anywhere from $6 to $9 off the normal rates.
“Having the discounted rates and the players card is the main reason I can still play a lot of golf in the spring time,” said Brendan McGowan, a 22-year-old Annapolis native and undergrad at Towson University. “Without it, I wouldn’t be able to pay the fees.”
To get these rates, all you need is a college ID and pay $10 to buy a players card. This player’s card gives you reduced rates even when the college student fees can’t be used on times like Saturday mornings.
Also, you get free tee times and discounts on food and beverages. One of the best uses is to have “replays”, when a golfer can replay the same course for as little as $5.
“We do require the players card because it makes it more convenient for both the student and the golfer,” said Pierce. “That way also they can play whenever the player card rates are applied, and find more ways to save.”
Five courses working together
The unique part about this college rate is that it isn’t a chance to only play one course. The five courses and their golf pros work together to make sure that people can play multiple courses and get the most out of the opportunity.
“Some college kids come up, but not as many as we might like,” said Brian Meyer, the PGA pro at Mount Pleasant. “It’s (Mount Pleasant) a really good golf course with close proximity.”
What the BMGC does stress is that this isn’t just a chance to play golf, but a chance to play at great golf courses. Mount Pleasant was recently ranked the #12 municipal golf course in the U.S. by GolfWeek.
“That was the biggest part of this student rate for me” said Ryan Wolfe, a junior at Towson Univeristy. “It was a chance to play for cheap, but these are good courses to play at for any price.”
What it means for students
So how does this program work?
“I think the easiest way to get them to come are the prices,” joked Meyer.
Admittedly, the best way to lure customers is a cheap price, but is there more than that to BMGC’s plan? What kind of reviews are they getting?
“As somebody who plays these courses, I think the price helps, but it is also how well you are treated when you go to the course,” said Andrew McGlynn, a sophomore at Towson. “It’s a unique environment that draws you back to these courses.”
That is exactly what the Pierce and his marketing team were hoping for, young golfers coming back to their courses and becoming members for life.
This is the time of the year when they want to get the word out to people and hope to see the courses full in the coming months.
“I know that I’ll continue to come back, and more of my friends are starting to join me,” said McGowan. “It’s pretty unusual to give college kids these kinds of options, and something that kids like me really appreciate.”
For a map of the courses and directions, look at this Google Map here.
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