President Donald Trump is setting his sights on a new golfing project upon his return to Washington from a two-week Florida vacation. While he has spent much of his time at his own properties, a significant renovation is now planned for the historic Courses at Joint Base Andrews, the military golfing retreat long favoured by commanders-in-chief.
The 'President's Golf Course' Gets a Trump-Era Makeover
Nestled within the secure perimeter of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, roughly 24 kilometres from the White House, the Courses at Andrews are known informally as the "president's golf course." For decades, it has served as a private escape for presidents seeking respite. Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden have all played there. Barack Obama was its most frequent visitor, teeing off roughly 110 times during his eight-year presidency.
President Trump, however, has consistently preferred his family-owned courses, spending an estimated one of every four days of his second term at one. An Associated Press analysis found that as of January 1, he had spent about 92 days of his current term golfing. This shift is now changing as Trump has enlisted golf champion Jack Nicklaus to serve as the architect for a major overhaul of the Andrews facilities.
"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," remarked Michael Thomas, the course's former general manager who played with many presidential visitors over the years.
A Course Steeped in History and Security Protocols
The base, better known as the home of Air Force One, features two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole course. Its military history dates to the Civil War, with the golf course opening in 1960. While Trump, after a pre-Thanksgiving helicopter tour with Nicklaus, called Andrews "a great place, that's been destroyed over the years, through lack of maintenance," other golfers describe the grounds as being in good shape, citing mature trees and challenging water hazards in online reviews.
Presidential golf outings at Andrews are major security productions. Michael Thomas recalled that the Secret Service would use up to 28 golf carts alongside the standard 30-car motorcade to secure the perimeter. "It's a Cecil B. DeMille production every time," he said. Thomas, who played with four presidents and Vice President Biden, noted a common presidential pleasure: "They all like to drive the cart because they never get an opportunity to drive. It's like getting your driver's license all over again."
When the president plays, officials block off nine holes at a time to prevent anyone from playing ahead, ensuring both security and a consistent pace. The courses are not public; access is reserved for military personnel, veterans, their families, and some Defense Department employees.
Renovation Joins List of Major Trump Construction Projects
The White House has stated this renovation will be the most significant in the history of the Andrews courses. Spokesman Davis Ingle said, "President Trump is a champion-level golfer with an extraordinary eye for detail and design. His vision to renovate and beautify Joint Base Andrews' golf courses will bring much-needed improvements that servicemembers and their families will be able to enjoy for generations to come."
The project is in early stages, with costs and funding yet to be determined, though Trump has said it will require "very little money." Plans may include a multifunctional event center. This effort joins a series of other Trump construction initiatives, such as:
- Demolishing the White House East Wing for a $400 million ballroom.
- Redoing the Lincoln bedroom bathroom.
- Replacing the Rose Garden lawn with a patio.
- Leading projects at the Kennedy Center and proposing a Paris-style arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
In a separate move this week, the Trump administration ended a lease for three public golf courses in Washington, though the White House insists this is unrelated to the Andrews plans.
Despite the serious nature of the presidency, Thomas recalled that rounds were rarely interrupted. He never saw a president pulled off the course mid-hole for an emergency, though President Obama famously cut short a round after nine holes in 2011 for a top-secret briefing on the raid targeting Osama bin Laden. And, thanks to superior weather forecasts, presidential games were never rained out. "They would cancel quick on that," Thomas said.
