Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Thursday released a rendering of the redesigned East Potomac Golf Links, a public course just outside Washington, D.C., signaling the Trump administration's push to overhaul the historic property. Burgum announced on X that he was "excited to unveil the design" and confirmed that Fazio Design, founded by renowned architect Tom Fazio, would lead the project. Fazio has previously worked on multiple courses owned by the Trump Organization.
Burgum, who has recently faced scrutiny over other Interior Department decisions, framed the renovation as a win for local golfers. "Like iconic public courses of Bethpage Black & Torrey Pines, East Potomac will offer locals—of the National Capital Region—championship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates," he wrote. The rendering shows 18 holes ranging from 5,740 to 7,660 yards, along with a revamped driving range and a bike trail encircling the course.
East Potomac, opened in 1923 on Hains Point near Reagan National Airport, currently features 36 holes across three courses: the 18-hole Blue course, the nine-hole White course, and the nine-hole Red course. Current public rates range from $17 for the Red to $42 for the Blue, with discounts for juniors, seniors, and military personnel. The National Links Trust (NLT) has operated East Potomac, along with Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf, since 2020 under a 50-year lease with the National Park Service. Langston, founded in 1939, is recognized as the home of the oldest African American men's and women's golf clubs in the country.
The Trump administration terminated that lease agreement in December, citing unpaid rent and the NLT's failure to complete renovations as required. The NLT disputed the claim, stating it "has consistently complied with all lease obligations as we work to ensure the brightest possible future for public golf in D.C." The termination sparked a lawsuit from local golfers Dave Roberts and Alex Dickson, who initially criticized the administration for dumping debris from the demolished East Wing of the White House on the course. A judge recently declined to halt the takeover but set a red line in the ongoing dispute.
Last Friday, the Interior Department reached a new long-term lease with the NLT for Langston and Rock Creek, but not for East Potomac. The plaintiffs quickly filed a notice arguing that this development "makes clear that the forthcoming work at East Potomac is, as Plaintiffs have alleged, a massive overhaul, not merely restoration and required maintenance." The suit remains active.
NLT co-founders Mike McCartin and Will Smith expressed relief that the two courses "will now remain open, accessible, and affordable for the residents and communities that depend on them." They noted the agreement "clears the path" for construction of a new clubhouse, driving range, and practice facilities at Rock Creek, with architect Gil Hanse restoring the nine-hole regulation course and building a new par-three course modeled after St. Andrews' Himalayas putting green. The project also includes a restaurant, pollinator meadows, and an ecological trail network.
On Thursday, the NLT welcomed Burgum's assurance that East Potomac would stay affordable, echoing his comparison to Bethpage State Park in New York, where state residents pay $38 to $80 for 18 holes depending on the course. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Department of the Interior and National Park Service, and we are eager to complete our rehabilitation projects at Rock Creek Park Golf and Langston Golf Course to complement this vision for East Potomac Golf Links," the trust said.
