2011 US OPEN

[NJGolfer33]

golfing options near Congressional

I plan on heading down to Congressional for the 2011 US OPEN. I would like to get in a round or two while I am there. Anyone know what public courses are available to play within a 30 minute trip of the bethesda area? Also, has the USGA designated parking areas yet? I am trying to set up my week, including potential lodging and would like to get a hotel as near to the parking facilities as possible.

Thanks,
Anthony

[sabram]

I've played several public courses that are about a 30-45 minute drive from Congressional. These are the four I'd suggest:

[b]Blue Mash [/b][u][/u]is the closest [url="http://bluemash.com/golf-course/photo-gallery"]Blue Mash[/url]

[b]Worthington Manor [/b][u][/u]is about 5 minutes further and worth the extra 5 minutes IMO. [url="http://www.worthingtonmanor.com/"]Worthington manor[/url]

[b]Whiskey Creek [/b][u][/u]is another 5 minutes further and is a top course in the area, probably the nicest of the three: [url="http://www.whiskeycreekgolf.com/layout10.asp?id=164&page=2957"]Whiskey Creek[/url]

[b]Waverley Woods[/b][u][/u] [url="http://www.waverlywoods.com/"]Waverley Woods[/url]

[NJGolfer33]

Thanks Sabram, I will check them out.

[MDHacker]

NJGolfer33:
What kind of courses were you looking to play ? Sabram's suggestions are all pretty nice courses but there are a ton of good courses around the beltway.

MDHacker

[NJGolfer33]

[quote name='MDHacker' timestamp='1289425095' post='2784411']
NJGolfer33:
What kind of courses were you looking to play ? Sabram's suggestions are all pretty nice courses but there are a ton of good courses around the beltway.

MDHacker
[/quote]

I am looking to play any course near congressional. maybe get in an extremely early morning round and then head to congressional to watch the days action.

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='NJGolfer33' timestamp='1289133626' post='2778509']
I plan on heading down to Congressional for the 2011 US OPEN. I would like to get in a round or two while I am there. Anyone know what public courses are available to play within a 30 minute trip of the bethesda area? Also, has the USGA designated parking areas yet? I am trying to set up my week, including potential lodging and would like to get a hotel as near to the parking facilities as possible.

Thanks,
Anthony
[/quote]


Bethesda Marriott on Democracy Boulevard will be right around the corner from shuttle parking; or about 1 mile from Montgomery Mall (where they sometimes use) and is about a 10-15 minute ride to Congressional. Alternate hotel might be Pooks Hill Marriott about 10 minutes away from Bethesda Marriott.

Here are public courses that are close to Congressional:

Red Gate golf course is decent and closest to CCC, and might be ok for Thurs/Fri. Sat/Sun they may already have league tourny's so it may not work then.

Farther up 270 (but will make it tough to get back to Congressional in time):
Little Bennett Golf
P.B. Dye Golf
Worthington Manor
Whiskey Creek
Blue Mash
Laytonsville

If you have a pro call, or a friend who belongs to the TPC network - TPC Potomac (private) is less than 1 mile from Congressional.

Good luck.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Chip gave some of the better info. If you're going on the weekends, public parking will be near the Marriott Headquarters in Bethesda. Lots of hotels within a couple miles of there. However, if you haven't already booked, you may have trouble.

All the courses on the 270 corridor that were mentioned, PB Dye, Worthington Manor, Whiskey Creek would be excellent choices with Whiskey Creek being the best of that bunch. Waverly and Blue Mash are nice but would be too tough for you to navigate back to the shuttle area.

If you are going on weekdays, then the Maryland public parking is a bit further north at the Maryland Fairgrounds, since the Marriott lot is occupied by it's workers during the week.

the other option is to consider the Tysons Corner area (McLean VA). Hotels of every chain from Ritz Carton to Comfort Inn in that area. The shuttle will leave from Tysons Corner mall.

Courses there you could look at are Westfields about 20 minutes west of Tysons Corner off I-66. A bit west of Tysons in Leesburg is Raspberry Falls, a very nice Gary Player Design.

There are some nice ones a but further south such as Laurel Hills and Old Hickory, but hat would make getting back to Tysons very tough.

Tysons has lots of greart shopping and restaurants as does Bethesda. The course is actually halfway between the two areas, and most players, media and officials split up between the two areas.

[oldpalchamp]

Is the Falls Road Golf Course still around. It was really close to Congressional, if I remember correctly. I played alot of golf there in the '70s. Pretty open front nine with a really tight back nine.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='oldpalchamp' timestamp='1300979214' post='3083884']
Is the Falls Road Golf Course still around. It was really close to Congressional, if I remember correctly. I played alot of golf there in the '70s. Pretty open front nine with a really tight back nine.
[/quote]

It is stil there and has been renovated a bit and they flipped the 9's I believe. However during the 1997 Open the USGA used it for a parking lot for the VIP shuttles. I remember playing it a few weeks after the open and you could tell it was pretty beat up.

I guess the money they made from the USGA was much more than they would have made with local rounds.

[oldpalchamp]

CG, I knew I could count on you for the update. Thanks.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='oldpalchamp' timestamp='1300985989' post='3084252']
CG, I knew I could count on you for the update. Thanks.
[/quote]

No problem, glad I didn't disappoint