Dozens of volunteers cleaned up Langston Golf Course in Northeast D.C. as part of MLK Day of Service as the Trump administration may be preparing for a federal takeover of the District’s public golf courses.
On a day dedicated to helping others, volunteers told how much they love the course.
“This is my course home, and I just wanted to have an opportunity to give back,” volunteer Jeanine Hill said.
The National Links Trust, which runs the three public golf courses in D.C., says it does volunteer projects year-round.
“We want to be here for the community. We want to continue everything we’re doing here in the community. That means our volunteer efforts like today,” said Damian Cosby, executive director.
The nonprofit had a 50-year lease agreement with the federal government to manage the Langston, East Potomac and Rock Creek Park golf courses. But earlier this month, the Trump administration announced it’s ending the lease after just five years, saying in a statement, “The Trump administration prides itself on getting the job done for the American people and partnering with others who share that same goal.”
Several volunteers told News4 they’re disappointed.
“We could lose this course, and East Potomac could lose that to high-end golfing. It’s atrocious. It’s a tragedy,” one said.
The Trump administration accuses the trust of breaking the terms of its lease by not fixing up the courses or paying rent in certain years. But the trust fired back, saying they’ve spent more than $8 million fixing the courses and that they’ve “consistently complied with all lease obligations.”
The trust says one of its biggest goals is to make golf affordable and accessible. The Langston Golf Course was built in 1939 for Black golfers during segregation.
“Anything’s possible when people are given opportunity, and we want to make sure these golf courses are available, yes, to the Black community, but all citizens in the community. Everybody needs to have access to this great game,” Cosby said.
The Trump administration has not yet announced its plans for D.C.’s golf courses. In the meantime, the trust says it will maintain the courses for as long as it can.
The Rock Creek Park Golf Course was in the middle of a major renovation project. The trust said getting all the permits in order took five years and they have had to stop construction.
News4 reached out to the Department of Interior for comment but did not hear back on the holiday.
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