Congressional Country Club

Bethesda, Maryland · Parkland

4 major championships hosted since 1964

U.S. Open ×3 PGA Championship ×1

Established

1924

Designer

Devereux Emmet; Rees Jones (redesign)

Par

71

Championship Yardage

7,569 yds

About the Course

Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., is a long, demanding parkland course with a famous uphill closing hole playing toward the grand clubhouse. Its Blue Course has hosted three U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship.

Congressional is best remembered for Ken Venturi's heat-stricken 1964 win and Rory McIlroy's record-shattering 2011 U.S. Open performance.

Course Records

Lowest scoring marks recorded in major championship competition at Congressional Country Club.

Course Record (round)

63

Major rounds

Lowest 72-Hole Total

268 (−16)

Rory McIlroy, 2011

First Major Hosted

1964

Total Majors Hosted

4

Major Hosting History

Every major championship staged at Congressional Country Club, by championship and year.

Championship Times Years
U.S. Open 3 1964, 1997, 2011
PGA Championship 1 1976

Notable Moments

Defining rounds and championship moments in the history of Congressional Country Club.

1964

Venturi's ordeal

Ken Venturi, near collapse from heat exhaustion during a 36-hole final day, was accompanied by a doctor as he won the U.S. Open.

1976

Stockton's PGA

Dave Stockton won the PGA Championship at Congressional.

1997

Els holds on

Ernie Els won his second U.S. Open, edging Colin Montgomerie and Tom Lehman.

2011

McIlroy's record

Rory McIlroy ran away with his first major at 16-under 268, then a U.S. Open scoring record, by eight strokes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lowest 72-hole total at Congressional?

Rory McIlroy's 16-under-par 268 in the 2011 U.S. Open, which set the championship scoring record at the time.

Who won the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional?

Ken Venturi, who battled severe heat exhaustion during the 36-hole final day under a doctor's watch.

What majors has Congressional hosted?

Three U.S. Opens (1964, 1997, 2011) and the 1976 PGA Championship.

Explore More

All Courses

Browse all 125 venues that have hosted major championships.

Major Championships

Complete history of all four majors from 1860 to today.

Records & Firsts

Youngest, oldest, largest margins, and every major record.