President Donald Trump says he’s enlisting the assistance of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus to spruce up the programs at Joint Base Andrews — including a web site lengthy generally known as the “president’s golf course” to his lengthy and still-growing listing of building tasks.
The president took an aerial tour of the Programs at Andrews aboard Marine One on Saturday, and promised, “We’re going to do some work” there, in addition to to different elements of the bottom.
“We’re doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We’re gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I’m meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus,” Trump informed reporters exterior the White Home earlier than boarding Marine One to go to Andrews. “He’s involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back.”
Situated in Maryland, about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) from the White Home, Andrews homes Air Power One. Gerald R. Ford was the primary president to golf there in 1974, however the facility was most just lately a favourite of Barack Obama.
An eleventh Power Assist Squadron asset, the amenities embrace three 18-hole golf programs, three apply placing greens, two personal apply areas and a driving vary, in line with the Andrews web site. Trump mentioned at the least two of the programs might get facelifts.
Trump has sometimes golfed at Andrews, however prefers to spend most weekends enjoying at or close to considered one of his personal properties. These are Bedminster in New Jersey, or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Seaside, Florida. On these weekends he stays on the White Home, Trump typically golfs at his course in Sterling, Virginia, close to Dulles Worldwide Airport.
Nicklaus received 18 skilled majors and 73 instances on the PGA Tour. The Nicklaus Design agency encompasses a group that has accomplished greater than 425 programs in 40 states and greater than 45 nations.
Trump mentioned Saturday that the bottom at Andrews “was a great place that’s been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance.”
“So we’ll fix that up, and Jack will be the architect and he’ll design it,” the president mentioned.
He additionally referenced, “Two existing courses that are in very bad shape” saying, “we can — for very little money — fix it up.”
“And we’re different issues over at Andrews,’ Trump added.
Trump’s feedback instantly raised questions on who’s paying Nicklaus, and the way a lot such design providers may cost a little. Additionally, provided that Andrews is army property, who pays for enhancements to its golf programs or different elements of its grounds was additionally unclear. Andrews deferred queries on the matter to the White Home, which didn’t reply to a request for extra particulars.
The potential Andrews redesign follows building crews already having demolished the East Wing of the White Home to make room for a $300 million ballroom that Trump commissioned. He’s promised that it’s being paid for by himself and personal donors — together with 37 people, companies and charitable organizations which have publicly disclosed contributing to the venture.
Work on the ballroom follows Trump having changed the garden within the Rose Backyard with a patio space harking back to Mar-a-Lago, and redecorated the Lincoln Toilet and Palm Room within the White Home’s inside. The president additionally put in a Stroll of Fame that includes portraits of previous presidents alongside the Colonnade, huge flagpoles on the north and south lawns and considerably overhauled the Oval Workplace by way of the addition of golden prospers, cherubs and different, flashy objects.
The work at Andrews could finally be a part of one other off-White Home web site tasks Trump has introduced publicly: his plan to erect a Paris-style arch simply west of the Lincoln Memorial.
