President Donald Trump has announced plans to rejuvenate the golf courses at Joint Base Andrews, enlisting the expertise of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
Known as the "President's golf course," the Andrews base is set to join Trump's growing list of construction projects.
"We're doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We're gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I'm meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus," Trump shared with reporters before boarding Marine One for an aerial tour of the Courses at Andrews. According to Western Journal, the President expressed his commitment to restoring the base, stating, "We're going to do some work" there and on other parts of the base.
Situated about 15 miles from the White House in Maryland, Andrews is home to Air Force One. The golf facility, a favorite of former President Barack Obama, first welcomed a president on its greens in 1974 when Gerald R. Ford played a round. The Andrews base boasts three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas, and a driving range. Trump indicated that at least two of the courses could be in line for a makeover.
Despite the proximity of Andrews, Trump has rarely chosen to golf there, favoring his own properties. He typically spends his weekends playing at or near his properties in Bedminster, New Jersey, or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. When he remains in Washington, D.C., for the weekend, he often golfs at his course in Sterling, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.
Jack Nicklaus, the golfer Trump has enlisted for the project, boasts an impressive record with 18 professional majors and 73 wins on the PGA Tour. His design firm, Nicklaus Design, has completed over 425 courses in 40 states and more than 45 countries.
Trump lamented the current state of the base at Andrews, stating, "It was a great place that's been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance." He expressed confidence in Nicklaus's ability to restore the courses, saying, "So we'll fix that up, and Jack will be the architect and he'll design it."
The President also mentioned two existing courses in poor condition, suggesting that they could be improved with minimal expenditure. He hinted at other potential projects at Andrews, without providing specific details.
However, Trump's announcement sparked questions regarding the funding for Nicklaus's design services and the overall cost of the improvements. As Andrews is military property, it remains unclear who will foot the bill for the golf course renovations. The White House has yet to respond to requests for more information.
This potential redesign at Andrews follows other construction projects initiated by Trump, including the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a $300 million ballroom. Trump has assured that the project is being funded by himself and private donors, including 37 individuals, firms, and charitable organizations that have publicly disclosed their contributions.
In addition to the ballroom, Trump has overseen the replacement of the Rose Garden lawn with a patio area reminiscent of Mar-a-Lago, redecorated the Lincoln Bathroom and Palm Room, installed a Walk of Fame featuring portraits of past presidents along the Colonnade, and significantly revamped the Oval Office.
The Andrews project may soon join another off-White House site project Trump has announced: his plan to erect a Paris-style arch just west of the Lincoln Memorial.
Despite ceding control of his family business to his children upon his return to the White House, Trump's ventures have had connections to other courses designed by Nicklaus. These include the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx, New York City, and Trump National Jupiter in Florida. The Trump Organization has sold its right to operate the Bronx course in 2023 to Ballys Corporation.
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