https://www.wusa9.com/article/sports/golf/dc-public-golf-courses-trump-administration-lease-termination/65-6e2ee00e-2b2e-48bd-a99d-7015a40a57c9 WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior issued the termination letter Tuesday, severing ties with the nonprofit that has operated Langston Golf Course, Rock Creek Park Golf and East Potomac Golf Links — all on federal land — since 2020.
The move marks the latest effort by President Donald Trump to reshape the District, following mass federal layoffs, a law enforcement surge in the city and the recent Kennedy Center board vote to rename the cultural institution.
In the termination letter, Interior officials said the decision was based on National Links Trust's alleged failure to complete required capital improvements and to provide a satisfactory plan to address defaults under the lease. The department also accused the nonprofit of owing millions in unpaid rent.
National Links Trust officials say they are "fundamentally in disagreement with the administration's characterization" and "devastated" by the decision.
"We have always had a productive and cooperative working relationship with the National Park Service and have worked hand in hand on all aspects of our golf course operations and development projects," the organization said in a statement Wednesday.
National Links Trust Executive Director Damian Cosby called the termination "heartbreaking."
"NLT has spent a massive amount of dollars and time and effort into this DC golfing community and the broader community as a whole, because we truly believe, at the municipal level, these facilities are community assets and community centers," Cosby said in an interview with WUSA9. "It's heartbreaking to see that a lot of those efforts could potentially be halted."
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Dispute over lease compliance
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National Links Trust, founded by Washington natives and golf course designers Michael McCartin and Will Smith, signed a 50-year lease agreement with the Park Service in October 2020 with a mission to refurbish the city's three public courses while preserving affordable access for everyday golfers.
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The program offers pathways to college scholarships. National Links Trust also runs a junior caddie program that provides opportunities for Evans Scholarships, along with Free Lesson Fridays that introduce the sport to the community.
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National Links Trust has agreed to continue operating the courses in the short term, though Cosby said he doesn't know how long that will last.
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nothing up to sleeve, look under wig
>>1470753 tRump it's now seeking investors for opening up new Trump golf courses in DC
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>>1470776 Why, when he can buy up the old ones
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>>1470776 They should be seized when he's forced out of office and given back to the people.
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'Golf: a good walk, ruined' -attributed to Mark Twain
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>>1470753 How does someone get to be this bad?
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>>1470835 He'd be based if he were removing them and reusing the land for something worthwhile. But it's more likely he's just gonna use them for himself and his billionaire buddies.
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>>1470836 How does someone evade a ban this much?
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>>1470846 esl shill is projecting as usual, i wouldn't worry about it
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>>1470719 So it's a "non-profit" that gets tens of millions of government dollars with 100 employees that just have to mow grass?
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>>1470863 If that's all it was then what are all the thousands of employees of Trump's golf courses doing?
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>>1470863 NLT doesn't get 10s of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding. It had a lease agreement with the DoI that included a provisor that money spent to improve the courses would offset lease payments. So if the NLT took in 5 million in greens fees, it could use that 5 million to improve courses, pro shops, pay maintenance staff in lieu of a lease payment. It's a win-win - taxpayers don't have to fund a public course and there's still accessible public courses in DC. According to the NLT, they were doing just that.
What you will now get are 3 public courses that will be turned private, managed by Trump Organization, and paid for directly by the US taxpayer in the way of DoI spending. It's just more grift - taxpayer money going into the hands of Trump Org so he can impress some sheiks from UAE. America First!
