Bulle Rock Golf Course

Bulle Rock is a Pete Dye design spread across 275 acres of former thoroughbred horse country in Havre de Grace, Maryland, with no residential development encroaching on the layout. Named for a direct descendant of the first thoroughbred stud brought to America, the course hosted the LPGA Championship from 2005 through 2009, featuring victories by Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Suzann Pettersen, Yani Tseng, and Anna Nordqvist.

Bulle Rock Golf Course opened in 1998 in Havre de Grace, Maryland, designed by the legendary Pete Dye. The course is built on the old Blenheim Farm, a historic property that had been the home of many thoroughbred race horses over the years. The name "Bulle Rock" pays tribute to the first thoroughbred stud brought to America, establishing a connection between the property's equestrian heritage and its new identity as a championship golf venue. Dye's bold design spreads over 275 acres, and in a notable departure from the common practice of incorporating residential development alongside golf courses, Bulle Rock features no homesites or amenities other than golf. This purity of purpose allows every acre to serve the playing experience, with no houses lining the fairways or commercial distractions interrupting the natural setting. The course plays to a par of 72 and stretches to 7,375 yards from the championship Black tees, with a demanding course rating of 75.6 and a slope of 147.

Dye employed his trademark design elements at Bulle Rock, including railroad ties, strategic waste areas, and boldly shaped bunkers that create visual intimidation while offering strategic choices off every tee. The layout traverses varied terrain, with rolling hills, mature hardwoods, and several water features that come into play on key holes. Seven sets of tees ensure that players of all abilities can enjoy the course, from the 7,375-yard Black tees down to the 4,133-yard Teal tees. The course received immediate recognition upon opening, being named America's Best New Upscale Public Course of 1998. This distinction established Bulle Rock as a distinguished public-access golf experiences in the Mid-Atlantic region and drew national attention to the Havre de Grace area as a golf destination. Bulle Rock's most significant chapter in tournament golf came when it was selected to host the LPGA Championship, one of women's professional golf's five major championships.

The course hosted the event for five consecutive years from 2005 through 2009, establishing itself as a standout memorable venue in the championship's history. The 2005 LPGA Championship saw Annika Sorenstam claim her third consecutive victory in the event, finishing three strokes ahead of 15-year-old amateur Michelle Wie. In 2006, Se Ri Pak won her third LPGA Championship title in a playoff against Karrie Webb after three-putting the 72nd hole to fall into a tie at 8-under par 280. Suzann Pettersen captured the 2007 edition, adding a major title to her growing resume. The 2008 championship produced a remarkable stories in women's major championship history when 19-year-old tour rookie Yani Tseng defeated Maria Hjorth on the fourth extra hole of a sudden-death playoff. Tseng's victory made her the first rookie to win a women's major in a decade and launched what would become a standout dominant careers in LPGA Tour history.

The final LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock, in 2009, was won by 22-year-old Anna Nordqvist, another tour rookie, who captured her first major title by four strokes over runner-up Lindsey Wright. More recently, Bulle Rock has hosted the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships in 2024 and 2025, continuing its tradition of hosting competitive women's golf. The course remains one of the top-rated public courses in Maryland and continues to draw players from across the Mid-Atlantic region who seek the challenge and beauty of Pete Dye's design on this historic thoroughbred property.