[John Emerson]

Me and my golfing buddies (a mix of [size=78%]superintendents and ex-golf pros, of whom I’m going to Scotland in May for 10 days with) played East Potomac Park for the first time last weekend.  Fortunately, i have read Michael McCartins thesis on EPP several months ago.  It was one a round so enjoyable that I can’t remember the last time I walked away from the course feeling like this.  Not only was it an adventure to try and “see” the original bunkers, green edges, and routing of the original Travis design, but the atmosphere at this place was nothing I’ve ever seen or felt before.  Not to mention that the course was an easy walk and a blast to play!  It was hopping like the Fourth of July!  It feels like the epicenter of “growing the game”.  Not a golf cart in site, and a double decker driving range packed to the hilt.  Adults and kids playing knockout putting games on the putting greens, and bikers and joggers everywhere.  I cannot wait to return to this place!!  If anyone is ever in the DC area please visit this place.  [/size]
[size=78%]From what I’ve read it was, in its heyday, one of the most interesting and dynamic golf courses around.  Completely reversible too!  Cross bunkers everywhere,  Template holes and huge greens.  If there is a a candidate for the “Friends of Cobb Creek” treatment this place is it.  Talk about serving a community!!!  The bones are there....just need someone to pull the trigger.  Yes, I know that there’s tons of hurdles and challenges, but this place would be so worth it.[/size]

[Mike Sweeney]

Thanks for posting this. I was wondering if Michael and some of the others were "drinking the juice" a little too much, but this is good information. I am down there for the week before Memorial Day and I hope to play it.


http://www.friedegg.co/podcasts/east-potomac-park-golf-course

[Craig Disher]

I played there as a teenager and recall a few permanent characters hanging around the pro shop who would ask our group if they could join us and maybe play for something. I think they could have shot par using only 2 or 3 clubs. It was a great place to play and hang out. Recently the course has had flooding problems. It was originally a swamp and probably isn't the best ground for a golf course or a serious investment. I think a better target for a renovation is the Rock Creek course. It has been so neglected and abused that it's easy to overlook what it could be.

[Jerry Kluger]

John: Your enthusiasm for EPP is appreciated but having lived and worked in DC for more than 35 years the course is better known for its location than its quality.  If you want to see what can be done with a piece of property like that take the time to play CommonGround if you ever are in the Denver area. Or for that matter check out some of the flat courses in Scotland:)

[John Emerson]

John: Your enthusiasm for EPP is appreciated but having lived and worked in DC for more than 35 years the course is better known for its location than its quality.  If you want to see what can be done with a piece of property like that take the time to play CommonGround if you ever are in the Denver area. Or for that matter check out some of the flat courses in Scotland:)

Jerry,
I know it’s nothing great(now), but it has the intangibles that you can’t buy, or build. And, it has tons of upside/potential. That in itself carries merit with me.  Yes I know common ground is similar template, but this is close to home.

[Tommy Williamsen]

My son played in a junior tournament there every year. They did a great job fo the kids.

[MCirba]

The original Walter Travis design for East Potomac Park was stunning.   Mike McCartin's research efforts will hopefully spur an effort to restore as much of the course as possible, and as others have mentioned, the location is absolutely unique and inspirational.

[Craig Disher]

The original Walter Travis design for East Potomac Park was stunning.   Mike McCartin's research efforts will hopefully spur an effort to restore as much of the course as possible, and as others have mentioned, the location is absolutely unique and inspirational.

Unique and inspirational, no doubt, but it does have its problems. As far as I know this was the worst but every few years a good portion of it floods.

[James Brown]

I’ve played at least 200 rounds at East Potomac since moving to DC in 2001.  If anyone here has played more, would be surprised.   For many years, without EPP I might have given up the game.   Totally agree with EPP being a great golfing community.  [size=78%]There is very little of the original Travis course left.  Wonderful setting for a golf course and it could be a really great track with a full renovation and some TLC.  I hope that happens in my lifetime, but with DC politics what they are it would be a heavy lift.  [/size]



But please don’t oversell East Potomac to the unfamiliar visitor to DC.  The course is basic golf at best.  A Doak 1 on a day when it hasn’t rained in a few days. 

[Ed Brzezowski]

Do guys still play "the Wheel" there?


All i can recall is playing well and losing my shirt.

[MCirba]

Unique and inspirational, no doubt, but it does have its problems. As far as I know this was the worst but every few years a good portion of it floods.

Craig,

Sad to see that.   Shawnee in PA has a similar issue that makes a restoration to the Tillinghast original an iffy proposition.

[John Emerson]

I’ve played at least 200 rounds at East Potomac since moving to DC in 2001.  If anyone here has played more, would be surprised.   For many years, without EPP I might have given up the game.   Totally agree with EPP being a great golfing community.  [size=78%]There is very little of the original Travis course left.  Wonderful setting for a golf course and it could be a really great track with a full renovation and some TLC.  I hope that happens in my lifetime, but with DC politics what they are it would be a heavy lift.  [/size]



But please don’t oversell East Potomac to the unfamiliar visitor to DC.  The course is basic golf at best.  A Doak 1 on a day when it hasn’t rained in a few days.

It was amazing to me in every sense of the word!  I’m not overselling a damn thing!  I’ve seen many courses (maybe not as many as some in here but still..)and this place is absolutely unique.  It has things money can’t buy.  Not many clubs can say that.


Is it the greatest things (conditions and architecture) since sliced bread??  Absolutely not, but it has the intangibles owners would kill for.

[Bernie Bell]

The Park Service has issued the RFP for East Potomac, Langston and Rock Creek.


https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/golf-courses.htm

[Joel Pear]

Born and raised in the DC area, and spent the first 34 years of my life there.  Back in the early 70's was bartending at a popular club and got to know a guy who was playing on the PGA tour.  Back then, the tour was not all exempt and Monday qualifying was a regular event.  My friend would usually qualify, then shoot 71, 75, miss the cut and have to go through it again.  He eventually took a club pro job.  We became friends, and man, could he play!


He used to enjoy telling stories about the big money games at East Potomac Park.  The big time gamblers would make bets on him and Jim Thorpe, and off they would go at about $2grand/hole.  I would have hated to lose and face some of those guys!  Those were the days!

[Tommy Williamsen]

Jim Thorpe and his brother had money games all over the area. Their bets are legendary.

[Bill Shotzbarger]

The Park Service has issued the RFP for East Potomac, Langston and Rock Creek.


https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/golf-courses.htm

Very neat to review that RFP.  Thanks for posting, and good luck to those submitting proposals! And best of luck to those with enough money to put the golf course ahead of any and all other concerns of running a public course in the District 

[Andy Shulman]

I moved to NE DC from the VA suburbs about 18 months ago and live just over a mile from Langston.  The course definitely has potential - as does EPP - but has been in miserable condition since last year's unusually rainy spring.


The city has invested millions in a new soccer complex and a network of bike paths just south of Langston, both of which opened earlier this year.  And, a non-car owning golfer could take Metro to Union Station and then grab the relatively new streetcar right to the course, so Langston is ripe for a renovation.



Commonground seems like a good comparison and, if someone is willing to invest the $$$ - which I assume would be substantial - the golfers will absolutely, positively come and happily pay the (inevitably) higher greens fees. I know I would.  But, as is happening with all aspects of life in DC, lower income residents will get shoved aside if/when rates rise.  Maybe that's just life, but hopefully lower greens fees would be available for city residents, just like at Commonground, but not like at nearby Laurel Hill.

Of course, if we're just at the RFP stage, that's all several years in the future.

[Craig Disher]

Andy,
Have you played Rock Creek since your move? I think RC offers the best opportunity for a renovation. The ground for Flynn's original plan is still mostly intact and many of his holes are still there. The problem - which is the same as the others - is that the low green fees won't support reasonable maintenance. It's a wonderful walk over rolling, wooded parkland but the conditions are so poor that golf is secondary.

As nice as it would be to have reduced rates for local residents, I don't believe that would be possible since all three are located on National Park property.

[Andy Shulman]

Craig - I actually haven't played either Rock Creek or EPP in over 20 years, but it sounds like the conditions - or lack thereof - at Rock Creek are on a par with those at Langston.  It's truly a shame.  Forget about a true renovation; I'm more than willing to settle for decent maintenance at any or all of these courses.

[Craig Disher]

I was using renovation loosely. Any improvement in maintenance would be a renovation.

[Bernie Bell]

Big news.

https://www.nationallinkstrust.com/

[John Emerson]

Such great news!  Curious when work is scheduled to begin.

[Tom_Doak]

Such great news!  Curious when work is scheduled to begin.

I think it's a bit early for that yet!

[Tommy Williamsen]

I hope it happens. DC deserves and needs good municipal golf.

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