Trump plans dramatic makeover of secretive presidential golf course he has never played
A presidential course with a long history
Tucked inside Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, about 15 miles from the White House, the Courses at Andrews have for decades offered U.S. presidents a rare chance to step away from public view. According to the Associated Press, the course has been used by nearly every president since the 1970s, beginning with Gerald Ford.
Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Joe Biden all played rounds there during their time in office. Barack Obama visited most frequently, playing roughly 110 rounds over eight years, AP reported. The location is prized not only for its security but for the sense of normalcy it offers commanders in chief.
Donald Trump stands apart from that tradition. While he plays golf regularly, he has historically chosen courses owned by his family rather than Andrews. The Associated Press reported that Trump has spent about one quarter of his second term golfing, largely at Trump branded properties in Florida, Virginia and New Jersey.
A renovation led by a golf icon
Even without having played a round there, Trump has begun laying plans to overhaul the Andrews courses. According to AP reporting, he has enlisted golf legend Jack Nicklaus to assist with the redesign. Trump and Nicklaus toured the base together by helicopter before Thanksgiving.
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After that visit, Trump described the course as having suffered from years of neglect, calling it “a great place, that’s been destroyed over the years, through lack of maintenance,” according to the Associated Press.
Others familiar with the course dispute that assessment. Golfers who play there have praised the mature trees, challenging water hazards and overall layout, though some areas have shown signs of dryness. The base includes two full 18 hole courses and an additional nine hole course, all reserved primarily for military personnel, retirees and select federal employees.
Life on the course under presidential security
Michael Thomas, a longtime former general manager of the Courses at Andrews, told the Associated Press that presidential visits were carefully choreographed events. Security could involve dozens of Secret Service agents, multiple golf carts and the standard presidential motorcade.
“It’s a Cecil B. DeMille production every time,” Thomas said, describing the scale of the operation.
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Thomas recalled that presidents often enjoyed simple freedoms on the course that were otherwise unavailable to them. “They all like to drive the cart because they never get an opportunity to drive,” he told AP, adding that the experience offered a rare sense of independence.
White House signals broader ambitions
The White House has confirmed that discussions about renovations are underway, though plans remain preliminary. According to a statement cited by the Associated Press, spokesman Davis Ingle said Trump believes the project would deliver long term benefits for service members and their families.
Costs and funding sources have not yet been determined. Trump has said publicly that the renovation would require “very little money,” though no formal estimates have been released, AP reported.
The proposal fits within a broader pattern of Trump backed construction efforts tied to his presidency, ranging from White House renovations to changes at major cultural landmarks. Whether the Andrews project moves forward, and how it would be financed, remains an open question.
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Sources: Associated Press
