Washington D.C. has 3 public golf courses. The courses have a remarkable history. I have enjoyed a couple of trips to D.C. to learn more about the courses. In addition, the opportunity has allowed me to work on expanding the reach of the GCSAA to the history courses. It hard to beat playing golf with the Washington Monument as your backdrop.

 

The courses that make up the district's slate are the 36 holes at East Potomac, 9 holes at Rock Creek Park and 18 at Langston. Currently, the courses are a part of the National Park Service. The National Links Trust manages the lease of the course. Troon helps with the management of the courses. Super confusing stuff right there. I am still working on all the connections and aspects of these partnerships. However, the goal of everyone is to restore and maintain the historic courses of D.C. Everyone is working for one common goal. The history of golf is strong in D.C. and I keep learning more. William Flynn designed nine holes at East Potomac and the William Travis was the original designer who took inspiration from Old Course at St. Andrews to create a reversible design. William Flynn then went on to create 9 holes at Rock Creek Park. Finally, Langston was created to replace the original nine hole course for Black golfers who were not permitted on the other D.C. courses. Langston is still home to the oldest Black men's and women's clubs in the United States. 

This week, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the EPA Section 3 with Troon Director of Grounds for the three facilities, D.C. environmental offices and a representative of the GCSAA. I was joined by Government Affairs team member Bob Helland. As the courses of D.C. work towards major renovations and preservation, the teams working to help the project are coming together. A lot of work by a lot of people will make this huge undertaking a success. In addition, a significant amount of fundraising is required for these projects. The first course to be renovated will be Rock Creek Park. The renovations will see an updated driving range and restoration of the original William Flynn routing. The bones of Rock Creek Park are evident when you walk onto the property. The rolling hills with the dense forest that surround the holes will create a fantastic parkland-style course. A major project ahead for the East Potomac site is the flood walls. Not only will the updating of the flood walls benefit the courses, it will increase the benefit of the recreation activities on the island (stop by at any time and you will find endless walkers, bikes, rolling bladders, painters, picnickers, etc.). Langston's renovations will helpfully lead to the newly relaunched Howard Golf Teams (men and women) calling Langston home. 

I am a golf buff and love golf history. I am so honored to attend these each and every time in Washington D.C. A member of the Troon staff said it best, "architects design the courses, agronomists fix what the designers did, professionals manage the course, golfers are why we are here."  We are all were there to help make golf in Washington D.C. a destination.

If you are interested in learning more about the project at the D.C. courses and the history of golf in D.C., here are some great articles.

-The Golf Courses (of DC)
-The ComMUNity Project: A Brief History of Municipal Golf in D.C. by Andy Johnson
-125 Years of Golf in America: District of Columbia by Joey Flyntzy