Article I - Volume 101, Episode 2 (2025)

± Article volume 101, episode 2

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 4 t h o f j u ly h o u r s o f o p e r at i o n letter from the president g e n e r a l ly s p e a k i n g

2025 s e n i o r p g a championship fav o r i t e m at c h at c o n g r e s s i o n a l p e a c e , l o v e & s o i r Ée a y e a r l at e r ... h o l i d ay e v e n t s g u i d e fa l l & w i n t e r 2 0 2 5 / 2 0 2 6

get in touch

o f j u ly h o u r s o f o p e r at i o n

4

th

ALL OUTDOOR POOLS CLOSING AT 6 PM

BLUE COURSE 8 AM-4:26 PM All carts must be off the course by 7 PM

CHOPHOUSE CLOSED

DRIVING RANGE 7 AM-7 PM

FITNESS CENTER 7 AM-2 PM

FOUNDERS’ PUB KITCHEN CLOSING AT 4 PM, BAR CLOSING AT 6 PM

GOLD COURSE 8 AM (Walk up play starts at 3:10 PM & All carts must be off the course by 7 PM

GOLF PERFORMANCE CENTER 8 AM-7 PM

GOLF SHOP 7 AM-7 PM

HOUSE GRILL CLOSING AT 2 PM

INDOOR POOL CLOSED

PAVILION CLOSING AT 6 PM

STONE BAR CLOSING AROUND 9 PM (Once fireworks begin)

TENNIS HOUSE CLOSING AT 4 PM

sending warm wishes for a joyful and safe independence day!

L E T T E R F R O M THE P R E S I D E N T What a couple of months it’s been! We had the honor of hosting the Senior PGA Championship, the excitement of over 13,000 holes of golf played during the Presidents’ Cup, and the sheer fun of the Summer Soirée. Three 'party of the year' events – and the summer has just begun.

We have much more in store for you, starting with the Fourth of July celebration this week. This is the perfect time to celebrate our country with friends, family, and the entire Congressional community. We still have many evenings of music at the Stone Bar, Dive-In Movie Nights for the kids, and much more ahead of us. Walking around the Club lately, I’m struck by how much is going on – early morning tennis matches, families at the pool, rounds of golf, friends gathering for dinner. It’s exactly what makes this such a special place to be.

We’ve also been reflecting on the feedback many of you shared during the Member Study earlier this year. Your Board of Governors has been hard at work taking your feedback as our guide and developing solutions that protect what makes Congressional unique. Here are a couple of the specific items the Board is working on:

•

Continue to focus on Member access. The recent vote to return the Junior Entrance Fee to 75% of the full entrance fee will eventually slow the growth/size of this Membership category—which has doubled in the last two decades.

However, conservative forecasting shows that the Junior category will grow by another 700 Members over the next 10+ years, if the program doesn’t change. We want to protect the Junior program and also protect the access all Members have to the Club.

•

Improvements to areas in the Clubhouse like the Women’s Locker room, overnight rooms, Capitol Dining Room and the Golf Shop are also being worked on. We listened to your feedback and want to make sure that the amenities that we have are all first-class.

•

Adjustments to the Blue Course. We have met with Andrew Green and are developing some modest changes to the design to assist in making the course even more enjoyable for the Membership. This work will be planned for the offseason.

•

The Board will have more to share on all these initiatives soon.

Enjoy the summer ahead. Whether you’re on the course, the courts, the pool, or just relaxing with friends, these are the moments we’ll remember for a lifetime.

GRAYSON HANES

GENERALLY SPEAKING OUR GREATEST AMATEUR Congressional has hosted championship golf for 90 years.

One of our earliest championships, was the 1959 US Women’s Amateur, won by Barbara McIntire.

Unfortunately, Barbara passed away last month in Southern Pines, NC, at the age of 90.

McIntire’s defining golf moment came here at Congressional 66 years ago, when she captured her first U.S. Women’s Amateur title in dramatic fashion. Trailing in the 36-hole final, she mounted a stirring comeback to claim victory. This triumph established her as one of amateur golf’s elite competitors and set the stage for a career that would span generations.

Congressional provided the perfect backdrop for McIntire’s breakthrough victory. Her ability to overcome adversity in that final match—rallying from behind to win—demonstrated the mental toughness and competitive fire that would define her career.

McIntire would add a second U.S. Women’s Amateur title in 1964 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Kansas, again rallying from a deficit in the 36-hole final.

Her career covered the golden years of women’s amateur golf, when large galleries and extensive press coverage elevated the players. In 1956, she recorded the best finish by an amateur in U.S. Women’s Open history,

finishing with birdie-par-eagle to tie Kathy Cornelius in regulation play.

Unfortunately, she eventually lost the 18-hole playoff to take second place.

Shortly after winning at Congressional, she also won the 1960 British Ladies Open Amateur, becoming one of only six women to hold both titles. Sports Illustrated even featured McIntire on its August 22, 1960 cover.

Her Curtis Cup record as both player and captain is unmatched. McIntire played on six USA Curtis Cup teams from 1958 to 1972 and served as Curtis Cup captain twice.

In 1976, her USA team won 11½-6½.

In 1998, the USA had lost four of the previous six matches and needed a win, so the USGA asked her to serve as captain again. Under her renewed leadership, the USA won 10-8.

She later served on the USGA Women’s Committee from 1985-96, while chairing it in 1995-96. In 2000, McIntire received the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, for distinguished sportsmanship.

While we mourn her passing, we count ourselves fortunate to have Barbara McIntire linked to our story, as one of our Club’s champions.

Thank you for reading,

JEFFREY KREAFLE

From page 149 of the Congressional Centennial Book.

Upon fairways kissed by morning light, Where oaks stood tall with regal pride,

The legends came with clubs in hand, to grace again this hallowed land.

Beneath the gaze of skies so blue, the crowd arrived—an eager view, with cheers that echoed ‘cross the green, a stage where skill and grace convene.

Their swings still sharp, their hearts still bold, with stories in each strok

ke retold—of majors won, of glory past, yet hunger in their eyes held fast.

The galleries strolled through rolling hil Congressional in a timeless home

with awe and pride, lls so neatly tied; n finest dress, of excellence.

Laughter lilted, spirits soared, memories made, traditions stored.

Families gathered, friends would toast, to legends walking coast to coast.

And though the scores may rise and fall, the weekend sang of more than all— it sang of honor, love for game, and champions with timeless flame.

David Diaz, a veteran who served for over 22 years, part of our Outside Services team for over 3 years and the 2025 PGA HOPE Ambassador for the Middle Atlantic Section was featured.

So here’s to 2025, where golf once more did come alive, at Congressional’s storied door— a chapter carved forevermore.

Congressional’s own got a taste of the Senior PGA Championship!

Jason Epstein, Director of Golf & Athletics played in the lead group as a marker due to the odd number of players after the cut! His son was his caddie.

A few special moments for the

team during the Championship.

Head Golf Professional, Aaron Levinson was featured on the PGA's Instagram with a Look into the Course throughout the week of the Championship.

Amazing commitment from our m

Thank you to everyone who he

members, team, and volunteers!

elped us pull this week off!

FAVORITE MATCH AT CONGRESSIONAL

E R I KA P SAC H

Success in Racquets at Congressional requires brains, brawn,…and playing partners who support you through thick and thin, on and off the court.

Erika Psacharopoulos sat down with the Marketing & Communications team to tell us about her favorite tennis match at the Club.

H A R O P O U LOS

We play so many matches, sometimes you’re lucky if you don’t have a memorable day. They can be battles – they’re physical, and they’re mental. I’ve had lots of matches where you're down and you have to figure out what you need to do to change so you can come back.

It doesn’t matter if you’re playing someone who is a little better than you are. You identify your opponents, you figure out solutions, and you try to come back. I’ve probably lost more matches in my time here than I’ve won, but I’ve learned from each one of them.

I’ve been very fortunate with partners, but I’ve had one partner since the beginning: Missi Dye. She’s the one who really got me into tennis to begin with. We play lots of matches together, and we’re best friends off the court as well.

A couple of years ago, I was coming back from an injury. After six months away, I had my first match back, playing with Melanie Caudron. It was a really windy day. Wind and tennis don't go well together. I was just doing everything I could to get the ball over the net, and Melanie was patient with me. Each set went into a tiebreak, a three and a half or four-hour match. In the end, we won. The group of ladies we have in tennis – we just push through.

Missi and I were playing in a match a couple of days ago. We were down 4–1 in the first set. One of our opponents had a crazy fast serve, and we didn’t know how to return it. You have to come up with strategy on your feet. We decided to play two back, give our opponents a different look, and we started to crawl back up.

We ended up in a tiebreak for that set – and we won the tiebreak. That was huge to come back from 4–1 down! We lost a close second set, then we won a ten-point tiebreak to decide the match. It was a true partnership. You trust this person, you know that they have your back, you have their back. You go into battle together in these matches.

I’ve always played tennis growing up. But when we joined Congressional, I started taking lessons with Missi and it just snowballed from there. I’ve met so many wonderful people here, and they’re like my family. Not only do we play tennis together, but we go on vacations and celebrate life events together. It’s a whole world here, and that I absolutely love.

E E CC

PE

E P

AA

&&

SS O O

VE

V E

E,, LLOO

E E É É R O O II R

A Yea the Centen Capsule Fin

ar Later, nnial Time nds its Place

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since we toasted to 100 years of tradition, camaraderie, and excellence at Congressional. The echoes of laughter from the Centennial Gala, the shared pride in our Club’s past and future, and the unforgettable celebrations still feel fresh in our memories. Now, a new moment has been sealed—literally.

The Centennial Time Capsule has officially been closed and placed on permanent display in the wall by the Pub, where it will remain until 2074.

This capsule is more than a container—it’s a bridge between generations, a curated collection of memories, milestones, and mementos that tell the story of who we were in 2024 and what we dreamed for the decades to come.

While it’s impossible to predict who among us will be here to open it 50 years from now, one thing is certain: whoever cracks the seal in 2074 will discover a Club with a deep reverence for its roots, a passion for excellence, and a culture built on shared memories and forward vision.

Until then, we invite you to visit and reflect on all that we’ve accomplished, together. The Centennial may have passed, but the spirit it ignited lives on— sealed in time, and proudly on display.

What treasures lie within this sealed archive?

•

Pennies from the Centennial Gala fountain toss, shimmering with wishes.

•

Coins from 2024 and a 1924 commemorative coin, linking past to present.

•

A Golf Course tee marker, Centennial flag and Centennial golf balls, tees, tools and scorecards for the Blue & Gold Course.

•

Construction plans for the New Tennis Clubhouse and Golf Performance Center, paired with Blue Course green concepts and Capital Project Publications, marking the Club’s physical evolution.

•

A Centennial Christmas ornament and the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas ornament.

•

A forward-looking surprise: the 2037 Ryder Cup driver head cover—a nod to the event that will mark another defining chapter for Congressional.

•

Menus from the House Grill, Pub and Chophouse, and a wine list, capturing the culinary delights of our era.

•

Business cards from our dedicated staff, alongside our cherished Culture Books (–) and staff orientation/integration booklet.

•

A moving letter from Ernie Els, and a jaw-dropping 3D printed model of the Dome, created

by NASA.

•

Congressional pins and an Honor the Legacy mug.

•

Champagne flutes that once clinked during the Centennial toast, and the secret to one of our most beloved traditions: the Rum Bun recipe.

•

A roster of Congressional Members, Copies of our 60th & 75th Anniversary Books as well as our Centennial book, History of the Congressional Country Club Founding Members, prepared by the Centennial Committee and a 100th Anniversary poster, creating a vivid picture of our community.

•

The Club’s Rules & Bylaws, 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports, and a transcript from the Hallowed Ground event and a signature of attendess from that evening.

fall & Winter 2025/2026

Holiday Events Guide Y

While summer is just getting started, we know how quickly calendars fill up later in the year. That’s why we released our Fall & Winter Holiday Events Guide designed to help you plan, gather your crew, and make this your most seamless, joy-filled season yet!

Get in Touch Stacy Miller-Arndt Director of Junior Golf jrgolf@ccclub.org

Jason Epstein PGA Director of Athletics jepstein@ccclub.org

Justin Bergo Executive Sous Chef jbergo@ccclub.org

Margarita Gilo Assistant General Manager mgilo@ccclub.org

Noureddine Chirchi Director of Banquets nchirchi@ccclub.org

Betsy Gregory Director of Team Member Engagement betsy@ccclub.org

Sarah Dieringer Graphic Design & Communications Manager sdieringer@ccclub.org

Maxine Harvey Director of Member Services maxine@ccclub.org

Dusan Dimitrijevski Director of Restaurants dusan@ccclub.org

Alex Justiniani Director of Racquets ajustiniani@ccclub.org

Alexandra Donohoe Director of Clubhouse Operations alexandra@ccclub.org

Jeffrey Kreafle General Manager jskreafle@ccclub.org

Rachel Krueger Director of Catering rachel@ccclub.org

Aaron Levinson Head Golf Professional alevinson@ccclub.org

John Scott Rattan Director of Instruction jsrattan@ccclub.org

Joel Silberstein Facilities Director jsilberstein@ccclub.org

James Lewis Digital Production Manager jlewis@ccclub.org

Theresa Soppelsa Director of Fitness tsoppelsa@ccclub.org

Matthew Morrison Director of Food & Beverage mmorrison@ccclub.org

Tracey Stearns Director of Retail tracey@ccclub.org

Nebiyat Natnael Golf Executive Administrator nebiyat@ccclub.org

Chris Tessone Chief Business Officer ctessone@ccclub.org

Danny Palmiotto Director of Aquatics & Bowling dvpalmiotto@ccclub.org

Pete Wendt Director of Golf Courses & Grounds pwendt@ccclub.org

© Congressional Country Club. All Rights Reserved.

Congressional Country Club | 8500 River Road | Bethesda, MD 20817