Congressional Country Club: Blue Course

Congressional, The Blue Course hosted the 1997 U.S. Open won by Ernie Els after Tom Lehman dunked his approach into the water left of the green on the 17th hole. It is an extremely challenging layout that has been modified and updated several times since first designed by Devereaux Emmett in 1924. Robert Trent Jones added nine new holes in 1957 and returned later to modify the 'Emmett Nine'. It was this version of Congressional that saw Ken Venturi stagger to an historic U.S. Open victory in 1964. For some time the course hosted the annual Kemper Open until 1986. Later the course hosted the 1995 Senior's Open. In all that time the course was never set up to play it's designed routing which finishes, unusually, with a par-3 18th. Well before the '97 Open Rees Jones was brought in to make still more modifications to the course. The 18th was lengthened, the green moved closer to the water in front, bunkers added behind and actually played as the finishing hole of the tournament. Although a somewhat controversial move, the 18th was not a factor in the tournament in '97, but someday it could be. Otherwise Rees Jones' other contributions added carry to some tees, fairway bunkers to catch the modern player and shaved grass around greens allowing for chipping options and varied play. The course retains its early character, elevated greens, deep bunkers, lots of trees and narrow fairways. The Links LS version of this course was photographed in the spring when the Washington's Cherry blossoms are in bloom. It's a very beautiful and treacherous course!

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Artists' Golf is a conceptual work of art Copyright 1995 - 2008 by David B. Lewis and all original paintings, drawings and art works are Copyright by David B. Lewis. All rights reserved.  Maps of existing courses are original artistic interpretations and impressions from a variety of sources and are not intended to be accurate renderings or representations of the actual courses.  They indicate my interest and study and are intended purely for the pleasure and information of the viewers and are not for sale or profit.