At a Glance
- Trump plans major overhaul of Courses at Andrews.
- Jack Nicklaus hired to redesign the military golf course near the White House.
- Project could set a new federal golf standard.
- Why it matters: It may reshape a historic presidential golf venue and influence federal golf course management.
President Donald Trump spent much of his two-week Florida vacation golfing, but now he’s turning his attention to a different course: the Courses at Andrews, a military golf facility inside Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, just 15 miles from the White House. Trump has enlisted golf legend Jack Nicklaus to redesign the two 18-hole and one 9-hole courses, a move he says could set a new federal golf standard.
Trump Eyes Andrews Renovation
Trump’s preference for family-owned courses has long defined his golf habits, yet the former president’s recent helicopter tour of Andrews before Thanksgiving marked a shift. He called the facility “a great place, that’s been destroyed over the years, through lack of maintenance.”
Michael Thomas stated:
> “It’s amazing that an individual has time to take a couple hours away from the world crises. And they’re people like everybody else.”
The renovation is described as the most significant in Andrews history. Planned improvements address age and wear, and may include a multifunctional event center. Trump has said the project will require “very little money,” though cost and funding remain undetermined.
- Two 18-hole courses
- One 9-hole course
- Potential event center
- Cost yet to be set
Historical Context and Presidential Use
The Courses at Andrews earned the nickname “president’s golf course.” Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama have all played there, with Obama golfing there roughly 110 times in eight years. Trump has not yet played the courses, though he has spent 93 days of his second term golfing at various private clubs.
| Course Type | Holes |
|---|---|
| 18-hole | 2 |
| 9-hole | 1 |
Security, Operations, and Other Projects
When the president tees off, Andrews officials block off nine holes at a time to maintain security and speed of play. The courses are normally open only to active or retired military members, families, and certain Defense Department employees.
Michael Thomas added:
> “They all like to drive the cart because they never get an opportunity to drive.”
He also noted that no major emergency has ever forced a president to abandon a round mid-hole, and that weather is always checked beforehand:
> “If there was rain coming, they’d get the weather forecast before we would. They would cancel quick on that.”
The Trump administration also ended a lease agreement with a non-profit for three public golf courses in Washington, a move unrelated to Andrews but part of a broader effort to shape federal golf facilities.
Other construction projects under Trump include a $400 million ballroom for the White House’s East Wing, a new bathroom in the Lincoln bedroom, a patio in the Rose Garden, a Paris-style arch near the Lincoln Memorial, and plans to rebuild Dulles International Airport.
Key Takeaways
- Trump is spearheading a major renovation of the Courses at Andrews, hiring Jack Nicklaus.
- The project could become the most significant overhaul of a presidential golf venue in history.
- Security protocols and past presidential usage highlight the course’s unique role.
Trump’s push to modernize Andrews reflects a broader pattern of his interest in high-profile construction projects across the nation.
