The Washington herald., 1921-06-05
COLUMBIA COUNTRY CLUB WELL
EQUIPPED TO STAGE NATIONAL.
OPEN TOURNAMENT IN JULY
First Tournament Staged Over Historic Course
In 1898 With Pewter Cup as Prize.


part OF the Capital Traction system.
The ride from the center of the city
to the clubhouse occupies 20 min
utes and the cars run every few
minutes. isSfrequent car service
and an AIRLINE concrete and asphalt
1 thoroughfare for automobiles were
determining factors in the selection
of the site, together with the pic
uresqueness of the situation and
the fact that the land, which
abounded in diversity, could easily
be cleared. IL was also foreseen
that the steady development Of the
Chevy Chase suburb would con-
stantly add 10 the value of the
property. This expectation has been
fully realized and the club could
today dispose of its holdings at a
substantial profit.
The FIRST years existence Of the
new organization. 1913. during
which the course was laid out and
the clubhouse erected. was a strenu-
Gus one. although this experience
is common to all clubs. The first
president was Henry l. West, at
that time one of the commissioners
of the District of Columbia The
club has had four other presidents.
BENJAMIN S. Woodruff. Bradley
Davidson Emmons ). Smith who
served the club for nine years with
fidelity and efficiency. and John II.
Hanna the present incumbent
And sim IL Grew.
The entire personnel of the club
was "a self-constituted membership
committee and frequent public meet
! ings were held to stimulate civic
interest in the undertaking. When
II became necessary to issue bonds
| club members were willing pur-
chasers. The newspapers were gem
erous in the matter Of publicity.
Above all. the members never allow
| ed themselves TO pecvme discour-
aged and steadily adhered to the
! principle that what was worth do
ing at all was worth doing well.
This vision and confidence led TO
the clubhouse as II exists today.
with a course which was planned to
be the equal of any in the United
States-and has reached that con-
summation.
The clubhouse in Spanish style.
presents a very prcpossessing ex-
terror and is surrounded by we'll
kept grounds, features of which are
an lS-hole putting course. IL tennis
courts and a double row of tall pop
lar trees lining the entrance walk.
| The porches are wide and surround
three sides OF the structure. The
visitor enters capacious room,
/ with large fireplace and mantel
facing the front door. At the south
end is a smaller apartment, which
Is used for a ladies' reception room
and for small luncheon parties.
while the ball room occupies the
entire north front There is a COM
modious and - well-lighted dining
room on the west front. The cell
ings are high and the woodwork is
artistic The second story. reached
| by broad staircase, contains card
rooms and sleeping apartments.
while the basement is devoted 10
lockers and a grill room which will
seat 500 persons. These rooms are
above ground, with plenty of light
and air. There is still a nineteenth
hole room, but its leather-covered
furniture and its decorative stems
are now only reminiscent of former
| Gays The interior of the clubhouse
is furnished throughout in excellent
taste and there is an atmosphere of
home comfort which is very at
| tractive-
The membership OF the club, ap-
proximately $50 in all its classes.
includes the most representative
people of the national capital in Of
ficial. professional. commercial and
social circles. The honorary mem
bers are President HARDING, Vice
President Coolidge. Speaker Ginett.
former Presidents Taft and Wilson
and former Vice President Mar
shall President Eerding plays
the course frequently. and Mr.. will
son, when President and before his
| illness. was a constant visitor
Mr.. Taft also made himself thor
| oughly familiar with the course.
1t may be interesting to state that
a President. when he desires to
play, gives advance notice of the
time when he expects to appear
I upon the first tee and he is always
accorded the privilege of immedi-
ately driving of. Players who are
overtaken by a President and his
companions always give the right
! of way to the Presidential party.
| Nearly every player in the club has
had the experience of allowing a
| President TO go through. IL may
] be Sald. however. tndt sometimes
a President declines to avail him
self of this courtesy. 1t is the un-
written rule that no especial at
! tention hall he paid to = Presid n A.
/ on the course, unless a silent salute
Ps he passes. and a gallery is never
allowed TO follow him.
During the coming open tourna-
ment every possible convenience
for guests will be insured. Special
;elegraphic facilities will enable
newspaper correspondents to file
their dispatches at the clubhouse.
thus avoiding the delay of messen-
ger or street car service into he
| city. The locker service will be
enlarged, the culinary department
will be equipped to meet all de-
mands. and the entire club mem-
bership will he a reception COM
mittee 10 extend hearty welcome
20 the large crowd of tournament
visitors whose presence is not only
anticipated but most cordially de-
sired.