Washington's East Potomac Golf Links to close November 15 for Trump's 15-month championship rebuild

Closing November 15, about 15 months of work

President Donald Trump announced Sunday on Truth Social that the Department of the Interior, under Secretary Doug Burgum, has developed a plan with golf course architect Tom Fazio to build a "World Class Championship Golf Course" on the site of East Potomac Golf Links on the Hains Point peninsula. The old course closes to play on November 15 and is expected to reopen in about 15 months. Trump promised the new course would remain open to the public.

Aiming at the U.S. Open and the Ryder Cup

Trump said the rebuilt course would be designed to "hold World Class Tournaments such as the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the Presidents Cup," and that the USGA, the PGA of America and the PGA Tour have been notified. He called the existing course "old, broken, dilapidated," with diseased trees and a collapsing, hazardous seawall, and said the project would create jobs and economic development for the Washington area. The rendering he posted shows Hains Point dramatically remade — a single 18-hole course stretching shoreline to shoreline, eliminating Ohio Drive, a century-old grove of cherry trees and a renowned miniature golf course — far beyond the more modest proposal floated earlier this year.

Judge's halt stands; court fight resumes Monday

The legal battle continues: a federal judge last week ordered all work stopped until at least October 26, after rebuking the government for cutting down at least 430 trees over a holiday weekend with little notice to the court or the plaintiffs. Democracy Forward, representing the challengers, responded Sunday that the course is part of a national park and recreation facility "meant for everyone's enjoyment," and that the litigation to protect the "community treasure" would continue. The judge had already ordered in July that the administration present its long-term plans and avoid surprise remodeling projects; Monday's proceedings are expected to focus on Trump's new announcement.