Jeep golf course gives golfers brand-new experience on Delmarva

Justin Hearne grew tired of passing the abandoned Deer Run Golf Course every day on his morning commute to Salisbury.

Hearne was familiar with the 170-acre property, as the son-in-law of Ed Colbert, the owner of the facility. After running the course for nearly 20 years, Colbert closed the club’s doors in 2015 after his wife fell ill.

Pondering the idea of selling the property, Colbert desperately wanted to keep it in the family, and in September, Hearne gave him the idea to do it.

Sitting around the kitchen table, Hearne presented the thought of transforming the facility into a different kind of golf course.

What was once an 18-hole facility where golfers from around the country traveled to play would be turned into the Deer Run Jeep Golf course. The idea was to create a nine-hole course where Jeeps were used rather than golf carts.

Though the longest hole is just barely 100 yards, the experience itself would be something no golfer on the Eastern Shore had witnessed before.

“Nobody has four or five hours to spend and go out here and waste their time,” Hearne said. “We’re offering something that only takes about two hours, but you still get to have fun with your vehicle and the golf all wrapped up into one with the family.”

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While it took some convincing, Colbert eventually came around to Hearne’s vision, giving his son-in-law full command of the project. One objective of the course is to draw in millennials and give them an exciting opportunity to play the sport.

But the Jeep course also pertains to “old-timers” who enjoy traditional golfing.

Colbert said Deer Run Jeep Golf, located on Logtown road in Berlin, is just a step up from mini-golfing. Though the holes themselves aren’t the same as what use to make up the course, the off-roading and ability to partake in something uncommon are what makes it an enjoyable pastime.

“Jeep golf is just a terrific idea,” Colbert said. “We think it will be very successful. I love golf, so this is a great opportunity to reopen as a golf course. We want this to be a family-oriented place. Nothing wild, no racing, the Jeeps have lots of rules, but the idea is to get the millennials out here.”

However, during the creation process, Colbert and Hearne ran into their fair share of obstacles.

Colbert first needed permission to construct a Jeep golf course, calling on the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals to approve the request.

While the reopening of the course was never the issue, opposition members said that inconsistent information and lack of clarity put a question mark around the project. After the first vote from the board, the results ended in a 3-3 tie, which is classified as a denial.

But the owner and his staff members were determined to push forward. A second vote was held a month later, where, after a strict set of rules, guidelines and operating hours were laid out, the board came to a unanimous decision to allow a Jeep golf course. 

“Our first run was an off-road obstacle course — that’s what got killed,” Colbert said. “In hindsight, that’s the best thing that happened to us. It forced us to really go back and look at this and make sure neighbors were happy. We got them happy, met with them, and we negotiated. I’m so proud of the neighbors, and it’s really going to be a real nice golf course.”

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Along with the Jeep golf, the facility will also feature attractions such as pitch-and-putt and foot golf. All three are new ways to bring in a new era of golfers, with Colbert saying the desire for traditional golfing is declining in the area — especially among millennials.

Their future plans include disc golf, while also adding an additional nine holes to the Jeep golf course.

“We know now, the market for a championship golf course isn’t good down here,” Colbert said. “There’s a lot of courses that have closed, so the idea of really going after the millennials … that is what we’re going to push.”

According to Colbert and Hearne, by substituting Jeeps for golf carts, not only do golfers get a unique experience, but the club also saves up to $50,000 in gas and repairs.

Deer Run Jeep Golf will have three Jeeps that can be rented for those who don’t own their own vehicle, compared to the 75 golf carts that used to be at the course. Hearne said he hopes to add more Jeeps over time.

One thing that won’t be different from the original course is the club’s relationship with charities.

Two charity events are already scheduled at the course — something both Colbert and Hearne wanted to ensure with the reopening of the club.

While their top priority is ensuring a solid, functioning course, giving back to the community also drives the duo, wanting to do something for all those who supported them.

“We raised over $700,000 with charity tournaments,” Colbert said. “They’re all volunteers and they need the cash to give to people. It’s great, and it makes me feel good.”

Though they had intended to open earlier, the course will have a soft opening Saturday, with rain pushing the date back.

Colbert and Hearne are optimistic Jeep golf is the future, having already garnered interest from organizations from other states to partner on events.

Hearne said the group “Swing King” has reached out, offering a deal that would allow golfers to collect up to $7,500 for hitting a hole-in-one. Through cameras and other technology, the group sells swings to golfers who, in return, are given the chance to try and make the hole on their first shot.

The Deer Run Jeep Golf course has been offered 1 million free swings from Swing King for its opening weekend.

“We’re going to do Swing King,” Hearne said. "It’s not as easy as it looks, but you’ve got a shot. The chance of getting a hole-in-one here is greater than any other course around here.”

With so much happening in the past two months, Colbert and Hearne couldn’t hide their excitement when thinking about the future of the course.

While it’s not the traditional golf course, the duo said Jeep golf is the beginning of a new era.

Already seeing loads of support on social media, in the community and with local politicians, Colbert is confident the Deer Run Jeep Golf course will soon be a huge success.

“It’s a marriage made in heaven,” Colbert said. “I can’t wait for opening day. The county loves what we’re doing, the tourism groups love what we’re doing, and they know we’re going to bring in people from across the country.

“No one’s ever done this. Jeeps are the key — they stick together, and that’s what we're doing.”

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