His life journeys afford Benning fond recollections.
much about teaching, playing the game, and
running a big operation,” Benning says. “And
from there, he helped me get a head job at
the Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey.
I had always wanted to be in the New York
area, and I was there for nine years.”
In 1972, he was invited to interview for
the Congressional job, a course he knew
all too well. In the memorable 1964 U.S.
Open at the Bethesda venue, Ken Venturi
won in a 36-hole near heat stroke Saturday
marathon in 100-plus degree weather.
After two rounds, Benning missed the
cut. The temperature and humidity was
so oppressive, he says he saw stars for the
first time in his life, and almost passed out
because of the boiling temperatures.
Benning had an 11-year run at
Congressional, a stretch that included being
the host professional at the 1976 PGA
Championship conducted at the course.
During his tenure, he helped some of
Washington’s top power brokers with their
swings, including Beltway law XZ