Hole 16 at Congressional Country Club (Gold Course)

Par 4 • 386 Yards • Bethesda, Maryland

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Challenging

The 16th hole at Congressional Country Club stands as one of the course's signature risk-reward challenges, demanding sound decision-making from tee to green. This strategic par 4 features a blind uphill approach to a severely undulating green that slopes away from players, creating one of the most demanding finishing tests in championship golf.

Tees:

386y379y364y345y293y

Green:20y × 30y

Fairway @250y:47y wide

3 Bunkers dogleg

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Congressional Country Club (Gold Course)

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 386 yds
Green: 3647 sq ft
Bunkers: 3
Course Slope: 134
Course Rating: 73.2

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

Target the left side of the fairway on this dogleg right to set up the best angle into the green. The fairway widens significantly from 35 yards at 200 yards to 47 yards at 250 yards, giving longer hitters more room to work with.

tee shot

Play a controlled left-to-right shot as the fairway contours demand this ball flight. Avoid the bunkers positioned at 265 and 282 yards by keeping drives under 260 yards or carrying them past 285 yards.

approach

From 386 yards total length, most approach shots will be from 100-130 yards into a relatively small green measuring just 20 by 30 yards (3,647 sq ft). Club selection and accuracy are critical given the tight target.

green

Expect one of the most undulating greens on the course according to setup notes. The compact 20x30 yard putting surface rewards precise approach shots, as recovery from poor positions will be extremely difficult.

hazard warning

Beware the greenside bunker at 375 yards - just 11 yards short of this 386-yard hole. Any approach shot that comes up short risks finding sand on this already challenging target.

train this shot at home

This 386-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

With bunkers guarding the green, pick the side with the most room and let the slope feed the ball toward the pin.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 386-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 16?

This hole is a good scoring opportunity for most golfers. Key challenges include: small green.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 16?

Key hazards include: 1 greenside bunker. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 16?

The green is small and requires precision. The green is deeper than wide, so club selection is crucial. Expect challenging pin positions with limited room for error.

What's a good score on hole 16?

This hole is a medium-length test where par is a solid result. A straightforward par 4 where course management pays off.

Can I practice hole 16 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Congressional Country Club (Gold Course). You can play this exact 386-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →