Garrett County Government - Department of Business Development

Ribbon Cutting Held for Thousand Acres Golf Club's 18-Hole Championship Golf Course

Last Updated on May 23, 2023 at 2:37pm | Garrett County Economic Development

Men and women holding a red ribbon with scissors cutting the ribbonThe Garrett County Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the grand opening of Thousand Acres Golf Club’s 18-Hole Championship Golf Course with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Connor Norman, Business Development Specialist and Chair of the Garrett County Diplomats, led the ceremony. Local dignitaries in attendance include Delegate Jim Hinebaugh, County Commissioners Paul Edwards and Ryan Savage, Judge Justin Gregory, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Interim President Andrew Fike, and Chamber Board Chair Steve Stuck.

Attendees congratulated owners Albert “Bud” Hawk and Cindy Stark, General Manager Bob Raley, and the entire Thousand Acres Golf Club team on the debut of their 18-hole championship golf course. Proceeding the ceremony guests were treated to a catered lunch and complimentary golf. The golf event sold “Mulligans for Charity” with golfers raising over $2000 for local charities including The Hart Foundation, Cindy’s Fund, WGW Community Youth Cup, and the Deep Creek Watershed Foundation.

“Thousand Acres golf course is beyond stunning,” said Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Interim President Andrew Fike. “All aspects of the course have that ‘WOW’ factor. Completing this course to 18 holes is such a huge addition to our county and region. Thank you very much to the owners, as well as the staff and management team, who have worked so hard to create and now maintain such a wonderful gem!”

Garrett County Diplomats Steve Bortz, Jessica Dijak, Leah Diehl, David Jochynek, Leah Knicely, Julie Mead, Connor Norman, and Emily Tobin assisted in the official ribbon cutting.

“This was a great day for Thousand Acres Golf Club,” said General Manager Bob Raley. “The idea for this 18-hole championship golf course is 30 years in the making and 15 years since the first nine-holes were constructed. To finally have the full 18-hole course completed and open feels like a dream come true.”

The vision of Thousand Acres Golf Club is to be a world class golf course experience, a place golfers feel like they have to visit. The golf club is semi-private, with memberships available, and is open to the public.

“The good news is we are just getting started, we have a clubhouse to build, other club amenities to offer, and a golf course community to cultivate,” said Raley. “We are really excited about our future, we are signing up new members beyond our expectations, and the public has been asking for the completed 18-hole course, pretty much since the front nine opened in 2010. We are proud of what we have built, and we want everyone to come play, especially the residents of Garrett County. We have special pricing for county residents on Sunday afternoons.”

Thousand Acres Golf Club is located at 500 Lakeside Club Drive in Swanton, Maryland. More information about the golf community, memberships and public golf can be found the golf club website, thousandacresgolf.com, or by calling the golf shop at (301) 387-0387.

(Photo provided by Deen Kaplan)