Congressional Country Club

Bethesda, Maryland

Short Game Area Completed in: 2009

Description

Opened in 1924, Congressional Country Club is one of the more distinguishable private clubs in the US. A cast of former US Presidents have been members here, and to take a stroll through the clubhouse is more like a visit to a museum of national and golf history. The Club boasts two renowned courses in the Blue and the Gold. Designed by Devereux Emmet, the Blue Course is among the Top 100 in the US and has been host to a number of PGA tour events, USGA Amateur events, and a few of golf’s major championships. The US Open will return to Congressional this year (2011) after the recently completed reconstruction of the greens by Rees Jones. The Gold Course (also by Devereux Emmet, favored by many of the members, was completely re-designed in 2000 by Arthur Hills, and is considered among the Top 5 Courses in Maryland by Golf Digest.

My efforts at Congressional involved the development of a much anticipated short game practice facility and overseeing the implementation of the design in the field in preparation for the 2011 U.S. Open. The new and improved practice area included a practice putting green, two chipping greens, several practice bunkers and an array of fairway and collar approach areas. The practice complex was a tight fit with the terrain, the cart staging area and the 9th green for the Blue Course. Thanks to the fine conditioning by superintendent Mike Giuffre and his staff, this is one of the finest short game areas anywhere.