Annual Report of the Chair, Board of Governors And the General and Special Committees 2025
Gansca, Mr. Ken Quinn, and Mr. John Tuck who liaison to Planning from other committees and do a wonderful job of keeping the lines of communications open. Finally, I’d like to thank Dave Dawson, the Director of Facilities who does an incredible job of keeping our facilities in working order.
GOLF & GREEN COMMITTEE
LCDR CHRISTOPHER IRONROAD, USNR, CHAIR Army Navy Country Club members continue to enjoy excellent course conditions across both the Arlington and Fairfax campuses. At Arlington, the courses are rebounding well from the cooler- than-usual spring, which briefly slowed Bermuda grass growth earlier in the season. This steady improvement is thanks to the dedicated efforts of our course superintendents—Mike King at Arlington and Joe Betcher at Fairfax—and their skilled teams, who work tirelessly to deliver top- tier playing surfaces. We also recognize the invaluable contributions of our golf operations staff, led by PGA Director of Golf Brad Myers, whose long hours and commitment help ensure the smooth operation of one of the busiest golf clubs in the country. As a committee, we rely on the insight and recommendations of our professional team, as well as trusted industry consultants like the McMahon Group and Club Benchmarking, to guide our decision-making. Member play remained strong in 2024, with a total of 110,521 rounds played across both campuses—64,992 at Arlington and 45,529 at Fairfax. While this represents a slight decrease from the prior year, Army Navy Country Club continues to rank among the most active private clubs in the country, particularly at the Arlington campus. Through June of 2025, we’ve recorded 46,331 total rounds. The modest year-over-year decline can largely be attributed to an unusually cold and snowy January, during which only 143 rounds were played. Over the past year, both campuses have seen meaningful improvements that reflect our ongoing commitment to course quality and member experience. At Fairfax, Superintendent Joe Betcher has overseen extensive drainage installation across the property and undertaken a large-scale clearing of overgrown underbrush in heavily wooded areas. His team has also worked to improve bunker conditions by addressing sand depth and overall playability. Additionally, both on-course restrooms have been fully renovated, offering a noticeable upgrade for members. At Arlington, Superintendent Mike King and his crew have been addressing winter kill damage to the Bermuda grass by sodding affected areas with a more resilient hybrid variety. As an interim measure to improve bunker conditions, additional sand has been placed in areas where depth was lacking. Mike has also led the removal of years of overgrowth in the underbrush, particularly this year along Red 5 and 7, and White 8—efforts that have significantly improved both course aesthetics and playability. Looking ahead, members will benefit from a major equipment upgrade made possible by our General Manager Patrick King and Mr. Myers, who successfully negotiated a new cart lease that allows for an early fleet rotation. Our previous carts, delivered before the COVID-19 pandemic, had begun to show significant wear, and this early replacement ensures a more comfortable and reliable experience on the course. In addition, the new carts will be equipped with GPS systems— an enhancement that will significantly elevate the member experience by improving pace of play,
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