Did you ever hear about the pioneering Major League Baseball Hall of Fame executive who, after leaving the game, opened one of the most beautiful golf properties that just happens to be in your backyard? Head over to MacPhail Road in Bel Air, home to the Maryland Golf & Country Clubs.
MGCC is blissfully sprawled on the site of the former Glenangus Farms, where Lt. Col. Leland “Larry” Stanford MacPhail Sr. cared for his beloved thoroughbreds. MacPhail, considered one of the great innovators in Major League Baseball history, is credited with dreaming up night games and bringing the first such game to life as general manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1934. He was also the first to implement air travel for a professional baseball team. He brought baseball under the big lights to Brooklyn, too, in 1939, when he worked for the then-Brooklyn Dodgers. He left the Dodgers for the Yankees, where he negotiated player minimum salaries, pension plans, and guided the team to the 1947 World Series. After leaving baseball, he turned to operating Glenangus.
Why is MGCC’s past so important? Because MacPhail bestowed upon MGCC the same kind of pioneering ethos that made him a legend in sports. MGCC is not just a golf club—it’s been the epicenter of social, athletic, and community life for more than six decades. Its foundation has continued to deepen with the kind of multimillion-dollar facilities investments that have made it a golfing destination.
“The Club was founded in 1961 by Larry MacPhail,” says Director of Membership & Marketing Brendalys Snee. “There were several other founding families, but this land belonged to Larry. We have one of the families that started this club from 1961 who is still here, in her 90s. We still have families that joined in the ’60s. Their children are here, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren. This place becomes a second home for families, which I think is different than the impression people have of country clubs. People come here to make lifelong friendships.”
It’s not hard to see why. With its rolling verdant hills, top-flight amenities, and enough activities to keep even the littlest members happy, MGCC is a beautiful place to while away an afternoon, no matter the season—and no matter if you can tell a putter from a wedge.
“Close to half of our members are not golf members,” Snee says."They are what we consider active social members.”
Active social memberships, Snee says, give families access to the pool, which was renovated in 2024; as well as the Cabana Club, added in 2020, which is an outdoor bar with TV screens and full-service dining. Social members spend time on the six Har-Tru surface tennis courts and new pickleball courts. These members have full access to the dining facilities, which were renovated two years ago. The facilities include a temperature-controlled wine storage system and Wine Club, a formal dining room, and casual dining areas. “We recently added an outdoor dining area, which is what members really wanted,” she says. “We ensure our members’ voices are heard.”
For the golf-inclined, you’ll want for naught at first sight of the pristine, classically designed course of undulating terrain. The course was renovated by nationally renowned golf architect Andrew Green, who restored the historic Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Programmatic standouts include Men’s Leagues, Ladies 9-Hole, Ladies 18-Hole, MGCC Seniors, and Junior Golf. The pro shop carries everything from labels like FootJoy and Titleist to Peter Millar and more. Tournaments abound throughout the calendar year; the ambassador program at the club serves to connect new golf members with longstanding ones for play, relationships, and to deepen bonds.
“This truly is a place for everybody,” Snee says.
It’s also a place for community connection. The club partners with local nonprofits and organizations, like the Red Cross. The Harford County Chamber of Commerce hosts events at the club, and Mondays are typically reserved for community fundraising.
In high season, the club employs about 150 employees—a few of them, Snee is proud to note, are members of the Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, an organization in Harford County that provides employment to people with intellectual disabilities.
She credits General Manager Boris Gradina for setting the tone. Gradina was named Club Executive of the Year in 2023, earning the national award for shifting MGCC’s culture and operations and creating a thriving environment for both employees and members. His focus on mentorship, innovation, and business acumen has set a “gold standard” in private club management—the “private” part is important to the MGCC identity.
“This is a member-owned club,” Snee says. "This is not a club owned by a corporation or some outside entity that dictates what we can or cannot do. Its members make decisions. I think that's part of why there is this great sense of ownership and pride from the members: this really is their place.”
It’s their place all year round, too. Think Easter Egg hunts, Halloween Spooktacular, Breakfast with Santa, New Year’s Eve Kids Drop, and so much more.
If you’re ready to check out MGCC, what are you waiting for? “This is the kind of place you have to see for yourself,” says Snee, who is happy to offer tours. “Come see how much family happens here, how much community we build here. Come see why we mean so much to the community, not only in terms of employment, but also in the multimillion-dollar investments we’ve made into the club in the past few years, and come see us for all those things yet to come.”