The History of
Piney Branch Golf Club
From Farmland to Fairways
Set among the rolling hills of northwestern Baltimore County, Piney Branch Golf Club has welcomed members and guests for more than six decades, where Maryland’s rural roots meet a vibrant and enduring golf community.
German Lutheran farming families settled the countryside surrounding Upperco, once known as Arcadia, in the late eighteenth century. Records from nearby St. Paul’s Lutheran Church date back to 1794 and document a close-knit community connected by unpaved roads, family farms, and wooded streams, or “branches,” that wound through the hills.
Bill Armacost & Thomas Shilling
In 1963, local farmers Thomas Shilling, John William "Bill" Tracey (J.W.T.) Armacost, and Fred Eberling organized to build a golf course on land they owned at the headwaters of Little Piney Run, which gave the club its name: Piney Branch. They exchanged the 206 acres for stock, establishing the original Piney Branch Corporation in 1964.
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1964-1979: Design & Early Growth
The founders hired acclaimed golf architect Edmund B. “Ed” Ault to design a par-71 championship course that would honor the land’s natural contours. Warren Randall of the Delval Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, handled construction. True to Ault’s design philosophy, the layout followed the land’s existing slopes and ridges, resulting in tree-lined fairways, subtle elevation changes, and scenic views that challenged players while showcasing the natural beauty of northern Baltimore County
Summer of 1971 (During Expansion) Summer of 1964 (Before Construction)
The course opened as a nine-hole layout in 1964, and the first clubhouse was completed in 1966, becoming the club's social center. In 1970, the club built a new maintenance building, marking an early commitment to professional standards in course care. The second nine holes were completed in 1971 through the dedication of members Tom Zepp, Paul Wooden, and Gordon Harden, who helped raise the funds needed to finish the full 18-hole course. That same year, a semi-automatic irrigation system was installed, ensuring consistent turf quality across the property.
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Piney Branch’s June 1965 opening brought a familiar face from Baltimore football to its fairways. The June 16 edition of The News American announced that the new nine-hole course would open that Saturday, June 19. A second clipping records a special match celebrating the opening, with Colts head coach Don Shula competing against a team of local sports media personalities. WBAL-TV sports director Vince Bagli led the media team to victory with an 88, while Shula posted an 89 to lead the Colts. Joining Bagli were John Steadman, Jim West and Jim Karvellas, with club vice president and secretary Bill Armacost conducting the opening ceremonies.
Shula was just 35 that summer, two years into his tenure as Baltimore’s head coach. His career would eventually take him to Miami, where he led the Dolphins to consecutive Super Bowl championships, including their historic 1972 17–0 season. He finished his coaching career with 347 victories, including postseason wins, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. For Piney Branch, the opening-day match preserves a memorable connection to that remarkable career—and a day when local sportswriters could claim they had gotten the better of Don Shula.
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The club’s first golf professional, Tim McCoy, was hired in 1971. His leadership drove rapid growth in membership, tournaments, and public outings, earning Piney Branch recognition throughout the Mid-Atlantic PGA as an excellent, challenging test of golf. In 1972, the clubhouse expanded to include a Pro Shop, and two years later, the restaurant and dining room were enlarged to enhance members' experience on and off the course.
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In the 1980s, Piney Branch continued to grow. Numerous course improvements were made, and the clubhouse saw several renovations to meet the needs of a growing membership. In 1989, Jeffrey Zachman became the Head PGA Golf Professional, a position he continues to hold with pride. His dedication to the sport and to Piney Branch has made him a respected figure throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. A turning point came in 1997 when members completed a stockholder buyout, making Piney Branch fully member-owned. Under the leadership of the Board of Directors and its committees, the club entered a new era of investment and improvement. The club added a full-time restaurant manager, installed a fully automated irrigation system in 1996, and by 1999 featured continuous paved cart paths. The clubhouse lounge was remodeled that same year, providing a more comfortable and inviting space for members and guests.
On September 23, 1992, Piney Branch hosted the Maryland Million Golf Tournament as part of Maryland’s Thoroughbred Week, three days before the seventh Maryland Million at Pimlico. The outing brought members and guests together for an afternoon connecting the club with Maryland’s horse racing and sporting communities.
Among those pictured is former Baltimore Colts running back Tom Matte, alongside Piney Branch members Duston Mersinger and Rick Broderick. Local beverage distributors supported the event, with Mersinger recalling Budweiser’s prominent involvement. The photograph preserves a memorable meeting of familiar club faces and one of Baltimore’s football favorites.
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The new century brought further progress. In 2004, members approved one of the club's most ambitious projects: a complete clubhouse renovation and a 10,000-square-foot expansion, along with a comprehensive bunker reconstruction and course enhancement program. The bunker work was completed before the 2005 season, and in 2006, the doors opened to a modernized clubhouse that blended contemporary comfort with traditional charm.
Today, Piney Branch Golf Club stands as one of the premier private golf clubs in the Mid-Atlantic. Its championship course, welcoming community, and exceptional facilities reflect its founders' vision and the dedication of generations of members and staff. What began as farmland has become a lasting landscape of sport, fellowship, and pride. From the first farmers who shaped the land to the members who continue to care for it, Piney Branch remains a place where heritage and championship golf come together, a club built on history, preserved through community, and played with passion.