Capitol Hill transforms into virtual putting green

The putting green set up in the Rayburn House Building keeps track of putts based on political party. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
"I need to work on my short game, and I have problems with my putting and my chipping," said Joe Baca (D-Ca.), while maintaining he still has one of the top swings on the Hill. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
The putting green set up in the Rayburn House Building keeps score based on the putter's political party. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
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Andrew Mollenbeck, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Congress has agreed to major — if not wild — cuts with strong bipartisan support.

Speaking of their golf swings, of course.

As part of National Golf Day, a foyer in the Rayburn House Office Building has been decked out with a virtual golf station, a mini practice green and a variety of short-game drills.

“I need to work on my short game, and I have problems with my putting and my chipping,” said Rep. Joe Baca (D-Ca.) following a few swings at the virtual golf station.

But he didn’t shy away from naming his swing among the best on the Hill.

“I think I have a good swing, John Yarmuth has a good swing, Gowdy has a pretty good swing,” Baca said of his Congressional counterparts.

The host of golf reps on Capitol Hill are there to do more than straighten out the slice of big-shot hackers.

The fifth annual Golf Day promotes the economic jolt of the game, by employing almost two million people.

“At $76 billion, golf is bigger than the motion picture industry,” Joe Steranka, CEO of the PGA of America, said in his pitch for the sport.

“It’s key to the economic vitality of many cash-strapped states and localities.”

The golf demo at Rayburn is no time for the yips. The partisan putt-putt keeps track of holed shots based on party affiliation.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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