| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Potomac, Maryland, United States |
| Established | 1986 |
| Operated by | PGA Tour TPC Network |
| Total holes | 18 |
| Tournaments hosted | Booz Allen Classic (formerly the Kemper Open, 1987–2006) |
| Website | http://www.tpcpotomac.com/ |
| Designed by | Ed Ault, Tom Clark, & Ed Sneed (1986); Stephen Wenzloff & Jim Hardy (2007 re-design) |
| Par | 70 |
| Length | 7,124 yards |
TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm (formerly TPC Avenel) is a private golf club in Potomac, Maryland. After a major renovation to both clubhouse and course, the clubhouse reopened in late 2008 while the course reopened on April 28, 2009.[1]
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Originally opened in 1986, the course was roundly criticized for poor design right from the beginning. The course was also plagued by years of flooding and drainage problems and by various turfgrass issues which affected the greens and often produced less than satisfactory tournament conditions. As a result, many top professionals stayed away, and the Kemper/Booz Allen tournament became unofficially relegated to "B" event status.
In summer 2005, Dewberry and Davis land surveying crews were regularly seen taking measurements across the facility, sparking rumors that the long criticized course would finally be reconfigured. Confirmation came in 2007 when The PGA Tour announced a $32 million golf course and clubhouse renovation in an effort to bring back a tournament to the Washington D.C. area. The renovation covers the new course, which has been reshaped into a new par 70, 7,124 yard course with Rock Run Creek being expanded and cleaned up.
The controversial sixth hole (conceived as a weak copy of the 13th at Augusta National) was changed to a straightaway long par-four with the green now short and left of the creek. The par-3 ninth (famously maligned by Greg Norman, who suggested the original be "blown up with dynamite") was rebuilt with a new green up on a hill near the old practice green. The old 10th and 11th holes have been combined into the new tenth, a long par-five playing around the restored creek feature. The old 12th is now the 11th, with the old par-five 13th (another popular target of player angst) eliminated and replaced by a new, uphill par-three 12th and a short, par-four 13th.
In addition to the golf course, the project also included a new practice facility and short game area, and clubhouse renovations.
Also in 2006, the tournament ended on Tuesday due to persistent storms in the D.C. area. It was the first time a Tour event has been played on a Tuesday since 1968. The conclusion of what turned out to be the final Booz Allen Classic was not televised.
In 2007, Tiger Woods announced his tournament, the AT&T National, was to be played annually at neighboring Congressional Country Club. Since Congressional is preparing to host the 2011 U.S. Open, there has been speculation as TPC Potomac as a replacement venue for 2010 and 2011.[2] However, the tournament was held in Aronimink Golf Club instead, as they "see how the reconfigured course played and how members responded to it before considering hosting major tournaments."[1]
The PGA Tour has decided to move next year's Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship from Baltimore Country Club in Timonium to the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.[3]
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