President Trump Enlists Golf Legend for Military Base Renovation
President Donald Trump has announced a surprising partnership with golfing icon Jack Nicklaus to completely revamp the golf facilities at Joint Base Andrews, historically known as the "president's golf course." The revelation came during a weekend visit to the Maryland military installation, where Trump took an aerial tour aboard Marine One before outlining his ambitious renovation plans.
Historic Golf Facility Gets Presidential Attention
Located approximately 15 miles from the White House in Maryland, Joint Base Andrews serves as the home of Air Force One and features significant golfing facilities that have hosted commanders-in-chief since Gerald R. Ford first played there in 1974. The base became particularly favoured by Barack Obama during his presidency.
The current recreational complex includes three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas and a driving range, according to the official Andrews website. President Trump confirmed that at least two of the courses would receive substantial facelifts under the new plan.
"We're doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs," Trump told reporters outside the White House before departing for Andrews. "We're gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I'm meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus. He's involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back."
Funding Questions and Previous Renovations
The announcement immediately raised questions about funding arrangements, particularly given that Andrews constitutes military property. It remains unclear whether taxpayers, private donors, or the president himself would cover costs for Nicklaus's design services and the subsequent construction work.
This isn't the first renovation project initiated under the Trump administration. Construction crews have already demolished the East Wing of the White House to make way for a $300 million ballroom that Trump claims is being funded by himself and private donors. Other recent changes include:
- Replacing the Rose Garden lawn with a Mar-a-Lago style patio area
- Redecorating the Lincoln Bathroom and Palm Room
- Installing a Walk of Fame featuring portraits of past presidents
- Adding massive flagpoles to the north and south lawns
- Substantially overhauling the Oval Office with golden flourishes
The Andrews project may eventually join another off-White House initiative Trump has publicly discussed: his plan to erect a Paris-style arch west of the Lincoln Memorial.
While Trump has occasionally golfed at Andrews, he typically prefers spending weekends at his own properties, including Bedminster in New Jersey or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. When remaining in Washington, he often plays at his course in Sterling, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.
Nicklaus brings considerable credibility to the project, having won 18 professional majors and 73 PGA Tour events during his legendary career. His design firm has completed more than 425 courses across 40 states and over 45 countries worldwide.
The White House and Andrews public affairs team did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding funding specifics or project timelines when contacted on Saturday.
