Want a unique golf experience? Then step right up to the Rock Creek Park Public Golf Course. This course offers a profoundly humbling experience.
Rock Creek Park Golf Course is a public golf course. It sits within Rock Creek Park. The National Park Service owns and maintains the park. The golf course is a true hidden gem.
Let’s journey back to the early 20th century. This was the Golden Age of golf. The Rock Creek Park Golf Course emerged during this time. Its popularity exploded. William S. Flynn designed the course. Construction occurred between 1921 and 1926. The Office of Public Buildings and Grounds oversaw the project. Flynn sought harmony with the existing landscape. The design incorporated the terrain. Mature trees provided scenic routes. An existing farmhouse transformed into a clubhouse. The original nine-hole course opened in May 1923. President Warren G. Harding even attended.
The Rock Creek Park Golf Course lies on the east side of Rock Creek Park. It is along 16th Street NW. Find it north of Military Road NW. The 103-acre course is six miles northwest of the United States Capitol. It is also three miles south of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Did you know citizens proposed building a golf course in Rock Creek Park in January 1905? This was about 15 years after the park’s founding. The Army Corps of Engineers approved the plan in November 1906. Construction began in 1907. The nine-hole course opened on July 1, 1909. The first clubhouse was a former farmhouse owned by Horatio Plant.
Rock Creek Park Golf Course quickly gained popularity. In July 1924, the Corps of Engineers agreed to expand the course to 18 holes. Construction was extensive. The entire course closed in December 1924. The 18-hole course reopened in 1926. Four members of Congress teed off first.
The Rock Creek Park Golf Course is known as a challenging course. The front nine holes are short par 4s and long par 3s. The broad fairways have some elevation differences. The back nine fairways are tight. Dense deciduous woods line either side. The back nine has even larger elevation changes. Many greens are quite small. The Washington Post described the back nine as designed by a mountain goat. There is not a flat lie in the place. But there is one spectacular vista after another.
National Links Trust now operates Rock Creek Park Golf Course. They plan to construct a new practice area. They will also redevelop the clubhouse. New spaces will emerge for educational programs. The course will reflect William Flynn’s original intent. An 18-hole putting course will also be constructed. A driving range and other amenities are also planned.
Currently, the National Park Service and National Links Trust are working on a rehabilitation project. They aim to improve visitor access and affordability. The project includes new trails and meadows. A restaurant is also planned. There will be better working conditions for employees. An improved space will host golfer development programs.
The Rock Creek Park Golf Course is a testament to history and recreation. It blends seamlessly with nature. Its challenging layout and ongoing improvements make it a special place. It is a true community asset for golfers and non-golfers alike.