- Why This Matters in the Miami Valley

Miami Valley Golf’s long-standing vision closely aligns with the mission of the National Links Trust (NLT), particularly regarding the role of public golf as a community asset. In recent years, Miami Valley Golf engaged in substantive discussions with NLT about the future of a now-closed public golf facility in the region. Given that shared history and alignment, recent developments surrounding NLT’s work in Washington, D.C., provide important insight into the broader challenges facing public golf on public land.

What is unfolding in the nation’s capital underscores the complexity of public-private partnerships, federal land management, and competing visions for municipal golf. For communities like those in the Miami Valley, the situation illustrates how public golf initiatives—despite strong community support and good-faith stewardship—can face abrupt and consequential shifts in direction.

The Mission of the National Links Trust

The National Links Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting accessible, affordable municipal golf across the United States. Its mission centers on strengthening communities through public golf.

NLT’s work focuses on:

• Preserving affordability and access regardless of income or background

• Rehabilitating and operating municipal golf courses as public assets

• Creating broader community value through programming, workforce development, and youth engagement

The Trust’s first and most prominent effort has been the Nation’s Capital Project, involving stewardship of Washington, D.C.’s three historic 18-hole public golf courses: Rock Creek Park Golf Course, Langston Golf Course, and East Potomac Golf Links.

Public Golf in Washington, D.C.

All three D.C. public golf courses are located on federally owned land managed by the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior. Among them, East Potomac Golf Links’ Blue Course, designed by Walter Travis and opened in 1920, has long served as a high-volume, affordable municipal facility with iconic views of the Potomac River and the Washington Monument.

In 2020, following a competitive bidding process, the National Links Trust was awarded a 50-year lease to operate and rehabilitate all three courses. The Trust planned a phased approach, beginning with Rock Creek Park—then in severe disrepair—followed by Langston and later East Potomac, which remained financially stable but required long-term investment.

Rehabilitation Plans and Progress

NLT assembled a team of nationally respected golf architects who agreed to work on a pro bono basis:

• Gil Hanse – Rock Creek Park

• Beau Welling – Langston

• Tom Doak – East Potomac

The plans emphasized restoration of historic design features, modernization of infrastructure, preservation of affordability, and expanded entry points into the game, including par-3 and nine-hole options.

Rock Creek Park received all required federal approvals after extensive environmental review, and rehabilitation work was actively underway.

Lease Termination and Immediate Impact

At the end of the 2025, the Trump Administration officially terminated NLT’s 50-year lease with the National Park Service, effective immediately. The National Links Trust strongly disputes the administration’s characterization that it was in default under the lease, noting a long history of cooperative and productive work with the National Park Service on operations, planning, and regulatory compliance.

In the short term, NLT has agreed to remain in place temporarily as the operator of the three courses to ensure uninterrupted public access and continued employment for hundreds of staff members. However, all long-term rehabilitation efforts have been halted immediately, including the in-progress Rock Creek Park project that had already cleared federal approvals and entered construction.

In addition, community-focused programming is expected to cease, including initiatives such as the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program at Langston and Free Lesson Fridays, both of which were central to NLT’s community engagement mission.

Competing Visions for East Potomac

The termination reflects fundamentally different approaches to the future of East Potomac Golf Links. NLT’s vision focused on restoring the historic Walter Travis design, maintaining affordability, and preserving broad public access with a nationally available greens fee structure under $100.

By contrast, President Trump has publicly suggested pursuing a different vision for the site. Reporting indicates that architect Tom Fazio, who has worked extensively on Trump-owned golf properties, has toured East Potomac. Sources suggest a more tournament-oriented approach that could include professional events and a reduced golf footprint.

Historical Significance

East Potomac Golf Links occupies a unique place in American golf history. Conceived as a model municipal course, it recorded more than 65,000 rounds in its first year and influenced the expansion of public golf in cities nationwide. Its location, scale, and accessibility have long defined it as a public amenity rather than a destination resort.

Broader Implications

This situation extends beyond the fate of three golf courses in Washington, D.C. At issue is how public land, historic recreational assets, and community access are managed over the long term. The outcome will influence how municipal golf projects are structured nationwide—particularly those involving federal land, nonprofit stewardship, and competing public and private interests.

For the Miami Valley, the experience reinforces the importance of clarity, alignment, and durable partnerships when pursuing the rehabilitation of public golf facilities. It also serves as a reminder that even well-supported, community-driven efforts can face sudden and significant challenges when governance structures and priorities shift.