President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that golf legend Jack Nicklaus will oversee renovations of two golf courses at Joint Base Andrews, a military base near Washington, D.C.
Trump met with Nicklaus, whose company, Nicklaus Design, is among the world’s largest golf course design and construction firms, for an aerial tour of the base. Before departing the White House for Andrews, Trump told reporters that Nicklaus would lead the rebuilding of the courses and other recreational facilities, which he described as being “in very bad shape.”
An avid golfer, Trump owns 18 golf courses worldwide, including a dozen in the United States, one in Ireland, two in Scotland, and one in the United Arab Emirates. He did not provide further details about the renovation plans for Joint Base Andrews or explain how the work would be funded, though he said it could be completed for “very little money.”
Requests for comment from the White House, the Defense Department, and Nicklaus Design were not immediately answered.
Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has launched several construction projects at the White House, including renovating the Lincoln Bedroom’s bathroom, paving parts of the Rose Garden, and redecorating the Oval Office with gold accents.
In October, Trump ordered the demolition of the White House East Wing to make space for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a project that drew criticism for bypassing standard review procedures. He said the $300 million construction would be financed through private donations from companies and wealthy individuals.
The planned golf course renovation at Joint Base Andrews continues Trump’s focus on large-scale projects combining personal interest and public facilities, reflecting his long-standing passion for golf and design.
