• Howard County, Maryland is home to many excellent public golf courses.Golf cart on golf course image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  Golf enthusiasts in Howard County, Maryland, have a myriad of options when looking for good public courses. Howard County, with its convenient location between the major cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., is a popular choice for golfers who seek a good game of golf or just to practice their swings.
  
  

Willow Springs

• Located in West Friendship, Maryland, Willow Springs Golf Course is an 18-hole bluegrass course that offers enough variety to challenge even the most experienced golfer. This public course features many grass bunkers, which are scattered throughout the course, as well as water hazards that come into play on several holes.
  
  Willow Springs is open year-round and, as of June 2010, greens fees ranged between $20 to $49. As per the dress code requirements, no cutoff shorts or tank tops are allowed.
  
  Willow Springs Golf Course
  12980 Livestock Road
  West Friendship, MD 21794
  410-489-7700
  willowspringsgolfcourse.com
  
  

Timbers at Troy

• Elkridge, Maryland, is home to the Timbers at Troy, which was voted one of the "Top 100 Golf Courses for 2009" in the Mid-Atlantic by "Golfstyles" magazine. Golfers play against a backdrop of mature trees, crystal-clear streams and the Maryland countryside on a par-72 championship course that boasts is 6,650 yards and features bentgrass from tee to green.
  
  According to its website, Timbers at Troy also features a state-of-the-art practice range that is complete with bentgrass tees, target greens and a chipping area.
  
  As of June 2010, rates ranged from $18 to $67 for 18 holes with prices varying based upon date, hours and other applicable factors.
  
  The Timbers at Troy
  6100 Marshalee Drive
  Elkridge, MD 21075
  410-313-4653
  timbersgolf.com
  
  

Patuxent Greens

• Patuxent Greens Golf Club is conveniently located in Laurel, Maryland, just 30 minutes between the city of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Rated one of "Golf Digest's" best places to play, Patuxent Greens offers 6,294 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 and a Russell Roberts signature design layout.
  
  Patuxent Greens also features a short-irons range, which is also available for warm-ups as well as a sports bar style snack bar, with fully stocked bar, soft drinks and various snack items.
  
  As of June 2010, the cost for an 18-hole round of golf ranged from $23.99 to $33.99 based on date and tee time.
  
  Patuxent Greens Golf Club
  14415 Greenview Drive
  Laurel, MD 20708
  301- 776-5533
  patuxentgolf.com