Ocean City

With Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. all within three hours, Ocean City's weekend population often swells to more than 300,000, a tough act to pull off on a 36-square-mile strip of land. The good news for golfers is that Ocean City has plenty of modern, quality tracks to accommodate the crowds.

The must-play courses are the Links at Lighthouse Sound (Arthur Hills) and Bayside Resort and Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus), both with stunning views across the bay of the Ocean City skyline. Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club has 27 holes defined by man-made dunes covered with wild seagrass. Baywood Greens has earned comparisons to Augusta National for its immaculate conditions and meticulous landscaping.

GlenRiddle, set on land formerly used to raise thoroughbred horses, has two distinct 18s, one with Scottish accents, the other cut through tall pines. Rum Pointe Golf Course (Pete Dye) has water views on 17 of 18 holes. Eagle's Landing is the best bargain and one of the top municipal courses in the nation.

It arrived in 1991 along with a bevy of public-access tracks that remain vital including the 36-hole Bay Club, Beach Club Golf Links and Gary Player's underrated River Run Golf Course. The area's golfing granddaddy, Ocean City Golf Club, has 36 holes including the stellar Newport Bay Course.