IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 899 

Recommending that the Langston Golf Course located in northeast Washington, DC, and owned by the U.S. National Park Service, be recognized 

for its important legacy and contributions to African-American golf history, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 19, 2007 

Mr. CLAY (for himself, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, and Mr. GRIJALVA) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 

Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Recommending that the Langston Golf Course located in 

northeast Washington, DC, and owned by the U.S. National Park Service, be recognized for its important legacy and contributions to African-American golf history, 

and for other purposes. 

Whereas the Langston Golf Course was designated for construction by the U.S. Department of the Interior in the 

1930s as a safe and expanded recreational facility for the 

local and National African-American communities; 

Whereas Langston Golf Course was named for John Mercer 

Langston, the first African-American U.S. Representative 

elected to the U.S. Congress from the State of Virginia, 


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and who also was a founder of the Howard University 

Law School; 

Whereas the Langston Golf Course is believed to be the first 

regulation course built in the United States almost entirely on a refuse landfill; 

Whereas Langston Golf Course has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Capitol City 

Open golf tournament has made Langston Golf Course 

its home for the past 40 years; 

Whereas the first American-born golf professional of AfricanAmerican ancestry was John Shippen, who was born 

circa 1878 in the Anacostia area of Washington, placed 

fifth in the second U.S. Open golf tournament in 1896 

at 16 years old, and helped found the Capitol City Golf 

Club in 1925; 

Whereas the Capitol City Golf Club, eventually was renamed 

the Royal Golf Club and Wake Robin Women’s Club, has 

historically promoted a safe golf facility for AfricanAmericans in Washington during an era of few available 

facilities, and these 2 clubs remain the oldest AfricanAmerican golf clubs in the United States; 

Whereas the Langston facility continues to provide important 

recreational outlets, instructional forums, and a ‘‘safe 

haven center’’ for the enhancement of the lives of the 

City of Washington’s inner city youth; 

Whereas the Langston Golf Course and related recreational 

facilities provide a home for the Nation’s important minority youth ‘‘First Tee’’ golf instruction and recreational 

program in Washington; 

Whereas Langston Golf Course operations and its related facilities seek to increase course-based educational opportuVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:32 Dec 21, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR899.IH HR899

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nities as part of the National Park Service for persons 

under 18 years of age, particularly those from populations of the inner-city and historically underrepresented 

among visitors to units of the National Park System; 

Whereas the preservation and ecologically balanced enhancements via future public and private funding for the lands 

making up the 212 acres of the Langston Golf Course 

will contribute to the positive benefit of the National 

Park System’s Environmental Leadership projects program, the Anacostia River Watershed, its importance to 

the City of Washington, and that of the entire metropolitan area; 

Whereas Federal funds for enhancements to the Langston 

course have perennially been promised but rarely provided, even after the designation of Langston Golf Course 

as a ‘‘Legacy Project for the 21st Century’’, and after 

significant private funding and contributions were committed and provided; and 

Whereas the Langston Golf Course and related recreational 

facilities have traditionally provided additional quality of 

life value to all residents of Washington and will do more 

so once upgraded to meet its obvious athletic and historical promise: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the United States 

2 House of Representatives that— 

3 (1) it is imperative that the Director of the Na4 tional Park Service and Secretary of the Interior 

5 comprehensively develop a plan to upgrade the 

6 Langston Golf Course physical infrastructure, build7 ing facilities, and enhance appropriately future anVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:32 Dec 21, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR899.IH HR899

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1 nual budgets for this important park in the National 

2 Park System; and 

3 (2) the Director of the National Park Service 

4 assess and designate a proper working museum 

5 within the confines of the Langston Golf Course to 

6 adequately commemorate the important history of 

7 this golf, recreational, and instructional African8 American sports institution as a unique part of the 

9 National Park System. 

Æ 


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