Mount Pleasant Golf Course is an 18-hole championship municipal course at 6001 Hillen Road in Baltimore that has hosted PGA Tour events and offers rates starting at $17 on weekdays and $22 on weekends.
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about playing this historic Arnold Palmer-tested layout, including detailed pricing, booking tips, course strategy, and available programs.
Course Overview and Essential Information
You'll find Mount Pleasant Golf Course at 6001 Hillen Road in Baltimore, MD 21239, positioned along Northern Parkway in the northern part of the city.
The pro shop opens early and stays accessible throughout the day—weekdays from 6:45 AM to 6:30 PM, with weekend hours starting even earlier at 5:30 AM.
Call (410) 254-5100 to reach the pro shop directly, and note that the course operates year-round when weather allows.
This 18-hole championship municipal layout has been testing golfers since 1933, when Charles Augustin (Gus) Hook designed what would become one of Baltimore's most respected public courses.
The par-71 design offers five different tee configurations, giving you options regardless of your skill level.
Tee Options and Course Measurements:
- Blue Tees stretch to 6,726 yards with a 74.2 rating and 124 slope
- White Tees play at 6,333 yards (72.7 rating, 126 slope)
- Blended White/Gold combination measures 5,950 yards (68.3 rating, 122 slope)
- Gold Tees offer 5,376 yards of challenge (66.2 rating, 118 slope)
- Red Tees come in at 5,566 yards (65.4 rating, 116 slope)
The layout features ryegrass fairways lined with mature trees, creating natural corridors that demand accuracy off the tee.
You'll encounter strategically placed bunkers throughout, along with water hazards and greenside sand traps that come into play on multiple holes.
What really defines Mount Pleasant is its terrain.
The course rolls over hilly ground with significant elevation changes that create both challenge and character.
These slopes make holding fairways difficult—your ball can easily catch a side hill and roll into trouble even when you've struck it well.
The undulation carries through to the greens, where you'll face substantial break on nearly every putt.
Club selection becomes more complicated when you're hitting uphill or downhill approaches, and the green complexes reward players who understand how to use the terrain rather than fight against it.
Tournament Legacy and Historical Significance
Mount Pleasant earned its reputation on the national stage when it hosted the prestigious Eastern Open from 1950 through 1958, with a return appearance in 1962.
The tournament drew some of golf's biggest names during that era—Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Cary Middlecoff, Bob Toski, and Tommy Bolt all competed on this Baltimore layout.
The most memorable moment in the course's history happened during Palmer's 1956 Eastern Open victory, which marked his third PGA Tour win.
On the opening hole, a 560-yard par-5 that runs alongside Hillen Road, Palmer hooked his tee shot so badly that his ball landed on the actual road bordering the fairway.
Frustrated and embarrassed, he jammed his driver back into his bag and told his caddie, “That's it… I quit.”
His playing partner that day, Doug Ford, wasn't having it.
Ford convinced Palmer to stick it out, telling him he could spot the entire field a couple of shots and still come out on top.
Palmer grabbed a long iron, split the fairway with his next shot, and went on to win the tournament.
A photograph of Palmer accepting the 1956 Eastern Open trophy still hangs in the clubhouse, a permanent reminder of the day a future legend nearly walked off the course.
The tournament pedigree extends beyond the Eastern Open.
Mount Pleasant hosted the 1939 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, establishing itself early on as one of Baltimore's first legitimate tournament venues.
This history hasn't gone unnoticed—Golfweek Magazine ranked it as high as 12th Best Municipal Golf Course in the United States, and Golf Digest awarded it a 4-star rating.
Golf Digest characterizes Mount Pleasant as “arguably Baltimore's best municipal course” with “a good deal of history,” describing it as a “testing course with tight layout and severe terrain.”
That assessment captures what makes this course special—it's not just the past tournaments or famous names, but the fact that the layout still challenges golfers nearly a century after it opened.
Pricing Structure and Booking Your Tee Time
Mount Pleasant offers competitive rates that shift based on when you play, what day of the week it is, and your player status.
All fees include your golf cart rental except for junior rates, which keeps things simple when you're budgeting for your round.
Weekday Rates (with Player Card):
- Open to 11 AM: $47 adult, $42 senior/hero/student
- 11 AM to 2 PM: $44 adult, $41 senior/hero/student
- 2 PM to 4 PM: $40 adult, $39 senior/hero/student
- 4 PM to 6 PM: $34 adult, $31 senior/hero/student
- After 6 PM: $17 for all players
- 9-hole rounds: $29 adult, $28 senior/hero/student
Weekend and Holiday Rates (with Player Card):
- Open to 11 AM: $54 adult, $53 senior/hero/student
- 11 AM to 2 PM: $47 adult, $44 senior/hero/student
- 2 PM to 4 PM: $37 adult, $36 senior/hero/student
- 4 PM to 6 PM: $25 adult, $22 senior/hero/student
If you don't have a Player Card, expect to pay $5 to $11 more depending on your time slot.
Junior players under 18 pay between $11 and $20, with the exact rate depending on the day and time you're teeing off.
The Player Card categories break down as follows: Adult covers ages 25-61, Senior applies to anyone 62 or older, Hero status goes to first responders and active duty military, and Student rates are available for anyone under 25 with a current student ID.
Additional fees to keep in mind include $9 for a golf cart if you're playing 18 holes outside the standard rate structure, $6 for carts on 9-hole rounds or after 4 PM, and $19 to $22 for replays and travelers when space is available.
The Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation has managed Mount Pleasant since 1985, when the organization formed to oversee what's now known as “Baltimore's Classic Five”—Mount Pleasant, Pine Ridge, Clifton Park, Forest Park, and Carroll Park.
The BMGC has invested over $15.5 million in capital improvements across these facilities since its founding, and the corporation has returned more than $8 million to the community through the Youth Activity Fund and Baltimore City Foundation.
Jonathan Ladd serves as Executive Director.
You can book tee times 24 hours a day at www.classic5golf.com, where the best rates are always available.
The online system operates under the Classic 5 Golf brand and gives you instant access to available times across all five courses.
If you prefer booking over the phone, call the pro shop at (410) 254-5100.
Course Layout and Playing Strategy
Mount Pleasant represents classic golf course design at its best—the layout rewards strategic shot-making rather than raw distance.
At just over 6,700 yards from the tips, the course isn't particularly long compared to modern championship layouts, but it compensates through terrain and clever design.
The severe, hilly ground creates blind shots and uneven lies throughout your round.
You'll rarely find a flat stance in the fairway, and the significant green undulation means you need to read putts carefully from multiple angles.
Elevation changes complicate club selection on nearly every approach shot, and the greens break considerably more than they appear at first glance.
Your round begins on the signature first hole, the same 560-yard par-5 running along Hillen Road where Arnold Palmer famously hooked his opening tee shot onto the pavement.
Take this as fair warning—use caution off the first tee and make sure you're aimed properly before pulling the trigger.
Choosing Your Tees:
Match your tee selection to your handicap for the best experience.
Players with handicaps from 0 to 9 should play the Blue tees, those ranging from 10 to 24 will find the White tees appropriate, and anyone with a handicap of 25 or higher should opt for the Gold or Red tees.
Pace of Play Expectations:
Mount Pleasant enforces clear pace of play standards.
You need to keep up with the group ahead of you, and marshals will issue warnings if your pace slows.
After two warnings, groups that fall 1.5 holes behind may be asked to skip a hole to get back on track.
Pick up your ball after reaching double par on any hole, and use continuous putting rather than marking every shot to keep things moving.
Recent player feedback paints a mixed picture of course conditions.
The greens consistently receive praise—they're firm, fast, and roll true, which is what matters most for scoring.
However, some fairways show thin spots with bare patches, and the cart paths display their age in places.
Despite these maintenance considerations, players appreciate the value proposition.
The challenging layout combined with genuine historical significance makes Mount Pleasant an excellent deal, particularly for Baltimore residents looking for quality golf without premium pricing.
Facilities, Programs, and Instruction
The clubhouse sits in the renovated Taylor Mansion, which was remodeled between 1936 and 1937 specifically for golf operations.
Inside, you'll find a pro shop stocked with equipment, apparel, rental clubs, and accessories, along with the Champions Grill for food service and locker rooms for changing. Historical photographs and Eastern Open memorabilia line the walls throughout the building, giving you a sense of the course's tournament pedigree.
PGA professionals staff the pro shop and can help with equipment questions or course advice.
Mount Pleasant maintains a driving range and putting greens on-site for warming up before your round.
If you want more extensive practice facilities, two other Classic 5 Golf driving ranges are nearby.
The Pine Ridge location in Lutherville features 45 stations with 22 covered for all-weather use, powered by Toptracer technology that tracks your shots. Forest Park offers a 150-yard range with 7 stations and 5 target greens.
A popular tip from regular players: grab a hot dog at the turn from Champions Grill. It's become something of a tradition on the course.
Instruction and Skill Development:
The Baltimore Golf Academy operates at Classic 5 facilities and provides comprehensive instruction for every skill level.
You can choose from group classes, clinics, mini-camps, individual lessons, or on-course instruction depending on what fits your learning style and schedule.
Both PGA and LPGA professionals handle the teaching, so you're getting expert guidance regardless of which program you select.
Visit www.baltimoregolfacademy.com for details or ask in the pro shop.
League Play Options:
Mount Pleasant hosts two regular leagues that welcome new members.
The Tuesday Ladies League accepts players of all skill levels as long as you can maintain pace of play and understand basic rules and etiquette.
If you don't have an established handicap, submit 5 scorecards from Mount Pleasant or other courses to get started.
Contact Martina Compton at mmcompton@verizon.net or (410) 299-4861 for information.
The Monday Twilight League runs from April through June with tee times between 4:40 PM and 6:00 PM each Monday.
Register online at www.twilightgolfassociation.com or call 855-565-4653.
The course also hosts the annual Baltimore Amateur Championship, a two-round tournament that attracts up to 132 eligible amateur golfers.
The event includes both regular and senior divisions, with the senior category open to players 55 and older.
The junior golf program deserves special mention—it serves over 500 young players annually, providing affordable access to the game and helping develop the next generation of Baltimore golfers.
Golf Outings, Special Rules, and Planning Your Visit
Mount Pleasant accommodates golf outings for groups of various sizes with flexible format options.
Shotgun starts run Monday through Friday at 8 AM and can handle anywhere from 80 to 144 players on the 18-hole course, with modified formats available for smaller groups.
First tee starts operate seven days a week beginning at 11 AM, accommodating 20 to 80 players depending on the season.
Outing packages can be customized to include extras like a golf clinic led by the course PGA Pro, club rentals for players who need them, and customized putting contests to add competitive fun to your event.
These additions carry extra fees beyond the base outing rate.
Pricing varies throughout the year, so contact the pro shop at (410) 254-5100 to discuss your group size, preferred date, and package options.
Rules and Requirements to Know:
You'll need to follow several special rules when playing Mount Pleasant.
Any ball that crosses a paved road is out of bounds—remember this on the first hole where Hillen Road borders the fairway.
Coolers aren't permitted on the course except for personal-use thermoses.
Cart rentals require you to be at least 18 years old with a valid driver's license, and soft spikes are mandatory throughout the facility.
Additional Amenities:
The course accepts credit cards and provides standard golf carts, though they're not equipped with GPS units.
Walking is permitted if you prefer to carry your bag or use a push cart.
Rental clubs are available if you're traveling or want to try different equipment.
The facility offers banquet space for post-round gatherings and bar service for groups looking to celebrate or debrief after their round.
Mount Pleasant sits in northeastern Baltimore with easy access from major roadways.
You're looking at roughly 2 to 3 miles from Towson and about 4 to 5 miles from downtown Baltimore, making it convenient whether you're a city resident or visiting from outside the area.
What makes Mount Pleasant worth your time is simple: you're getting access to a tournament-tested layout that's been challenging golfers for over 90 years.
This isn't a newly built course trying to establish credibility—it's a classic parkland-style design with genuine PGA Tour history, offered at rates that make regular play affordable.
You're experiencing authentic traditional golf in Baltimore, the kind that emphasizes strategy and course management over scorecard yardage.
For players who appreciate golf's heritage and want to test themselves on the same holes where Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and other legends competed, Mount Pleasant delivers that experience without the premium price tag.
Conclusion
Mount Pleasant gives you championship golf at municipal rates, plain and simple.
Book your tee time at www.classic5golf.com or call (410) 254-5100 to experience the same layout that tested Arnold Palmer and other PGA Tour legends.
Whether you're a Baltimore resident looking for regular play or a visitor wanting to walk some genuine golf history, this 1933 design delivers quality without the country club price.
