Trump administration moves to take control of D.C.'s municipal golf courses
National Links Trust, which holds a lease to run three D.C. courses, received a notice of termination from the Department of the Interior.
The Trump administration has officially moved to seize control of the municipal golf courses in Washington, D.C.
National Links Trust, the nonprofit that holds a 50-year lease with the National Park Service to rehabilitate three historic public golf courses — East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf — received a formal notice of termination from the Department of the Interior (DOI) on Tuesday, according to a statement from the organization. The termination is effective immediately.
In the notice, obtained by The Athletic, the DOI cited National Links Trust’s inability to comply with a renovation timeline and provide a plan to cure those violations as the reason for termination. The nonprofit organization said it “fundamentally disagrees” with the characterization in the termination notice, which follows an initial notice of default sent by William L. Doffermyre, a DOI solicitor, on Oct. 29.
“The National Links Trust is devastated by the Trump administration’s decision to terminate our 50-year lease with the National Park Service. Since taking over stewardship of Rock Creek, East Potomac, and Langston courses five years ago, NLT has consistently complied with all lease obligations as we work to ensure the brightest possible future for public golf in DC,” the organization wrote.
National Links Trust officials say they have made significant short-term improvements to course facilities while complying with red-tape processes to secure renovation approvals. The organization points to language in its lease that states that timelines are “subject to change due to compliance timeframes.” National Links Trust is exploring the possibility of taking legal action.
In the notice of termination, the administration writes that National Links Trust has “failed to provide National Park Services with reasonable assurances that NLT has the necessary funding, ability, or plan to fulfill its capital-investment obligations.”
The notice also states that National Links Trust may owe as much as $8.8 million in unpaid rent on the course properties. National Links Trust officials dispute the claim. The nonprofit’s publicly available lease states that rent can be offset by capital improvements to the courses after a certain amount of rent has been paid. The National Park Service has approved those rent offsets, according to National Links Trust officials. The DOI and the National Park Service did not comment on National Links Trust’s rent offsets.
The DOI said in a statement Wednesday: “The Trump administration prides itself on getting the job done for the American people and partnering with others who share that same goal.”
National Links Trust has managed East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf since it was awarded the lease in 2020. Rock Creek Park Golf closed for renovations on Nov. 17. Founded by golf industry professionals Mike McCartin and Will Smith, the organization seeks to provide affordable, accessible public golf to the city and improve community resources that have long needed attention.