Golf fans in Washington, D.C., are bracing for the possible closure of all three of the city’s public courses.
Morale among staff has dropped after the Trump administration ended the National Links Trust’s 50-year lease agreement with the National Park Service.
The decision affects East Potomac Golf Links, Rock Creek Park Golf Course, and Langston Golf Course, three historic venues that serve thousands of local players each year.
The closures could happen as early as the end of the week, leaving employees and golfers stunned. It is a blow to a project that had aimed to preserve public golf in the capital and protect the city’s oldest courses for future generations.
Employees reveal how low morale has sunk
Golf analyst Garrett Johnston shared an update on social media that captured the anxiety among workers.
“Spoke with an employee of the National Links Trust today, and they said that East Potomac Golf Links and the other 2 DC public courses might be shut down as soon as the end of this week.
“Employees are saying that morale is understandably low. Like they’re just waiting around and could be let go at any time,” Johnston stated.
The message spread quickly among golf fans, many of whom expressed frustration and disbelief. For players across Washington, D.C., these public courses are more than places to play.
They are community spaces that bring together residents of all ages and backgrounds. East Potomac Golf Links, in particular, has been a fixture for over a century.
Now, employees are waiting to learn their fate as operations wind down. The National Links Trust has not confirmed a final date for closure, but the uncertainty has already taken its toll on staff morale and the local golf community.
Trump administration move leaves DC golf in crisis
The agreement gave the trust authority to maintain, operate, and renovate the public courses, focusing on access and inclusivity for local players.
That partnership came to an abrupt end when the Trump administration announced it was terminating the contract. Officials claimed the trust had failed to meet its obligations, but the organisation strongly denied the accusation.
The trust’s stewardship had been focused on keeping golf affordable and community-driven, offering programs for junior golfers and first-time players. Those initiatives now face an uncertain future.
Donald Trump’s personal history with golf has added more attention to the issue. As an owner of multiple private golf resorts, his administration’s role in closing public courses has struck many as unfair. The closures could remove one of the few affordable golf options left in the city.
For now, employees are waiting, and players are hoping for a reversal. If the decision stands, Washington, D.C., could lose three historic golf courses that have served the public for decades.
The loss would not just affect a sport but a community that found identity and inclusion on those fairways.
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