Congressional Country Club: Blue
Bethesda, MD • Private
James Lewis
James Lewis
James Lewis
James Lewis
James Lewis
James Lewis
James Lewis
Overview
Congressional's Blue Course had been an icon of traditional American parkland golf since the 1964 U.S. Open. Prior to that event, Robert Trent Jones combined nine remodeled Devereux Emmet holes with nine new ones of his own to create the modern Blue, and those holes were remodeled and reshaped several times by son Rees Jones for the 1997 and 2011 Opens. All the while, the trees around them matured, creating dense, shadowy corridors of wood. Drainage issues and declining course conditions motivated the membership to considier a major overhaul in 2020, and that's what they received when architect Andrew Green reimagined the course as somethiing that Emmet might have originally designed, denuding the property of its forests and creating broad, rollicking fairways that tumble through meadows of long fescue punctuated by fearsome bunkers and bold, segmented greens. Parkland golf Congressional is no more, and the remodel, which included a new, drop-shot par-3 10th hole, earned the course our Best Transformation award for 2021 and a jump of 18 spots in the 100 Greatest ranking.
About
Awards
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
2023-'24 ranking: 73rd.
Previous ranking: 91st.
Highest ranking: No. 50, 1985-'86.
Best in State: Ranked first, 1985, 1993, and since 2005. Ranked inside the top 5 since 1977.
Current ranking: First
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“A beautfifully remolded/tranformed Blue Course by Andrew Green was a pleasure to play with plenty of challenge for the skilled golfer. The green complexes were some of the most interesting I have played and removing the trees accentuated the humps and hjollows of the rolling fairways magniicently. Many interesting holes architecturally speaking - my favorite being the long par 3 second hole that plays uphill. A sereies of bunkers guared the left of the green while a short bunker right is visually intimadating but if carried has a lovely "kickplate" the moves the ball right onto the putting surface. Strong risk reward par 5 11th and 16th require sound decision making and the blind uphill approach to the 16ht green that moves away from the player provides ample challenge. Need to visit this historic course if ever in the DC area to see how Andrew Green made character of the land come alive as the holes flow seemlessly one into the other."
Read More2024
Review
“While I did not play Congressional prior to Andrew Green's renovation, by all accounts I heard it was tight, tree-lined, and very hard without much charm. The new course could not be further from this description. Thousands of trees were removed and you can now see much of the rest of the course from many of the holes, which greatly adds to aesthetic appeal. While a very long course with thick rough, Congressional is also very fair, with numerous teeboxes and not many forced carries or hazards. The greens here are large and quite challenging and the bunkering is strategic and very pretty. While I enjoyed the entire course, the back 9 was in particular very strong and did not have a weak hole. The finishing stretch beginning at 15 includes some big holes that will certainly lead to an exciting Ryder Cup and PGA finish in a few years. Overall, I liked Congressional much more than expected and in a way thought it had the same "feel" as courses such as Merion and Aronimink."
Read More2024
Review
“Great tournament style course that is playable and fun. Definitely do not turn down an invite to play this great track!"
Read More2024
Review
“A recently remodeled private course that is going to raise it's scores significantly among the Top 100."
Read More2023
Review
“As you exit the clubhouse and walk to the first tee, the experience was great. The course was in EXCELLENT shape and the variety of course, with doglegs, elevation, large contoured greens and varied hole lengths all combine to hold the golfers attention. The round is capped with a fantastic 18th hole and the walk back to the storied clubhouse makes for a very memorable experience."
Read More2023
Review
“The newly renovated Blue Course and Congressional Country Club are lacking for nothing. The staff is abundant and efficient. The clubhouse is enormous and a tour would likely take longer than a round of golf. The new indoor practice facility is beautiful and the finest I've ever seen. The Blue Course is a blast to walk, as there are few trees and there is always a glimpse of the coming holes. The way the fairways feed into the bunkers is beautiful and unique. Don't pass up a chance to play this instant classic!"
Read More2023
Review
“Great par 3s. Beautifully conditioned. Challenging greens and bunkering. Good variety of distances. Demanding tee shots and second shots to score well."
Read More2022
Review
“The transformation from old to new Blue is simply stunning and so much fun to play. Uphill, downhill, doglegs left and right, short and long holes. On most holes you can fly it to the green or play the ground game and run it up. I even putted from 50 yards out in the fairway on a short par-4 that was downhill to the hole. It was a blast and I can't wait to go back!"
Read More2022
Review
“Aesthetically dramatic and interesting. Takes time to learn the course, especially the greens. No lack in challenge tee to green, as well as green complexes being equally as difficult."
Read More2022
Review
“Fantastic renovation by Andrew Green. The front nine used to be inferior to the back, but both are equally great now. Four great par 3's, highlighted by #2. Also, a good mix of short and long par 4s. Very walkable and the removal of trees really opens up the views. Strong finishing stretch with two demanding par 4s in 17 and 18."
Read More2022
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