Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 13th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 13th
The green on the par-3 13th hole is in the most scenic part of Turf Valley's Hialeah Course, co-located with the 15th green, also fronted by water. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 1st
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 1st
The intimidating first tee shot, from an elevated tee, is an appropriate way to start a round on the tight, tough Hialeah Course at Turf Valley. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 4th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 4th
The toughest hole of the 36 at Turf Valley is no. 4 on Hialeah, a 437-yard par 4, with this difficult tee shot. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 5th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 5th
The Hialeah Course at Turf Valley has plenty of elevation change, like this downhill approach on the fifth hole. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 6th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 6th
At 164 yards, the shortest hole of the 36 at Turf Valley is the beautiful par-3 sixth, over an environmental strip, on the Hialeah Course. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 8th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 8th
Dramatic approach shots, both downhill and uphill, are plentiful on the Hialeah golf course at Turf Valley, this one at the eighth hole. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 15th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 15th
The 15th green on the Hialeah Course at Turf Valley in Ellicott City, Maryland. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 16th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 16th
Shown is the green on the uphill par-4 16th hole on the Hialeah Course at Turf Valley in Ellicott City, Md. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 15th
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Turf Valley - Hialeah Course - 15th
The prettiest stretch at Turf Valley are holes 13-15 on the Hialeah Course. The greens on the 15th (front) and 13th (rear) are shown here. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Original golf course - 2nd
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Turf Valley - Original golf course - 2nd
The tee shot over water on the second hole of the Original Course at Turf Valley is intimidating. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Original golf course - 4th
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Turf Valley - Original golf course - 4th
The uphill approach at no. 4 on the Original golf course at Turf Valley is easier than it looks as the green opens wide. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
Turf Valley - Original golf course - 18th
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Turf Valley - Original golf course - 18th
A Golf View room at the resort hotel at Turf Valley overlooks the 18th green of the Original Course. Kevin Dunleavy/Golf Advisor
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You can experience private, top-flight golf at Turf Valley near Washington, D.C.

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. -- The carts are lined up, in rows of two military-style, from one end of the clubhouse to the other.

This is the scene on a typical Monday, Tuesday or Friday, when Turf Valley hosts the kind of corporate outings that have helped make the resort/private club a success since it opened in 1959 in then-sleepy Howard County.

Located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Turf Valley has undergone many changes as the area's population has boomed. Today, Turf Valley is the centerpiece of a community of the same name.

Despite its "private" status, anyone can access Turf Valley's 36 holes with a stay-and-play package. The best way to go is with a Golf View room, overlooking the back nine of the Original Course.

Turf Valley's Hialeah Course (6,547 yards/72.0 rating/138 slope) is the tougher and more scenic 18. The Original Course (6,762/71.3/130) is longer but has more room to miss and fewer hazards.

Both golf courses are Ed Ault designs that have true, fast greens and the overall conditions expected of a private facility, even one that gets as much outing business as Turf Valley.

Kevin Dunleavy is a longtime resident of northern Virginia, a graduate of George Mason University, an award-winning reporter covering golf, colleges, and other sports for the Washington Examiner, and a single-digit handicap still seeking his elusive first hole-in-one. Follow Kevin on Twitter at @KDunleavy.
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You can experience private, top-flight golf at Turf Valley near Washington, D.C.