WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is partnering with golf icon Jack Nicklaus to overhaul the aging golf facilities at Joint Base Andrews — a site long known as the “president’s golf course.”
Trump revealed the plan after taking an aerial tour of the Courses at Andrews aboard Marine One, telling reporters that improvements were coming not just to the golf facilities but to other parts of the base as well.
“We’re doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We’re gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I’m meeting with the greatest, Jack Nicklaus,” Trump said before departing the White House. “He’s involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back.”
A Historic Presidential Golfing Venue
Located about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) from the White House in Maryland, Joint Base Andrews is home to Air Force One and has served as a presidential recreation spot for decades. President Gerald R. Ford first played there in 1974, and the course later became a favorite of Barack Obama.
The Andrews facility, managed by the 11th Force Support Squadron, features three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas, and a driving range. Trump said that at least two of the existing courses are slated for facelifts.
Though Trump has occasionally golfed at Andrews, he has largely preferred weekends at his own properties — Bedminster in New Jersey or Mar-a-Lago in Florida — or his golf club in Sterling, Virginia.
Nicklaus Brought in as Architect
Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 major championships and one of the most accomplished golfers in history, is also renowned for his course design firm, which has completed more than 425 courses across 40 states and more than 45 countries.
Trump said the Andrews facilities had deteriorated over time: “It was a great place that’s been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance. So we’ll fix that up, and Jack will be the architect and he’ll design it.”
He added that two of the existing courses are “in very bad shape” and could be repaired “for very little money.”
Questions Over Funding
Trump’s announcement quickly raised questions about the financial details of the project, including who would pay Nicklaus for his design work and how improvements on military property would be funded. Joint Base Andrews referred questions to the White House, which has not yet provided clarification.
The potential redesign comes amid a broader wave of construction projects connected to the president. The East Wing of the White House was recently demolished to make room for a $300 million ballroom, which Trump says is funded by himself and private donors. He has also overseen changes to the Rose Garden, the Lincoln Bathroom, the Palm Room, and the Oval Office.
Outside the White House grounds, Trump has also discussed constructing a Paris-style arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
Previous Trump–Nicklaus Collaborations
The Trump Organization, which Trump handed over to his children upon returning to office, has previously worked with Nicklaus on several golf properties, including Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx and Trump National Jupiter in Florida. The company later sold its operational rights to the Bronx course in 2023.
With plans for renovations now underway, the Andrews redesign is set to become the latest addition to Trump’s extensive portfolio of high-profile building projects — this time with one of the greatest golfers in history by his side.
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