Page 6 - Congressional University

2011 U.S.Open Champion Rory McIlroy
HISTORY & TRAJECTORY OF THE CLUB (continued)
In the summer of 1977, the Club completed nine additional holes to meet the demand of its gol ng members, thus providing two challenging 18-hole golf courses, Blue and Gold, each unique in their own way. The Gold Course has always been the shorter course in comparison to the Blue. It has been renovated twice
by George Fazio and Tom Fazio, redoing the nal nine holes in 1977. In 2000, the course got a complete renovation by Arthur Hills. Not only did he lengthen the course, but he reconstruct- ed tees, fairways, greens, and cart paths.
The world-renowned Blue Course was designed by Devereux Emmet and has now been renovated by numerous architects including Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones, and most recently Rees Jones. The Blue Course was originally designed to n- ish on a par three 18th hole, playing over the lake to a green that nished by the clubhouse. Unfortunately the USGA did not like courses that ended on par three’s, so it was eventu- ally voted by the membership to reverse the direction of the 18th hole, and Jones was brought in to design a new par three, which now plays in the opposite direction of the old 18th hole. The new hole now plays at the 10th, with the rest of the rout- ing shifted so that the original par four 17th hole plays as the permanent 18th.
From 1980 to 1986 Congressional Country Club hosted the prestigious and nationally televised PGA TOUR event, the Kemper Open. It has hosted one US Senior Open in 1995 which was won by Tom Weiskopf. The 1997 U.S. Open at Congressional was a particularly memorable event with Ernie Els as the winner and players such as Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Tom Leh-man, Jack Nicklaus, and defending champion Steve Jones. In 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013, Congres- sional hosted the AT&T National, a PGA Tour Event. In 2011 Congressional was honored once again to host the U.S. Open, which was ultimately won by Rory McIlroy. In 2014, 2016, Congressional hosted the Quicken Loans National and are schedule to host again in 2018 and 2020. In addition to wonder- ful golf, this tournament focuses on the men and women of the US military.
I kept telling myself this word, process. Focus on my process, don’t care about the result.
- Rory McIlroy