Donald Trump eyes takeover of Washington D.C.’s public golf courses

Trump plans to take control of Washington’s public golf courses, raising concerns over affordable access to the sport.

Washington, D.C. is home to three public golf courses—Rock Creek, Langston, and East Potomac—managed by the nonprofit National Links Trust (NLT) since 2019. The NLT aims to restore these historic courses through donations, but has faced bureaucratic hurdles in the capital.

Each course has a different status: East Potomac is self-sustaining, Rock Creek is struggling to survive through donations, and Langston sits somewhere in between. The NLT has worked with renowned architects like Gil Hanse and Beau Welling to revitalize the courses, with Tom Doak offering to redesign East Potomac’s Blue Course for free.

Trump vs. National Links Trust

According to a Wall Street Journal report, President Donald Trump now wants to take over the courses, with support from the Department of the Interior. The land is owned by the National Park Service, and Trump is reportedly seeking to terminate the NLT’s 50-year lease signed in 2020.

Trump’s vision includes a redesign by Tom Fazio, known for creating high-end, tournament-ready courses like Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey. The proposed upgrades would include lakes, hills, manicured cart paths, and signature Trump elements like halfway hotdog stands.

NLT: “We’re devastated”

NLT co-founder Will Smith expressed disappointment, stating, “We’re devastated.” The organization’s mission is to keep golf accessible and affordable in the capital. “We believe golf is a public good that teaches important life values,” Smith said.

The planned Blue Course renovation was to enhance topography and views of the Potomac River. Smith emphasized that the NLT never intended to make the course “expensive and flashy,” a style often associated with Trump’s developments.

Construction debris and political pressure

Demolition of the East Wing of the White House, where Trump plans a $200 million ballroom, has produced debris now being dumped on East Potomac’s Blue Course. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposed using the rubble for course renovations, an idea Trump called “brilliant.”

In October, the NLT received a notice from the government demanding they address a vague “default” by December 13. Media speculate this refers to the expectation that the debris be used immediately for renovations.

Trump accused the NLT of breaching their lease and warned that if work doesn’t begin by year-end, he will terminate the agreement and take over. “And when we do it, we’ll make them really beautiful,” he told the Wall Street Journal.

While many local golfers fear that Trump’s upgrades will lead to unaffordable green fees, he promised discounted rates for D.C. residents.