Man, I’ll never forget pulling into Wicomico Shores Golf Course for the first time last Tuesday. Felt like a total newbie squeezing my dusty clubs out of the trunk. Here’s how it all went down, step by step – wish I’d known this stuff beforehand!
The Drive Up & First Panic
First off, GPS took me right past the dang entrance. Had to loop back, sweating buckets thinking I’d miss my tee time. Parked near what looked like the clubhouse – turned out to be the pro shop. Don’t make my mistake: go straight to the bag drop area first! Some poor kid saw me lugging my bag and sprinted over looking stressed. Lesson one: let them handle your clubs at the drop-off zone near the main building.
The “What Do I Do Now?” Moment
Walked into the clubhouse feeling kinda lost. Smelled like coffee and stale grass – classic golf spot vibes. Saw a line at the counter but then spotted a tiny sign saying “CHECK IN HERE FOR TEE TIMES.” Almost walked right by it. Got my wristband and a super crumpled course map. Guy behind the counter mumbled something about “cart path rules today” – didn’t ask, just nodded like I knew. Big mistake.
Pro tip: actually ask about the cart rules. Found out later the hard way…
Pre-Round Chaos
Hit the practice green to kill time. Grass felt like concrete! Took me five whiffs before I connected properly. Saw the starter waving our group over early. Jogged to the first tee while stuffing a half-eaten protein bar in my pocket. Starter grunted, “Gentlemen, we’re running hot today. Keep pace.” Felt like being scolded before even swinging.
On The Course – The Good, Bad & Ugly
First hole looked wide open. Easy, right? Nope. Whacked my drive straight into the woods. Forgot these fairways slope hard right near the bunkers. Spent ten minutes hunting for that stupid ball while the group behind us tapped their feet.
-
Quick Wicomico Must-Knows:
- The sand traps play WET. Like, splash-when-you-walk wet. Bring extra towels.
- Holes 7 & 11 have blind shots over hills. Seriously, just trust your yardage.
- Water comes outta nowhere! Thought Hole 8 was safe… then splash. Lost a brand new Pro-V1.
- Cart paths? Forced to use ’em after rain. Ended up walking half the fairways ’cause the path looped way left. Brutal on the legs.
Oh, and the greens? Faster than my wifi after midnight. Rolled my first putt clean off the dang green. Wanted to crawl under the cart.
Wrapping Up & Realizations
Finished 18 holes sunburned and two balls short. Returned the cart (keys go in that rusty dropbox near the pumps!), grabbed a lukewarm beer from the cooler inside, and just collapsed at a patio table. Watched another newbie dragging his bag toward the clubhouse and almost yelled “USE THE BAG DROP!”
Final takeaways? Bring twice the balls you think you’ll need. Wear waterproof shoes – not just “water resistant.” Hydrate like crazy; those back-nine hills sneak up on you. And for Pete’s sake, read the cart rules on the board by the starter shack!
Totally coming back though – once my blisters heal.
