WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump has been spending much of his two-week vacation in Florida engaged in golf activities. However, upon his return to the White House, he has his sights set on a military golf course he has yet to play, which he envisions undergoing a major construction project.
The Courses at Andrews, situated inside the secure confines of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland—approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the White House—have served as a favored retreat for various presidents seeking respite from their demanding roles. Past presidents such as Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden have utilized the grounds, while Barack Obama frequented the course more than any other president, playing about 110 times over eight years.
While Trump has typically favored the golf courses owned by his family, spending roughly one out of every four days of his second term at them, he has now enlisted renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus as the architect for the planned renovations of the Courses at Andrews.
Michael Thomas, a former general manager of the course who has played alongside many visiting presidents, remarked, "It’s amazing that an individual has time to take a couple of hours away from world crises. They are people like everybody else." Indeed, Andrews, famous for housing Air Force One, features two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole course. Previous renovations occurred in 2018 when funds were allocated to replace aging aircraft and enhance support facilities, which consequently affected the courses.
In a helicopter tour of the base conducted before Thanksgiving, Trump described Andrews as “a great place that’s been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance,” despite other golfers asserting that the course remains in good condition, albeit with some dry areas. Reviews often highlight the site's mature trees, challenging roughs, and water hazards, along with its predominantly flat layout offering views of the adjacent base.
When it comes to presidential golf outings, the historical backdrop begins with Gerald Ford in 1974 as the first president to golf at Andrews. Thomas, who managed the course from 1981 until his retirement in 2019, indicated that the Secret Service employed as many as 28 golf carts to maintain security around the president, alongside a typical 30-car motorcade. "It’s a Cecil B. DeMille production every time," Thomas commented, noting that presidents generally relished their rounds in unique ways, particularly enjoying the opportunity to drive the golf cart themselves.
During his presidency, Trump has golfed most weekends, totaling an estimated 93 days of golfing in his second term as of a recent Friday, according to an Associated Press analysis. This figure includes rounds played at his family's Virginia courses and locations near his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, as well as 10 days at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
While Trump has visited Andrews in the past, neither the White House nor the base has records of him ever playing on its courses. The renovations being proposed are touted as the most significant in Andrews' history, addressing the age and wear of the courses and clubhouse, with discussions of including a multifunctional event center as part of the improvement plan. A White House spokesperson remarked that “President Trump is a champion-level golfer with an extraordinary eye for detail and design,” emphasizing that these changes would benefit service members and their families for years to come.
Plans for this renovation are in preliminary stages, with costs and funding yet to be determined. Trump has indicated that the project will require "very little money." The improvements at Andrews represent only a portion of Trump’s expansive construction agenda, which includes demolishing the East Wing of the White House to create an extensive ballroom costing around $400 million, renovating the bathroom adjacent to the Lincoln bedroom, and transforming the Rose Garden into a patio akin to Mar-a-Lago.
In addition, the Trump administration recently terminated a lease agreement for three public golf courses in Washington, potentially positioning Trump to further influence golf culture in the capital. However, the White House asserts that this action is unrelated to the Andrews renovation plans.
When presidential golf outings occur, officials at Andrews temporarily close off nine holes at a time, allowing for uninterrupted play while ensuring security. The courses, typically reserved for active and retired military members and their families, are not open to the public. Thomas reminisced about rounds played with past presidents, including the older George H.W. Bush, known for his swift play style, and mentioned how presidents would often receive weather updates before the regular patrons, allowing them to make prompt decisions in case of rain.
