Inside the course: Congressional Country Club (PGATOUR.com)

June 28, 2009

The TOUR heads to the Washington D.C. area. this week for Fourth of July in the Nation's Capital at Tiger Woods' AT&T National. Learn more about the host, Congressional Country Club.

Fast facts Director of Golf Michael V. Giuffre Original architect Devereut Emmet (1924) Course redesign Rees Jones (1989) Par value 70 Number of TOUR events as host venue 3 (including 2009) Course ranking Ranked 27 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008 Yardage history 7,255 (2007'09) Grass Bentgrass (tees, fairways, greens); Kentucky Bluegrass, Bermudagrass, perennial ryegrass, fescue (rough); Poa annua (greens) Tournament Stimpmeter 12 ft Sand bunkers 102 Water hazards 5 Course tour Click here Course record PlayerTom Pernice Jr.Peter Lonard Year20082008 Round2nd4th FinishT9T12 Holes-in-oneThere have been two aces recorded at Congressional Country Club Player Hole Year Corey Pavin 10 2008 Kevin Stadler 13 2007 2008 RankingsMost Difficult Hole Another converted par 5, this elevated tee overlooks a tight landing area that slopes from left to right. Bunkers frame the right side. Any second shot requires great accuracy to negotiate the connected water hazards on the right and the bunkers on the left. 2008: 0 eagles, 27 birdies, 250 pars, 83 bogeys, 23 double bogeys, 5 others.Easiest Hole Few players will reach this green in two shots, if for no other reason than the drive must be hit into the face of a hill. On the second shot, players should avoid the bunkers on the right, while on the approach, stay clear of a huge bunker left and trees along the right.2008: 3 eagles, 128 birdies, 239 pars, 17 bogeys, 1 double bogey and 0 others. Congressional Country Club2008 rankings Last two years Hole Par Yards Avg. score Rank Avg. score Rank 1 4 402 3.899 15 3.921 4 2 3 232 3.209 3 3.248 16 3 4 455 4.044 8 4.058 11 4 4 427 4.07 7 4.128 12 5 4 407 3.918 14 3.961 5 6 4 518 4.247 2 4.270 17 7 3 174 2.951 13 2.978 7 8 4 354 3.755 17 3.790 2 9 5 602 4.863 16 4.850 3 10 3 218 3.144 5 3.169 14 11 4 489 4.307 1 4.355 18 12 4 415 4.008 9 4.010 8 13 3 187 2.959 11 2.973 6 14 4 454 4.149 4 4.221 15 15 4 439 3.954 12 4.049 10 16 5 579 4.704 18 4.742 1 17 4 437 3.985 10 4.045 9 18 4 466 4.09 6 4.130 13 Course origins Congressional Country Club was established in 1924. A group of legislators met in 1921 and decided the best way to break down the barrier between them and the country was through the formation of a country club and to invite, as co-members, professional businessmen from around the country. Today, the club membership is more family oriented. Some of the original founding members include Calvin Coolidge, Warren Harding, Woodrow Wilson, William H. Taft, Harvey S. Firestone, William C. Carnegie, William Randolph Hearst and Walter P. Chrysler. The club has quite a history with tournament golf, playing host to the 1964 U.S. Open, 1976 PGA Championship, Kemper Open from 1980-1986, 1995 U.S. Senior Open and the 1997 U.S. Open. Congressional will also host the 2009 U.S. Amateur and the 2011 U.S. Open. —Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America Tournament course history Course Location Years Congressional Country Club Bethesda, Md. 2007-present This week's Kodak Challenge hole HOLE: The par-4, 466-yard 18th at Congressional Country ClubLAST YEAR: The 18th played to a stroke average of 4.090, with players recording 1 eagle, 55 birdies, 254 pars, 65 bogeys, 12 double bogeys and 1 other.DESCRIPTION: Congressional's signature hole sets up perfectly for a long, right-to-left tee shot. Anything too far right could find trouble as well as a thick grove of cedars. Bunkers right of the green combined with water on three sides make the second shot a test of courage. (Click here for Congressional tour)