Since the 1920s, the Rock Creek Park Golf Course has allowed golfers a chance to tee it up amid the beauty of D.C.’s Rock Creek Park.
Now, almost 100 years since the opening, you’ll be able to help re-imagine the course that was designed by William Flynn, a renowned golf course architect in the early 20th century.
The National Park Service, in coordination with National Links Trust, which operates three courses in D.C., including the one in Rock Creek, has released a plan to improve the course, in an effort to not only attract more golfers, but players with a variety of skill levels.
The National Park Service said the change will come while maintaining the course’s historically and architecturally significant elements.
The NPS said the plan for the course would allow the National Links Trust to:
- Reinvigorate the historic parkland-style course to its originally intended design.
- Create a course that players at a variety of skill levels can enjoy, including the possible addition of a driving range.
- Improve facilities to better support golf course operations, and enhance visitors’ experience.
- Remove invasive vegetation and dense overgrowth of the adjacent woodlands.
- Address drainage, irrigation, and deterioration of grass throughout the golf course.
- Improve trails and paths used by both pedestrians and golf carts.
Currently, the nine-hole regulation course and shorter par-3 course have a long maintenance backlog. The hope is new additions, such as a driving range, would bring in additional revenue to maintain the course.
Interested golfers, or want-to-be golfers, have until Feb. 8 to go online and submit their thoughts on the plan and their ideas on improving the course. Also, the National Park Service will hold a presentation on the plans for the course at a virtual meeting on Jan. 26.
