Best par 3: 11th hole at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. "For three reasons: its unencumbered beauty of a green jutting into Lake Manassas, its challenging shot of 190 yards to a peninsula green, and its role in history–this par 3 was the first of many white-knuckle holes on the road to US victory in the President's Cup of 1994, 1996, and 2000. RTJ will host again next year."
Best par 4: 17th hole at Congressional's Blue Course. "If Tom Lehman, Jeff Maggert, and Colin Montgomerie couldn't handle the 17th hole at Congressional in the final round of the 1997 US Open, it's probably asking too much of members and guests to negotiate in four strokes the 466 yards to a green guarded by water and bunkers. Having played a role in three major championships, this could be one of the world's best finishing holes. It soon will be, as the club prepares to turn the par-3 18th into the 10th and the 466-yard 17th into the closer."
Best par 5: 18th hole at Queenstown Harbor River Course. "A great finishing hole has potential–for greatness and disaster. This one requires a precise tee shot, two forced carries, and almost no opportunity to go for the green in two. A classy finisher to an outstanding course wedged near the intersection of the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay."
Washingtonian staff contributing to this section were Chuck Conconi, Sherri Dalphonse, Susan Davidson, Mary Clare Fleury, Cynthia Hacinli, Thomas Head, Stephanie Jones, Ann Limpert, Drew Lindsay, Chad Lorenz, Leslie Milk, William O'Sullivan, Cindy Rich, and Jeremy Stahl. Also contributing were writers Cathy Alter, Ann Cochran, and Jenny Sullivan.
