During a spring trip to the Washington, DC area, the Walter J. Travis Society’s VP/Archivist and Membership Chairman visited Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD. Three Club members served as hosts: Matt Jacobs and two volunteer Club "historians," Don Chomas and Frank Cantrel. All three are Travis Society members.
Columbia Country Club is rich in history. It was established in 1898 and in its earliest years occupied three different leased properties within the District. It opened at its present suburban Maryland location in 1911. Walter Travis, Herbert H. Barker, and Dr. Walter S. Harban are recognized as course architects. On display in the clubhouse are many artifacts from that rich history. From the earliest memories of course construction and the1921 U.S Open championship, won by Jim Barnes. Walter Hagen and the host club professional, Fred McLeod, finished in a tie for second, nine shots back. The displays include artifacts from more recent USGA championships hosted by Columbia -- Brian Harman won the 2003 Boys Junior Amateur and Rose Zhang captured the 2021 Girls' Junior Amateur title.
The course was presented in magnificent shape by the superintendent and grounds crew. Walter Travis took advantage of multiple elevation changes for his routing, and protected the landing zones and putting surfaces with strategically placed, deep bunkers. As for the greens, many of them feature spines and multiple breaks, aka Travis specialties. The weather guardians smiled on us, with blue skies and sunshine on an early April day.
Don Chomas provided background on the current course routing, which included some issues regarding the placement of a road at one end of the course, along with the railroad tracks that crease a narrow corridor of thelayout; both elements were mentioned with a bit of humor. The routing successfully manages these external challenges and any significant disagreements among members on matters of preservation and progress have been rare.
The golf course is made up of two tracts of land. The major acreage is found across the old Georgetown Branch rail line (which in recent years is being converted to a light rail transit system), where holes two through fourteen lie. The minor parcel is on the clubhouse side of the rail line and hosts the opening hole as well as the four concluding holes. Many holes merit attention, yet both guests are unanimous in their assessment of the penultimate hole as unique. Carries over ponds are required on both the par-three 16th and the par-four 17th.
In the case of the second-to-last hole, a short tee shot of about 180 to 220 yards over water was required to reach the fairway situated at the bottom of the a substantial hill, thus requiring a short iron to a highly elevated green. The putting surface is guarded by enough bunkers to punish the errant wedge shot. The wall and light rail tracks to the left added to the wonderment. The closing hole, uphill toward the stately clubhouse, provides a challenging and picturesque finish to the round.
