Trump Eyes Major Overhaul of Presidential Golf Course/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump wants to revamp the famed presidential golf course at Joint Base Andrews. Though he’s never played there, he’s enlisted Jack Nicklaus for a complete redesign. The project joins a long list of Trump-led renovations across Washington and federal sites.
Trump’s Golf Course Vision: Quick Looks
- Trump plans to renovate Joint Base Andrews’ golf courses despite never having played there
- Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus enlisted as course architect
- Course has hosted many presidents, including Obama, Clinton, and George W. Bush
- Renovation part of wider Trump construction projects across government facilities
- Trump has spent 92 days golfing during his second term, mostly at family-owned courses
- CIA-level security at Andrews includes motorcades and cart convoys
- Andrews renovation may include a new event center and clubhouse improvements
- No official cost estimate yet; Trump says project will cost “very little”
Trump Eyes Major Overhaul of Presidential Golf Course
Deep Look
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump has announced plans to overhaul the historic military golf course at Joint Base Andrews, often referred to as the “president’s golf course.” The twist? He’s never actually played there.
As he wraps up his two-week vacation in Florida — much of it spent on the fairways of his family-owned resorts — Trump is setting his sights on the Andrews course in Maryland, located just 15 miles from the White House. The base, better known as the home of Air Force One, features two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course that have long served as a favored escape for U.S. presidents.
Trump has brought in golf legend Jack Nicklaus to lead the redesign. Touring the base with Nicklaus before Thanksgiving, Trump called the site “a great place” that has been neglected and degraded over the years. The goal is a full-scale renovation to restore and modernize the 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,” said Michael Thomas, the former general manager of Andrews’ golf courses who played rounds with several presidents over his four-decade career.
Historically, the Andrews courses have served as a quiet retreat for many U.S. presidents. Gerald Ford was the first to golf there in 1974, with Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama following in his footsteps. Obama, in particular, played the course more than 100 times during his presidency.
While Trump is one of the most avid golfers to hold the office—spending an estimated 92 days on the course during his second term—he has opted exclusively for golf properties owned by his family, including clubs in Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida. Still, his sudden focus on the military facility at Andrews suggests a shift in attention and ambition for lasting federal impact.
Trump’s proposed renovations include potential upgrades to the aging clubhouse and the addition of a multifunctional event center. According to the White House, this will be the most significant improvement in the base’s golfing history.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle described Trump as having “an extraordinary eye for detail and design” and said the renovation would benefit servicemembers and their families “for generations.”
The president has yet to provide a budget or timeline. When asked about cost, Trump stated it would require “very little money,” though no official funding source has been confirmed.
This renovation joins an expanding list of Trump-driven government construction initiatives. These include a proposed $400 million ballroom at the White House to replace the East Wing, a revamped Rose Garden inspired by Mar-a-Lago, and bathroom renovations near the Lincoln Bedroom. He’s also suggested major projects outside the White House — such as rebuilding Dulles International Airport and constructing a Paris-style arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
Last week, Trump’s administration terminated a lease with a nonprofit for three public golf courses in Washington, potentially paving the way for further federal golfing initiatives. The White House denied any link between that decision and the Andrews plan.
Back at Andrews, golfing presidents have historically enjoyed top-tier security. According to Thomas, rounds played by a sitting president would prompt a coordinated effort involving up to 28 golf carts and a 30-car motorcade. Nine holes are often cleared of other players to allow secure movement and uninterrupted play.
“It’s a Cecil B. DeMille production every time,” Thomas joked, referencing the Hollywood-style logistics.
He shared that all presidents, regardless of party, shared a joy in driving the golf cart—one of the few freedoms they reclaim while in office. “It’s like getting your driver’s license all over again,” Thomas said with a laugh.
Obama once famously ended a round at Andrews early to return to the White House for a secret final briefing on the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. Despite the seriousness of their roles, Thomas said he never saw a president interrupted mid-hole due to a crisis, nor did rain ever spoil a round—because presidents often received advanced weather updates before course staff did.
Though Trump has visited Andrews before, there’s no record of him ever playing a round there. That hasn’t stopped him from envisioning a new legacy: redesigning the “president’s golf course” for future commanders-in-chief and military families alike.
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