WASHINGTON — Rain is delaying the start of the Quicken Loans National Golf Tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. Golfers are not scheduled to begin their first round until 9:15 a.m.
The gates will open at 8:30 a.m. at Congressional Country Club.
Earlier, the gates had been closed because tournament organizers did not want fans on the grounds while storms pass through the area.
The parking lots are open, but there will be no shuttle service until the gates are open.
Tiger to attend
Tiger Woods will attend the event, but he won’t play this year. In a statement on his website, Woods said he wouldn’t be physically ready to play in the U.S. Open or at Congressional.
“Last year we were at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, but we’re very excited to be back at Congressional Country Club this year in Montgomery County, where the tournament began in 2007,” says tournament director Mike Antolini.
Officials in Montgomery County have hammered out parking and transportation details with representatives from the PGA Tour and Tiger Woods Foundation to get fans to and from the tournament. Here’s what spectators need to know whether driving and parking, dropping folks off, taking taxis or limos, or using public transportation.
Public Transportation
Two bus lines will drop fans off near the tournament. Spectators can catch Ride On bus route 36 from the Bethesda Metro station to the last stop, at the Connelly School on Bradley Boulevard. Spectators who take this line during the week must opt for another line during the weekend, though — bus 36 doesn’t operate Saturdays or Sundays.
The T2 bus runs between the Friendship Heights and Rockville Metro stations. Metro runs this line Monday through Friday. On weekends, Ride On operates the T2. Passengers using this option during the weekend should remember the times the last buses those nights will pass through the intersection of River Road and Bradley Boulevard. The last bus headed toward Rockville will cross that intersection at 8:04 p.m. The last bus to pass that stop headed toward the Friendship Heights Metro station will be at 8:10 p.m. Stops are on River Road just west of Bradley Boulevard.
Parking
Two public parking lots are available with shuttle service to and from the venue included in the price. Shuttles will leave every 15 minutes.
General parking is available at Rock Springs Lot, on 6720 Rockledge Drive, in Bethesda, about seven miles away from the Congressional Country Club. The tournament website says a single-day parking pass is $15 in advance, $20 at the gate.
Parking lots open at 7 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.
VIP preferred parking passes at Avenel Farm are no longer available. June 19 was the cutoff date to buy those parking passes online, and they’re not on sale at the gate.
Shuttles will depart each lot every 15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions each day. All passengers should be prepared for security checks before getting on board.
Drop-offs
Folks taking taxis, limousines, Uber or private vehicles must use the designated drop-off point on Persimmon Tree Road. Montgomery County officials advise passengers to time pickups carefully, because parking or standing will not be allowed at drop-off points. Tournament planners are encouraging fans to use Uber this year, if it suits them.
“If you haven’t signed up for Uber yet, and you use the promo code Quicken2016, you could quality for a free ride to the tournament,” Antolini says. New Uber customers going to the tournament can sign up and get their first ride free, up to $15.
When spectators buy tickets and parking passes online in advance, they have the option to print them out at home, saving time and trouble. Antolini says the spectator experience is critical for tournament planners, “so we’re trying to make it as easy as possible for our fans to come out and enjoy the Quicken Loans National.”
Dos and Don’ts
Backpacks and large purses are not allowed into the tournament. Beverage containers are also prohibited. Large camera bags and cameras are not permitted either, except on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mobile devices are allowed in silent mode at all times. Calls may be placed or answered in Cellphone Zones only. Photography is allowed in all areas Monday through Wednesday. The rules change on Thursday through Sunday — that’s when photos are prohibited as players prepare to take shots.
Find a full list of what you need to know here. And download this official spectator guide, too.
