Willow Springs Golf Course
Willow Springs Golf Course is an 18-hole, executive, links-style golf course located in the scenic rolling hills of West Friendship in Howard County, MD, just off I-70 at Sykesville/Rt. 32 Exit #80.
The course, which plays to a par of 62, consists of a unique blend of ten par 3s and eight par 4s and spans 4,253 yards from the tips. With its numerous water hazards, signature “love grass,” dramatic mounding, deep greenside bunkers, and undulating greens, the course truly offers golfers that “Scottish feel” in the heart of central Maryland!
Designed and built by renowned architect Al Janis, Willow Springs Golf Course opened for play in 1991. The course is situated on the former site of “The Bowman Farm,” which operated as a dairy farm for the better part of 35 years. In a Baltimore Sun article about the opening of the course, Janis said, “It’s a dramatic piece of land. We believe we have something special here… I get excited about every hole we’ve done.”
The original clubhouse at Willow Springs was the old Bowman farmhouse, and the putting green and first tee sit on the former location of the barn and silo. A modern 4,500 square foot club house with full pro shop and snack bar was constructed in 2018, capable of hosting outings, events, and weddings.
In designing the course, the architect set out to build “a world-class executive golf course” with a visually appealing layout that would provide a challenge for all levels of golfers. The golf course is a test for the serious golfer, yet is very playable for the “weekend warrior.” The mid-length design allows for a fun, fast, and affordable 18-hole round. The course is complimented by a 32-bay lighted driving range with teaching tee area and practice bunker, indoor simulator, and a large putting/chipping green.
Weather permitting, the golf course and lighted driving range are open year-round except Christmas Day. Tee times are required and can be made up to seven days in advance. Walk-ons may be accepted or paired up depending on availability.
Willow Springs Golf Course looks forward to welcoming you for your next round of golf!
About the Architect
Willow Springs Golf Course, which opened for play in 1991, was designed and constructed by renowned mid-Atlantic golf course architect Alyn “Al” Janis. Al grew up on the golf course in Wilmington, DE, where his father James “Jim” Janis was the superintendent at the storied Dupont Country Club for more than 16 years. Al majored in Landscape Architecture at the College of Design at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.
After college, he worked for famed architects Dick Wilson and Alfred Tull before forming the golf course construction company, James E. Janis & Son, with his father in 1967. Al then went on to start his own firm, Golf by Janis, Inc., in 1974. In 1979, he designed and developed Pine Shore Golf Course just outside Ocean City, MD, which he operated with his family until 2010.
With more than 45 years of experience in the golf industry, Al has completed various golf course design and construction projects at golf clubs including:
- Alpine Country Club – Demarest, NJ
- Aronimink Golf Club – Newtown Square, PA
- Atlantic City Country Club – Northfield, NJ
- Howell Park Golf Course – Howell Township, NJ
- Mulligan’s Pointe (formerly Sussex Pines Country Club) – Georgetown, DE
- Pine Shore Golf North – Berlin, MD
- Pine Shore Golf South – Berlin, MD
- Pine Valley Golf Club – Pine Valley, NJ
- Seaview Golf Club – Galloway, NJ
- Spring Lake Golf Club – Spring Lake, NJ
- Willow Springs Golf Course – West Friendship, MD