Key Takeaways
- President Donald Trump is planning to renovate the golf courses at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, a favorite getaway for presidents.
- The renovation will be the most significant in the history of Andrews and will include improvements to the courses and clubhouse.
- Trump has enlisted golf champion Jack Nicklaus as the architect for the project.
- The cost of the project has not been determined, but Trump has said it will require "very little money".
- The renovation is part of a series of construction projects led by Trump, including projects at the White House and other locations in Washington.
Introduction to the Project
President Donald Trump has spent much of his two-week vacation in Florida golfing, but when he gets back to the White House, there’s a military golf course that he’s eyeing for a major construction project. The Courses at Andrews, located inside the secure confines of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, are known as the "president’s golf course" and have been a favored getaway for presidents seeking a few hours’ solace from the stress of running the free world. Trump has always preferred the golf courses his family owns, but he’s now enlisted golf champion Jack Nicklaus as the architect to overhaul the Courses at Andrews.
The History of the Courses
The Courses at Andrews have a long history, with the first president to golf at Andrews being Gerald Ford in 1974. Since then, many presidents have spent time on the course, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden. Barack Obama played the course more frequently than any president, roughly 110 times in eight years. The courses have undergone renovations in the past, including in 2018, when Congress approved funding to replace aging presidential aircraft and to build a new hangar and support facilities. The project was close enough to the courses that they had to be altered then, too.
The Renovation Plans
Trump toured the base by helicopter before Thanksgiving with Nicklaus, who has designed top courses the world over. The president called Andrews "a great place, that’s been destroyed over the years, through lack of maintenance." However, other golfers describe Andrews’ grounds as in good shape, despite some dry patches. Online reviews praise the course’s mature trees, tricky roughs, and ponds and streams that serve as water hazards. The White House said the renovation will be the most significant in the history of Andrews and will include improvements to the courses and clubhouse. There are also discussions about including a multifunctional event center as part of the project.
The Presidential Perks
When the president is golfing, Andrews officials block off nine holes at a time so no one plays in front of him, allowing for extra security while also ensuring consistent speed-of-play. The courses are usually reserved for active or retired members of the military and their families, as well as some Defense Department-linked federal employees. The presidential perks of golfing at Andrews include the ability to drive a golf cart, which is a rare opportunity for the president. The Secret Service also uses as many as 28 golf carts to keep the perimeter secure, making it a "Cecil B. DeMille production every time".
The Construction Projects
The renovation of the Courses at Andrews is part of a series of construction projects led by Trump, including projects at the White House and other locations in Washington. Trump has led building projects at the Kennedy Center and wants to erect a Paris-style arch near the Lincoln Memorial, and has said he wants to rebuild Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. The Trump administration has also ended a lease agreement with a non-profit for three public golf courses in Washington, which could allow the president to further shape golfing in the nation’s capital. However, the White House said that move isn’t related to the plans for Andrews.
Conclusion
In conclusion, President Trump’s plan to renovate the golf courses at Joint Base Andrews is a significant project that will bring much-needed improvements to the courses and clubhouse. The project is part of a series of construction projects led by Trump, and the cost of the project has not been determined. However, Trump has said it will require "very little money". The renovation will be the most significant in the history of Andrews and will include improvements to the courses and clubhouse, as well as discussions about including a multifunctional event center as part of the project. The presidential perks of golfing at Andrews, including the ability to drive a golf cart and the extra security, make it a unique experience for the president.