East Potomac Park Photo Tour
East Potomac Golf Course
East Potomac Park is home to one of Washington, DC's, three historic public golf courses. It was built during a unique moment in history, the expansion of urban parks during the Golden Age of Golf from 1910-1930. It also provides unbeatable views of Washington, DC.
Building the Course
Golf course architect Walter J. Travis designed a traditional links style course. This term derived from ancient Scotland described a rough, grassy area along the coast with sand dunes, subtle rolling terrain, and few trees. East Potomac Park, a flat peninsula along the Potomac River, was a natural match. Travis's reversible eighteen hole course had dozens of sand traps, bunkers, and other hazards to make play challenging. They were built from 1918 to 1923.
Potomac River
In May 1932, a local newspaper celebrated the course's "scenic beauty":
War College
"...and the War College, with its orderly array of Washington barracks nearby, stands across the other side."
Monument Views
"The Washington Monument breaks into the scene along the opposite perspective that ends at the channel edge...."
Washington Channel
"...where the soft smoke of waiting steamers tells of a quiet activity below decks."
Cherry Trees
"There is a row of the cherry trees which makes the city so attractive in the springtime near the caddy house."
Miniature Golf
"A resplendent miniature golf course with a picket fence enclosure lies adjacent to the entrance driveway."
Clubhouse
"The time-keeping rack in the club house has the cards of 36 men, who are working on the course steadily."
Full text of the East Potomac Park section of the article, "Washington's Playground in Spring and Summer" from The Sunday Star Magazine on May 8, 1932, part of The Sunday Star edition of The Evening Star Washington newspaper:
"Washington has some of the most beautiful municipal golf courses in the country, which fact may account in part for the popularity of the game. Another determining factor is the proximity of the Potomac Park courses to the downtown section of the city. As the East Potomac course has 36 holes, it has the largest attendance of any of the Government links. It is in itself one of the scenic beauty spots of the District. Under foot is a grass turf of exceptional depth, watched and groomed as carefully as that of a country club. In the background are the lacy willows along the banks of the Potomac on one side and the War College, with its orderly array of Washington barracks nearby, stands across the other side. The Arlington towers seem but a child's toy construction against the Virginia hills. The Washington Monument breaks into the scene along the opposite perspective that ends at the channel edge, where the soft smoke of waiting steamers tells of a quiet activity below decks. This Potomac course is not difficult. There are lockers with shower baths and a cafeteria with a glorious outlook toward the city, in the commodious, stucco club house here. There is a row of the cherry trees which make the city so attractive in the Springtime near the caddy house. A resplendent miniature golf course with a picket fence inclosure lies adjacent to the entrance driveway. The time keeping rack in the club house office has the cards of 36 men. who are working on the course steadily. They have a flivver which has seen better days to haul them about the grounds."