Washington Golf & Country Club

(cart included), played on Saturday, July 2011 at noon

I am and have been a member. The course is tight and hilly but fair. Recent tweaks have improved tees and greens.Ed

Guest (cart included), played on Thursday, July 2009 at noon

Played here 7-9-09, as a guest, and was thorouhgly impressed by everything about WGCC, from the minute of arrival until departure several hours later. The course is one of the very best I have ever played: it is an 1894 Donald Ross design, and every shot is a challenge and a thrill. Not a level lie anywhere on the course, which makes for some interesting shot/club decisions.

The original design has had several updates over the years, but the character of the course seems unchanged. Most greens are small by contemporary standards, but make up for their size with very subtle breaks and contours. Fairways are bent grass, and are lush. Bunkers are plentiful, and very well placed. Almost every tee box provides a visualy arresting vista, especially #18, coming back up the hill to the clubhouse. Despite the relatively complact dimensions of the course, at only about 88 acres, almost every hole seems isolated, with few parallel fairways.

The clubhouse is very nice, with a veranda overlooking the course (good views of two tees and two greens), and a spectacular view of Washington National Cathedral over the trees. Service in the Grille was superb, as was the food.

If you can wangle an invitation to play this course, I highly recommend you do so...of course, you can join for only $75,000 and $600 per month...unfortunately there is a four year waiting list!

Member (cart included), played on Wednesday, March 2008 at noon

Donald Ross designed this course a century ago. It is short by modern standards, but very demanding. It requires you to plan every shot and choose just the right club; there is little margin for error and a big penalty when you make one.