Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-23

pulls up at SdDlSQ HdllOT, {
the boys at Burning Tree.
Only % minutes by car Fl
Tree Club is a world apart for
the President and other notable
fugitives from the worries of
Washington.
Devoted solely to golf and
closely related diversions, such
as gin rummy and bourbon,
Burning Tree is a Capital in
stitution. 1t has been described
as the playground of Washing
ton offlcialdom and one of the
goth century's few remaining
sanctuaries for the male.
At Burning Tree it is not
merely suggested that the
ladies keep out. They are
banned.
Tradition Alone Sacred
In the brick and gray field
stone clubhouse, where nothing
is sacred but tradition. Mr..
Eisenhower may sit down to
lunch at the same table with
Gen. Nathan F. Twining. chair
man of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. and Senator Stuart SYM
ington. the Missouri Democrat
who has sharply attacked some
of the administrations military
policies.
In the locker room. he may be
greeted by Vice President Nixon
or Justice Tom Clark of the
Supreme Court. or Attorney
General Rogers, or perhaps a
Democratic critic from Capital
Hill.
Colts the thing at Burning
Tree. Par SubmergeS politics.
And despite the big names to
be found there. members in
sist no deals are made nor
causes advanced on the prem
Uses. One inf1del is said to have
been sacked years ago for ask
ing a senator how he intended
to vote on a bill pending in
Congress.
Il don't say politics isn't dis
cussed." explains Court of
Claims Judge Samuel Whitaker,
president of the club. But there
is an unwritten law against
promoting some political or
personal project"
Often Gets in Pappers
BY its nature, Burning Tree
often gets into the papers and
provides conversational canspes
flor cocktail parties. Well aware
of the gossip. former Senator
Gerald p. Nye of North Dakota.
commented joshingly when he
first heard that President Tru-
man had fired Gen. Douglas
Macarthur in 1851:
II can't believe it. 1t wasn't
even rumored at Burning Tree"
For all the notoriety, Burn
Ing Tree is publicity shy. The
club was founded for privacy.
Strangers are shooed away. It's
a place were bigwigs who must
behave like proper gentlemen
in public life may shed all traces
of dignity. And they do.
Behind sheltering poplars and
pines that hide the course from
passersby.N a normally we'll
dressed business executive may
tee of in outlandish costume
bare paunch hanging out over
shorts, socks, shoes and nothing
else.
Closeted from eavesdroppers.
members feel free at their
spring festival 70 roast such
august bodies as the Supreme
Court. In the presence of Chief
Justice Warren, naturally.
How Idea Originated
The idea for Burning Tree
was planted on the 10th tee of
another Washington course in
1922. Four prominent Capital
citizens had plodded the first
nine behind fairway dawdlers
and were held up as minutes
on the 10th. Thereupon they
resolved to establish a new club
with limited membership mo
women. especially and a mod
ern course. Thirty like-minded
Washingtonians contributed
$4,000 apiece to the venture.
In 1924, Burning Tree was a
reality.
Several legends have been
woven about the name. Walter
r. Tuckerman. the only sur
viving founder. says that peri
odically the blossoms OF a great
tree on a hilltop overlooking the
nearby Potomac River seemed
10 smoke. This was a signal
long ago for Indians to gather
for games. potlatch and pow
WOW Thus, Burning Tree
The club Is still "A scene of
potlatch and powwow, but the
only game is golf.
There is no tennis court, no
swimming pool. There is no
restaurant, but a plainly fur
nished dining room with two
long tables provides lunch and
gargantuan Sunday breakfasts.
Until an addition was built
this fall, there was no bar.