2026 REVERSIBLE DAY
April 17 | 8 AM & 2 PM Shotgun Starts
East Potomac Golf Links
National Links Trust is planning to host the fifth Reversible Day outing on Friday, April 17th at East Potomac Golf Links. The event is a celebration of Walter Travis' design of the historic Blue Course at East Potomac Golf Links, as well as a friendly two-person team competition. This is the one time every year where our community has the chance to play a routing inspired by Walter Travis’ original design!
With the uncertainty around our future at the facility, there is a chance this event will be canceled. In that case, National Links Trust will provide a 100% refund or provide you the option roll your registration into a donation to support our community programming and work to ensure the best possible outcomes for the courses in Washington, DC.
Event Details
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Friday, April 17th
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There will be two shotguns: 8 AM and 2 PM. You will have the option of registering for either one.
To allow for maximum participation, please only register for one. Thank you!
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$200 per player.
Included in registration are the once-a-year privilege of playing the 14-hole reversible routing, cart, tee gift, and food. There will be an 8 AM and a 2 PM shotgun.
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Two-person scramble on the 14-hole reversible routing (see below!)
A look at the Routing
About East Potomac Golf Links’ Reversible History
East Potomac Golf Links was built as part of a larger vision for East Potomac Park to be a “model public playground” for the nation with golf playing an anchoring role. While the idea for a golf course originated in 1911, it was not until 1914 that planning for the course began in earnest. Due in part to his work at nearby Columbia Country Club, as well as his stature as one of the time’s leading architects and amateur players, Walter J. Travis was recommended to serve as architect. In January of 1917, Travis was officially confirmed as architect, and by the summer, construction on Travis’ ingenious, reversible design commenced.
Though World War I delayed construction, the first 9 holes of Travis’ creation eventually opened on July 8, 1920. This first nine - termed the A-B Course for its two directions - covered approximately 80 acres and was described by the Evening Star as “a true Travis creation…characterized by rolling, undulating, well-trapped greens”. Upon opening, the cost for two loops around the course was a modest 25 cents.
From the outset, the course was extremely popular and held in high regard, attracting notable players in its early years. On April 5, 1921, President Warren G. Harding played it for the first time along with Minnesota Senator Frank B. Kellogg, New Jersey Senator Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen Sr., and Maine Senator Frederick Hale. Harding would go on to play the course regularly during his time in office. The following year, Gene Sarazen held a clinic at the course and then played a match that included 1908 US Open Champion Fred McLeod.
By 1922, construction of Travis’ second nine, the C-D Course, was well underway, and with the full course’s opening on the horizon, the USGA announced that it would host the second playing of the US Amateur Public Links Championship in June of 1923. With a hard deadline looming, the second nine’s completion was fast tracked, opening just before playing of the championship from June 26-29, 1932. For the championship, the course was played in the A routing on the first nine and the C routing on the second nine (of note, today’s normal routing is more similar to the B and D routings). At Reversible Day, players have the opportunity to play modified-routing similar to the original A and C routing.
Photos from Past REVERSIBLE DAY Events
