East Potomac Park Golf Course
Encyclopedia
East Potomac Park Golf Course (also known as East Potomac Golf Course) is a golf course
located in East Potomac Park
in Washington, D.C.
, in the United States
. The course includes an 18-hole course, two 9-hole courses, and a miniature golf
course. It is the busiest of the city's three golf courses (all of which are publicly owned). The original nine-hole course opened in 1921, and the miniature golf course in 1930 (making it one of the oldest miniature golf courses in the nation). Additional holes opened in stages between 1921 and 1925, leaving the course with 36 holes in all.
Services at East Potomac Park Golf Course include a pro
shop, snack bar, putting greens, three practice holes, and a two-tiered, 100-stall driving range (26 of which are heated). The course is generally flat and easy, although drainage can be poor. The views of the city's many monuments and memorials from the course at East Potomac are considered some of the best in the city.
s. But with the end of the war in sight, the Corps revived plans to build a golf course. By March 1919, construction on a nine-hole course was well under way. The course opened on March 15, 1921. President Warren G. Harding
was one of the first golfers to play the course.
Between 1921 and 1922, a five-hole course was opened, and in the fall of 1922 four more holes were opened to bring the total to 18 holes. Another nine holes opened opened on May 30, 1925.
Like all but one golf course in Washington, D.C., from 1900 to 1955, East Potomac Park Golf Course was racially segregated
, and barred African American
s from using the course. In 1941, several black golfers attempted to play at East Potomac Park Golf Course, but were attacked by whites throwing stones and threatening them with more violence. African American golfers petitioned United States Secretary of the Interior
Harold L. Ickes
for permission to play at the course, which Ickes granted. In July, three black golfers (accompanied by six United States Marshals
) played the course, but were jeered and threatened with assault. But with Ickes unable to provide such high levels of protection all the time, African American golfers rarely attempted to play there until the city's golf courses were desegregated in 1955.
High schools around the D.C. area (such as Gonzaga College High School
) practice at and sometimes host matches at East Potomac Golf Course.
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
located in East Potomac Park
East Potomac Park
East Potomac Park is a section of Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., located south of the Jefferson Memorial and the 14th Street Bridge. Located between the Washington Channel and the Potomac River, the park is home to the East Potomac Park Golf Course, a miniature golf course, a public swimming...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The course includes an 18-hole course, two 9-hole courses, and a miniature golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
course. It is the busiest of the city's three golf courses (all of which are publicly owned). The original nine-hole course opened in 1921, and the miniature golf course in 1930 (making it one of the oldest miniature golf courses in the nation). Additional holes opened in stages between 1921 and 1925, leaving the course with 36 holes in all.
Services at East Potomac Park Golf Course include a pro
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
shop, snack bar, putting greens, three practice holes, and a two-tiered, 100-stall driving range (26 of which are heated). The course is generally flat and easy, although drainage can be poor. The views of the city's many monuments and memorials from the course at East Potomac are considered some of the best in the city.
Construction of the courses
A municipal golf course in East Potomac Park was first proposed in February 1911, just as East Potomac Park itself was nearing completion. The Washington Chamber of Commerce made a formal request of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in March 1913 to build a course, and the Corps gave its approval a month later. But these plans were put on hold due to World War I. Temporary barracks for soldiers were built on the land, and the remaining space used for victory gardenVictory garden
Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply...
s. But with the end of the war in sight, the Corps revived plans to build a golf course. By March 1919, construction on a nine-hole course was well under way. The course opened on March 15, 1921. President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
was one of the first golfers to play the course.
Between 1921 and 1922, a five-hole course was opened, and in the fall of 1922 four more holes were opened to bring the total to 18 holes. Another nine holes opened opened on May 30, 1925.
Like all but one golf course in Washington, D.C., from 1900 to 1955, East Potomac Park Golf Course was racially segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
, and barred African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s from using the course. In 1941, several black golfers attempted to play at East Potomac Park Golf Course, but were attacked by whites throwing stones and threatening them with more violence. African American golfers petitioned United States Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
Harold L. Ickes
Harold L. Ickes
Harold LeClair Ickes was a United States administrator and politician. He served as United States Secretary of the Interior for 13 years, from 1933 to 1946, the longest tenure of anyone to hold the office, and the second longest serving Cabinet member in U.S. history next to James Wilson. Ickes...
for permission to play at the course, which Ickes granted. In July, three black golfers (accompanied by six United States Marshals
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
) played the course, but were jeered and threatened with assault. But with Ickes unable to provide such high levels of protection all the time, African American golfers rarely attempted to play there until the city's golf courses were desegregated in 1955.
High schools around the D.C. area (such as Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
) practice at and sometimes host matches at East Potomac Golf Course.
External links
- East Potomac Park Golf Course Web site, hosted by Golf Course Specialist, Inc., a National Park Service concessionaire which manages the course