Had the opportunity to play Baltimore CC (Five Farms East) on Monday; it is Tillinghast (1926) with restoration by Silva in 1991 and recent work by Keith Foster that included altering green slopes on 3 or 4 holes, and adding a few tee boxes (don't know what other, if any, changes he made).
Some thoughts from a first glance:
1. The green on the par-4 10th is an unbelievably small target for a 430-yard hole, with water short-left, deep bunker right and green sloping hard toward right-to-left, with no real run-up option. Amazing shot into that green.
2. Favorite holes were the par-3 13th with a small target and a great tree (yes, a great tree) short right and another short left, followed by the Hells 1/2 Acre par-5 14th where a layup just clearing the cross bunkers will catch a slope and run an additional 50 yards.
3. Also enjoyed the sharp downhill dogleg left par-5 6th, where the ideal tee shot goes directly over the maintenance barn, and the short par-4 7th, with a slanting, rolling fairway doglegging left to a steeply sloping two-tiered green.
4. I thought the 8th and 18th were ordinary par-4's compared to the others, which as a set I really enjoyed playing. The 17th was a fun par-3, uphill over a valley with a steep green, but looked more like a modern hole than the others.
5. The green slopes on #'s 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 17 were severe enough that missing the green above the hole would almost surely lead to losing a shot. On many holes, though, especially on #'s 2 and 15, missing the green short means that the ball will funnel way down the hill, leaving a tough recovery pitch or run-up.
6. The fairway slopes on #'s 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 15, and 16 were fun and dictated what type of shot and what line to choose off the tee.
7. The course plays long for its yardage because of several uphill approaches, only two par 5's (both over 580), and an abundance of par 4's in the 440 range.
The course, the setting, the wonderful rolling property, and some great weather made the day very enjoyable. I would highly recommend BCFFE and am curious to read your opinions on the course...