Golf is a difficult game.  Thanks to a certain course in Maryland, it is significantly more difficult for me.

The course is Lighthouse Sound, one my friend and I have visited many times on our yearly summer golf trip.  It is by most measures a perfectly lovely place.

But don’t let the pretty view fool you.  This is a course that is hell-bent on destroying clubs.  About seven years ago we were warming up on their driving range before our round when I took a swing with my five iron and suddenly felt it get much lighter.  There was an accompanying sound a metal piece pinwheeling away from me and I was left holding only the shaft as the club head bounced to a stop on the range.

This time around, tragedy struck on the tee of the par 3 fifth hole.  I made a terrible swing with my six iron, carving a nice divot and watching as my ball landed in a marsh.  With no one pushing us from behind, I decided to take another shot.  As I took a practice swing, that familiar sound of flying metal rang out and once again I was left holding only a shaft.

If you’re scoring along at home, I’m down now a five and six iron.  That means when I’m shooting from the fairway (after a brilliant tee shot, of course), my option is to hit either a four or a seven iron.

Some might find that daunting, but I welcome such a challenge and also enjoy the requisite joke of pulling out the five iron shaft and taking a few practice swings before mockingly realizing I can’t actually use it.

How did the rest of the round go?  Swimmingly.  Anytime I shoot in the low 90s I’m happy, and even down those two clubs I managed to card a 92 (I drew squares around my pars, don’t yell at me).

This course also features what it boasts as the longest cart bridge in the United States (which I don’t feel like verifying).  You can see it in the background here:

Or better yet, let’s go for a ride.

You now a cart bridge is serious when it has multiple scenic overlook spots.  We will surely be back again, and I can’t wait to see which of my clubs will break next.