It is amazing how the simple task of taking a break from the mundaness of driving long hours on the freeway can lead to such a fascinating golfing experience.

In heading south on the I-95 from TPC Boston, and venue for the Dell Technologies Championship, we stopped for a break in Aberdeen, Maryland.

I have played many games of golf in and around Aberdeen in Scotland but never in Aberdeen, Maryland.

And it came as no surprise to learn Aberdeen, Maryland was named after its mother namesake in Scotland havng been founded around 1800 by Scots from Aberdeen who migrated to the States.

Then in checking ‘sat nav’ here just a short distance off the Interstate was the Wetlands Golf Club.

This is where my golfing tale becomes absolutely fascinating and stumbling, as I did, into the history of a family-owned golf course design business that designed and built, and also owned, golf courses in the USA and the Bahamas.

Wetlands was designed by Henry and Chris Smedley, a family-owned construction company, and built with virtually no outside contracting or help, and something that The Wetlands continues to pride itself on to this day.

“We designed it, we built it and we operate it,” says Henry Smedley.  “Only two percent of all golf courses in the nation are owner built and operated,” says Sam Smedley. “Every aspect of it we do in family,” he adds.

The Wetlands first opened nine holes for business in 1994 before adding a year later the second nine holes to complete the golf course.

I read also Smedley’s sons aged eight and 10 at the time, were soon introduced to golf construction at this time, and were given the job of picking all rocks and stones off of the fairways. They also enlisted their friends as well, although pay was poor and H.C. was a tough boss. It is a wonder they didn’t give up all aspects of golf after that ordeal.

Sadly,  Henry ‘Hank’  Smedley passed away aged 87 in September 2011.  My research revealed he was a former Marine in World War 11 and returned to own and operate the Smedley Construction Company.

Along with Wetlands, and built without any outside contracting, Smedley in 1979 designed, built and operated the Loch Nairn Golf Course along with golf courses in Jamaica including the renowned Cinnamon Hill GC and once ranked inside the top-100 in the world.

In fact, the land Loch Nairn is laid out on was originally owned by a wonderful Scotsman who, feeling the area was getting too developed for him, left, buying an island in Scotland where he resides peacefully with his family.  Smedley having a love for Scotland and Ireland, thought it fitting to name the golf course after Mr. Nairn. Because of the many lakes (lochs) and ponds Loch Nairn seems a fitting name.

THE COURSE

Water guards the green left at the par 5, 14trh hole at Wetlands. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Wetlands GC – The 14th green in the foreground with the 12th green in the background. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Since it opened in 1995, Wetlands has been favored by locals for its fast greens, interesting risk/reward layout, Scottish accents, cozy Cape Cod clubhouse and, most of all, its value.

Nationally acclaimed Pete Dye gem Bulle Rock Golf Course is located less than two miles across I-95, fetching $130 per round and attracting players from up and down the East Coast. Meanwhile Wetlands has carved its niche by appealing to locals who favor upscale golf, minus the bells, whistles and high price tag.

Wetlands Golf Club occupies a dramatic piece of rolling, windswept property, dotted with woods, ponds, streams and marshes.

Little wonder it drew the interest of the Smedley family, also the owners and operators of Loch Nairn Golf Club, 40 miles to the north in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

The par-71Wetlands course measures 6,728-yards off the ‘Championship’ tees, 6,444 off the ‘Back’, 5,971-yards off the ‘Middle’ tees and 5,316 off the ‘Forward’ or ladies tees.

The 18th hole at Wetlands GC. (Photo – Wetlands GC)

There is three par 5s – the third, eighth and 14th holes, and with 14th hole featured above. The par threes are at the fifth, seventh, 12th and 16th holes and with the longest the off the ‘Back’ tees being the 16th at 155-yards while the 12th is the shortest at 122-yards.

The club ranks the par five eight hole, at 586-yards off the ‘Back’ tees as the No. 1 index while the 12th is the easiest or No. 18 index hole.

Wetlands has two distinct nines. While the front is spread out and long (3,593 yards/par 36- championship tees) with wide fairways and plenty of room to miss, the back is congested and short (3,135 yards/par 35) with many parallel holes and lots of trouble.

The opening holes of each nine accurately represent the differences. The first of the championship tee is an uphill, 435-yard test of power, over water on the drive and over an sprawling bunker complex on the approach. The 10th hole, another uphiller defined by fairway bunkers, is all about accuracy. At 317 yards, the 10th is also the shortest par 4 on the course but has a dastardly sloped green.

Wetlands GC – A real golfing treasure chest. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

There are interesting holes at every turn. On the front, the approach at no. 2 — a 423-yard par 4 — is complicated by trees pinching the fairway, a stream that runs across, and a tilted green guarded by bunkers and wetlands.

One of the best holes is no. 4, a 386-yard par 4, where players drive from an elevated tee to an uphill fairway, followed by an approach to a long, narrow green.

The eighth hole is a dogleg left all downhill, framed on the right by trees and entirely visible from the tee, a hole where players can subtract big chunks of yardage by choosing the correct line. The ninth is an intriguing, L-shaped, 453-yard par 4 that appears a mystery from the tee.

Then everything changes on the back nine, which was built first at Wetlands on a small parcel of land. Highlights include the 11th where there is a tree in the middle of the fairway akin to a feature on many Greg Norman designed courses, but then the landing area is wide enough to make the hole fair.

Wetlands GC – The 19th hole and check out the spike-marked floorboards (Photo -www.golfbytourmiss.com)

One of the prettiest holes, and see the photo, is the short par 5 14th at 484 yards, will make players think twice before trying to reach in two given a narrowing fairway that leads to an idylic green complex with water left and bunkers and mounds to the right.

And when your round is over make sure to spend some time wihin the warm ambience of the Wetlands clubhouse with so many photos and artifacts that will also command your attention as much as the golf course itself.