Trump golf plan sparks fears for affordable access at East Potomac Park

Washington,UPDATED: Sep 5, 2026 17:14 IST

Residents in Washington are raising concerns over President Donald Trump’s plan to turn the historic East Potomac Golf Links into what he has described as a world-class golf venue, saying the changes could make the park less affordable and less accessible. The park, with the Washington Monument in the background and space shared by cyclists, golfers and other visitors, is valued by locals for being inexpensive and easy to reach in the US capital.

The proposed redevelopment is part of Trump’s wider remaking of Washington, where he has pushed several major projects, torn down storied structures, remade or renamed others and kept the Guard deployed for more than a year. While some officials say the city could benefit from top-level golf, regular visitors to East Potomac Park say they fear losing a public space that has served people from many backgrounds for more than a century.

East Potomac Park, including the East Potomac Golf Links, was created by an Act of Congress in 1897 for the “recreation and the pleasure of the people”. The course opened in 1919. Trump, who has multiple projects under way in Washington, including a USD 400 million White House ballroom and the soon-to-begin construction of his triumphal arch, began speaking about the city’s public golf courses in late 2025.

Two months earlier, debris from the demolished East Wing of the White House was dumped at East Potomac, creating a three-storey mound near one of its three golf courses, where it still remains. The Park Service has said the debris tested positive for lead, chromium and other toxic metals.

In a social media post in June, Trump said, “When completed, this Course will have the ability to host Major Golf Tournaments, including The US Open, The Ryder Cup, The PGA Championship, and other top PGA Tour events.” He said work was due to begin on September 1, but there were no signs of activity at the site this week. An image unveiled in May by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum showed an 18-hole course that he said would deliver “championship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates”.

A lawsuit challenging the renovation argues that the redevelopment would violate the congressional Act that created the park. The government is contesting whether the plaintiffs have the standing to sue. At a court hearing on Thursday, US District Judge Ana Reyes said she understood why the plaintiffs were wary of changes being made before proper approval, though she added that she had not seen evidence of that in the golf course case. The administration has already removed dozens of trees from the park, although it says that was routine maintenance.

At the park this week, cyclists rode around the circuit while the golf course car park filled with luxury SUVs parked next to older economy cars. Visitors included retirees, workers on lunch break and others taking time out for a round of golf. As dark clouds rolled in and people rushed towards the clubhouse, golfers said they came because of the location, the cost and the history, even as they worried that the park and course as they know them might not last.

Joe Foley, who said he was in his 70s, had just finished nine holes for USD 36, including a cart. “It takes away the history of the links here as well as deprives people of having a reasonably inexpensive place to play that is readily accessible to everyone,” he said. Foley, a retired lobbyist, added that the region already had many “championship caliber courses already” and questioned what else might be at risk. “No one knows what he’s going to do. Are the incredibly popular bike paths in jeopardy, too? Just look at how many bike riders are coming through Potomac Park and the golf course area at noon on a Wednesday,” he said.

Jason Levitt, 54, said he had been coming to the park for 20 years and cycled there about four times a week. He said the one-way road around the edge of the park offered a safe place to ride within the city but away from regular traffic. “This is seen as a relatively safe place to come and kind of stay out of the way of traffic and everything else,” he said. Referring to the broader changes, he added, “The government currently is either playing by a different set of rules or just not playing by any rules at all.” He also said, “Let’s just hope that they make changes that are beneficial for everyone rather than just a certain type of golfer.”

The debate also reflects Washington’s long relationship with the federal government. Congress retains significant control over the city’s affairs, including its budget and laws, although the Home Rule Act of 1973 allows residents to elect a mayor, a council and neighbourhood commissioners. That autonomy has tightened further under Trump, whose law enforcement surge last year briefly federalised the local police force and extended Guard deployment through 2029. Outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser said this week the city could “stand to attract world-class golf”, but added, “we still need public access.” Ryan Bates, 44, who said he took up golf as an adult and has been visiting the park weekly for three and a half years, said he even preferred East Potomac to the private club where he has a membership because of its location. “The most important tenet of it,” he said, “is that golf should be an approachable game for people that come from all walks of life.” The concerns around East Potomac Park, residents say, centre on whether any redevelopment can preserve that public character while changing the course.

With PTI Inputs

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