Trump Pulls the Plug on D.C.’s Golf-Course Lease, Leaving Public Golf on the Brink
The Trump administration has abruptly terminated the lease for all three of D.C.’s public golf courses, throwing the future of accessible municipal golf into total uncertainty.
The move severs the government’s relationship with the National Links Trust (NLT), the nonprofit that took over the courses in 2020 with a promise to revive them while keeping golf affordable. Interior officials accuse NLT of missing renovation deadlines and failing to provide a “credible cure proposal”—charges the group flatly rejects. NLT says it has poured more than $8.5 million into upgrades and insists it followed the lease’s flexible timelines. As they put it: “After five years spent navigating the complex Federal permitting processes, this development is extremely disappointing for all who have supported the project.”
Despite the blow, NLT agreed to keep the courses running for now to avoid a shutdown that would have stranded workers and golfers. Co-founder Michael McCartin said the group stayed on because “these are important places” and that leaving would have made a bad situation even worse. Meanwhile, the administration is silent on how soon it expects to take control or what exactly it plans next—never a reassuring sign when the federal government suddenly wants the keys.
Behind the scenes, Trump-world has been eyeing East Potomac Golf Links with something far grander than a tune-up. Internal discussions include expanding the footprint, rebranding it as “Washington National Golf Course,” and even positioning it for elite tournaments. Add in Trump’s cozy chats with designer Tom Fazio and the dirt piles from the White House construction project now sitting on the course like Monument-adjacent speed bumps, and it’s clear this isn’t just about renovating a fairway or two.
Golfers and local residents worry that Trump’s affinity for high-end, members-only golf culture won’t translate well to public land meant for broad access. Municipal courses are supposed to be the game’s front door—not gated properties. As one industry leader put it, “Munis are all about supporting the widest-possible access to the game…for perpetuity.” The fear now is that perpetuity may be expiring early.
Source: Washington Post
Editor: We all know where this is headed… Trump will take over the courses, slap his ugly name on them, and run them for profit—HIS.