At a Glance
- Trump plans a major overhaul of the Courses at Andrews, the historic “president’s golf course.”
- Jack Nicklaus has been hired as the architect for the redesign.
- Trump has spent 93 days of his second term golfing at various courses, including the Andrews courses.
- Why it matters: The renovation could reshape a key presidential pastime and reflect Trump’s construction agenda.
President Donald Trump is turning his attention from his Florida golf trips back to a historic military course near the White House. He has announced plans to overhaul the Courses at Andrews, hiring famed designer Jack Nicklaus, and the project could transform the 15-mile-away course that has hosted every president since Gerald Ford. The move comes after Trump spent 93 days of his second term playing golf, yet has never played at Andrews.
Trump Targets Andrews for Renovation
The Courses at Andrews, located inside Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, are known as the “president’s golf course” and have hosted every U.S. president since Gerald Ford in 1974. Trump, who prefers family-owned courses, has hired Jack Nicklaus to lead the redesign, citing the need to address age and wear on the 18-hole and 9-hole courses. The White House said the renovation will be the most significant in the base’s history and may include a multifunctional event center.
- 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.”
- 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 service members and their families will be able to enjoy for generations to come.”
- Trump said:
> “a great place, that’s been destroyed over the years, through lack of maintenance.”
- Michael Thomas said:
> “They all like to drive the cart because they never get an opportunity to drive.”
Golfing Habits and Past Visits
Trump has spent 93 days of his second term playing golf, mostly at his family-owned courses in Virginia and his Mar-a-Lago estate, and 10 days at Bedminster, New Jersey. Although he has visited Andrews before, there is no record of him playing the courses there. The courses at Andrews are usually reserved for military personnel and their families, and the Secret Service has historically used up to 28 golf carts during presidential rounds.
| Course | Days |
|---|---|
| Family-owned (Virginia) & Mar-a-Lago (Florida) | 83 |
| Bedminster, NJ | 10 |
| Andrews | 0 |
These figures illustrate how much Trump relies on golf during his presidency, yet he has yet to play at the historic Andrews course.
Construction Context
The Andrews renovation joins a string of Trump-led construction projects, such as the $400-million demolition of the White House East Wing for a ballroom, renovation of the Lincoln bedroom bathroom, and replacement of the Rose Garden lawn with a patio. Trump has also announced plans for a Paris-style arch near the Lincoln Memorial and a rebuild of Dulles International Airport.
- $400-million demolition of the White House East Wing for a ballroom
- Renovation of the Lincoln bedroom bathroom
- Replacement of the Rose Garden lawn with a patio
- Paris-style arch near the Lincoln Memorial
- Rebuild of Dulles International Airport
Key Takeaways
- Trump plans to overhaul the historic Andrews golf course with Jack Nicklaus.
- The project could become the most significant renovation in the base’s history.
- Trump’s golf schedule shows he has never played at Andrews despite 93 days of golf in his second term.
With the Andrews renovation still in its infancy, Trump’s plans may soon reshape a key presidential pastime and reflect his broader construction agenda.
