The Trump admininstration has terminated the 50-year lease of the National Links Trust, ending the non-profit’s contract as the operator and manager of Washington, D.C.’s three public golf facilities: East Potomac, Langston and Rock Creek Park.
In early December, the Trump administration notified NLT that they are considered in default of their lease, which could lead to its termination. The letter, according to the Washington Post, did not address specific issues with NLT or how those issues could be remedied.
Just a few weeks prior, the administration told NLT that it would be found in default of the lease if it did not accept delivery of a large pile of rubble and dirt to East Potomac following the demolition of the White House East Wing.
In a message posted on their website, the National Links Trust said, “The National Links Trust is devastated by the Trump administration’s decision to terminate our 50-year lease with the National Park Service. Since taking over stewardship of Rock Creek, East Potomac, and Langston courses five years ago, NLT has consistently complied with all lease obligations as we work to ensure the brightest possible future for public golf in DC.
“We are fundamentally in disagreement with the administration’s characterization of NLT as being in default under the lease. We have always had a productive and cooperative working relationship with the National Park Service and have worked hand in hand on all aspects of our golf course operations and development projects.”
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The National Links Trust has agreed to continue managing the three facilities on a temporary basis until a new operator can be identified. However, NLT’s in-progress construction work in renovating and reimagining Rock Creek Park has been halted.
“We have agreed to stay in place for the time being as operators so that the DC courses can remain open,” said the NLT statement. “This will allow uninterrupted access to golf in the District and our hundreds of dedicated employees to stay in place.
“Since our founding, the National Links Trust has had the privilege to ensure that DC’s municipal golf courses remain accessible, affordable, and welcoming to all. Our commitment remains unchanged and we will continue to pursue our mission with the support of our community for as long as we are allowed.”
All told, since taking over in 2020 under the first Trump administration, National Links Trust says it invested more than $8.5 million in capital improvement projects, including short-term improvements with big dividends. Under their watch, rounds have doubled at the three D.C. public facilities while maintaining green fees below going maket rates for public golf in the surrounding market.
President Trump reportedly wants to take control of the future of D.C. public golf, meeting with Tom Fazio and his firm about a potential renovation to East Potomac. Trump wants to, according to the Wall Street Journal, “just build something different, and build them in government.”
It’s unclear now who will manage D.C.’s public golf facilities, whether the National Park Service will handle it or the job will be contracted to a third-party operator.
National Links Trust was continuously fundraising with the goal of funding course-restoration projects. The work at Rock Creek Park, a William Flynn original, was donated pro bono by Gil Hanse’s design firm. Langston was to be renovated by Beau Welling, who has teamed with Tiger Woods’ TGR Design firm on a variety of course-design work. East Potomac was to be restored by Tom Doak, who was looking to bring back the Haines Point reversible 18-hole Walter Travis-designed Blue Course and moderning two shorter courses at the site.
National Links Trust is not giving up, however, on restoring affordable golf in the nation’s capital.
“We will continue to seek a dialogue with the administration to offer our experience, institutional knowledge, and strong community relationships to explore shared goals for these historic public assets,” NLT said. “While this termination is a major setback, we remain stubbornly hopeful that a path forward can be found that preserves affordable and accessible public golf in the nation’s capital for generations to come.”
