The Links at Lighthouse Sound
Course Description
The Links at Lighthouse Sound opened in 2000 and is home of the longest cart bridge in the United States, stretching nearly 1,500 feet. This bridge will take you from the bay side holes across to the pristine marsh side.
The course features the only consecutive holes in America playing to the same double green. The Par Five, 2nd playing 508 yards and the Par Three, 3rd 190 yards play to a 16,000 square foot green set along a tidal marsh of the Assawomen Bay.
The signature hole, the Par Three 5th plays directly over the marsh to a green surrounded by water on three sides. This hole plays from 89 to 218 yards, and also provides spectacular views of the Ocean City skyline.
The back nine holes play along the St. Martin’s River and through the trees and marshland that have been undisturbed since the beginning of time. The Par Three 11th and Par Five 12th play directly along the river.
| Slope/Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 75.1/142 | 395 | 508 | 190 | 430 | 218 | 390 | 622 | 355 | 444 | 310 | 188 | 558 | 184 | 462 | 430 | 360 | 455 | 532 |
| Gold | 72.9/135 | 332 | 496 | 173 | 385 | 185 | 385 | 585 | 326 | 396 | 296 | 169 | 545 | 172 | 432 | 409 | 333 | 432 | 505 |
| Green | 71.7/135 | 332 | 496 | 162 | 385 | 160 | 385 | 550 | 326 | 389 | 296 | 152 | 531 | 161 | 392 | 390 | 333 | 400 | 505 |
| Blue | 70.1/130 | 281 | 448 | 162 | 360 | 168 | 280 | 550 | 317 | 389 | 285 | 152 | 531 | 151 | 392 | 390 | 305 | 400 | 470 |
| White | 67.7/120 | 273 | 439 | 139 | 352 | 153 | 267 | 516 | 287 | 365 | 250 | 111 | 375 | 146 | 350 | 375 | 300 | 395 | 455 |
| White | 72.8/136 | 273 | 439 | 139 | 352 | 153 | 267 | 516 | 287 | 365 | 250 | 111 | 375 | 146 | 350 | 375 | 300 | 395 | 455 |
| Red | 63.8/104 | 235 | 389 | 82 | 235 | 112 | 242 | 405 | 240 | 320 | 195 | 105 | 367 | 120 | 252 | 295 | 233 | 322 | 404 |
| Red | 67.8/115 | 235 | 389 | 82 | 235 | 112 | 242 | 405 | 240 | 320 | 195 | 105 | 367 | 120 | 252 | 295 | 233 | 322 | 404 |
| Par | 72 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Course Credits
Head Golf Professional: John Ruddo
Have you ever been to Ruddo’s Golf in West Ocean City? If so, you’ve been to John Ruddo’s golf merchandise store! In addition to his store, you can find his merchandise at all Ruark Golf locations.
John is the Head Golf Professional at Lighthouse Sound, overseeing and running the entire operation on a daily basis. He has been with Lighthouse Sound for five years, but before joining Ruark Golf, John was the Head Pro at the Beach Club Golf Links in Berlin for 12 years.
His job at the Beach Club Golf Links is what drew him to the town of Ocean City in 1991. Originally from the Washington D.C. area, he graduated from Maryland University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business.
John was proudly awarded PGA Mid Atlantic Section Resort Merchandiser of the Year in 1999. The award recognizes PGA professionals who have demonstrated superior skills as merchandisers in the promotion of golf!
“I like dealing with such a different variety of people on a daily basis. Going to work with this view of the beautiful golf course is much better than spending time on the Beltway for sure!”
Golf Course Superintendent: Tom Akers
As the Golf Course Superintendent of Lighthouse Sound, Tom Akers works to upkeep the golf courses daily. He has been with Ruark Golf at Lighthouse Sound for 18 years!
Tom attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA where he earned a degree in Agronomy. Before joining Ruark Golf, he worked at a golf course in Peterstown, West Virginia where he helped construct the golf course.
Although working less than a half an hour away from his hometown of Princeton, WV early on in his career, Tom was drawn to Ocean City, MD when he received a job at Lighthouse Sound.
“I like being able to provide a good product for customers to enjoy through my job. Overall, I like to make people happy.”
Course History
The property, now known as Lighthouse Sound, was a working farm until the mid 1960’s when a massive development with almost three thousand home sites was envisioned and construction actually begun. The old silo and barn from the farm days can still be seen from the driving range. The project was stopped before completion and the property changed hands several times before the Ruark family bought the project in the late 1990’s and committed to preserving the natural beauty of the property.
Most of the home sites were eliminated from the project, and the ones that remain were pulled off of the waterfront, reserving the most pristine areas for golf and preserving the environmentally sensitive areas. Rather than impacting wetlands wooden cart bridges were built throughout the property, including the longest cart bridge in the US, running between holes 8 and 9.
Lighthouse Sound has been recognized by most of the golf publications including a Top 100 rating by Golf Magazine. We hope you will take notice of the surroundings we have preserved as you enjoy your round here at Lighthouse Sound
Course Architect
Arthur Hills
With a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, Arthur Hills is a renowned American golf course designer and architect. Having designed over 180 new golf courses, he has worked on private, resort, upscale, and public courses throughout the world.
Arthur is the chief designer for his firm Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates. His firm has been asked to renovate or modify over 120 courses, including some of the most well-known, respected clubs and courses in preparation for major USGA and PGA Championships.
From as close as the Manor Country Club in Rockville, MD, to as far as Portugal and Sweden, Arthur has put his course design talents to use, and continues to do so through his firm today!
