DESTINATION GUIDES

Washington Golf

Transportation

Getting around Washington D.C. is as easy as pie

Washington D.C. is serviced by three airports. Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia is located an hour west of the city. The Washington-Baltimore International Airport in Maryland is 45 minutes north of the D.C. and 20 minutes south of Baltimore. The Ronald Reagan National Airport is a regional 15 minutes south of Arlington.

By train, Union Station is just two blocks from the Capitol and is a very convenient way to visit.

I-495 loops around Washington D.C. through Maryland and Virginia. To get there from the west, I-66 goes right into metro D.C. From the south, I-95 turns into the I-495 bypass in Virginia. From the north, I-95 can be taken to Baltimore or I-295 to the Washington Dulles Airport. To get to the Washington Dulles Airport take US-267 west.

Driving in downtown D.C. can be confusing and extremely expensive to park. Most downtown hotels charge up to $20 per day to park. The Metrorail system is a clean, cheap and fast alternative. The Metrobus is also available.

 

FAQ

1) What is the best way to get around D.C.?

The roads of Washington D.C. can be a congested maze for visitors. Therefore, the cleanest, most headache-free way is by taking the Metrorail subway. Fares are $1.20, $2.50 for express routes. Over 80 stations serve the metro D.C. area, extending into Virginia and Maryland.

2) Can I still get a tour of the White House?

Recent changes have made it so individuals may not receive tours of the White House. If you have a group of 10 or more, it is possible and you can apply for a tour at www.whitehouse.gov.

3) Are there any courses within the busy confines of the D.C. limits?

Three courses inhabit the city and due to their age and lack of space, none are longer than 6,400 yards. East Potomac Park (36 hole complex included a par-3 nine), Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. Each course is located on federal land and owned by the National Parks Service.

4) How long is the golf season in the capital?

Being further south than most New England cities, it lasts up to two months longer. Average temperature in April is a chilly but manageable 52.7 degrees while in October it remains 55.1 degrees. July is the warmest month with a 75.6 average.

5) What is the "National Mall"?

The National Mall is a National Park lying right in the middle of the U.S. Government and museums. It is bordered by the Washington Monument to the West and the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial to the East. The Smithsonian Institute has six museums which line the field in between, open to the public. Dozens of street vendors often line the sides. In the summer of 2003, the National Mall was turned into a 40-yard golf hole for two weeks during the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The featured country? Scotland.

6) What is the "Beltway"?

The Beltway is the term used for I-95, which stretches along the eastern seaboard from Washington D.C., through Baltimore, Philadelphia and into New York City. I-95 itself extends down to southern Florida.

7) Are the only good courses in Washington D.C. private, filled with our senators and congressmen, paying dues with our tax money?

While there are a handful of prestigious private courses in metro D.C. (TPC at Avenel, Congressional Country Club, Bethesda Country Club, Columbia Country Club to name a few), closer inspection reveals a mass of courses open to the tax payers themselves. Gary Player's Raspberry Falls is just 15 minutes from the Washington Dulles Airport. Cross Creek Golf Club, Falls Creek and Hampshire Road are also good alternatives for those willing to drive to the outer rims of metro D.C. but don't have a membership or seat in the House.

8) What are the Cherry Blossoms?

The famous National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned yearly to coincide with the blooming of the area trees, usually taking place in late march or early April (the mean date is April 4th). The festival lasts for three days and includes parades and a 10 mile run, but the biggest attraction is the blooming of the trees themselves. The festival began 92 years ago when 3,000 cherry blossoms were given as a gift from Tokyo.

9) What's the nightlife like in D.C.?

Downtown D.C. has a staggering amount of clubs and bars. An abundance lie near the college parts of Georgetown and George Washington, but you are never more than a couple blocks away. The Improv in Washington D.C. is one of the nation's best comedy clubs and the biggest names in stand up play here frequently.

10) Is there anywhere else besides a putting green to remain quiet and respectful?

That would be at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, located across the Potomac. In the summer months, the Changing of the Guard ritual occurs every half hour. Over 4 million people come to Arlington each year to pay their respect to the fallen heroes of America.