Trump says Nicklaus will lead golf course revamp at Joint Base Andrews

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said golf legend Jack Nicklaus will lead some work to restore two golf courses at Joint Base Andrews, a military base near Washington, D.C., just outside the capital.

Trump met Nicklaus, whose Nicklaus Design is one of the world’s largest golf course design and construction companies, at the military base for an aerial tour, the White House said.

Before leaving the White House for Andrews, Trump told reporters that Nicklaus would be involved in rebuilding the base’s two golf courses and other recreational facilities, which he said were “in very bad shape.”

Trump spent almost two hours at Andrews. He did not provide further details about the work planned for Joint Base Andrews or how it would be funded, although he said it could be done for “very little money.”  

The Defense Department referred queries to the White House, which did not respond to requests for comment. The Courses at Andrews and Nicklaus Design did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Courses at Andrews website says it offers military, Defense Department civilians and their dependent family members access to two 18-hole championship golf courses known as the “East” and “South” courses, as well as a driving range.

Trump, an avid golfer, owns 18 golf courses, including a dozen in the United States, one in Ireland, two in Scotland and one in the United Arab Emirates.

Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has undertaken various construction projects at the White House, including renovating the Lincoln Bedroom’s bathroom, paving over the Rose Garden and decorating the Oval Office in gold.

In his most ambitious renovation project, Trump in October ordered the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) ballroom, a project that drew sharp criticism for not going through a proper review.

Trump has said the $300 million construction of the new ballroom will be funded by private donations from companies and wealthy individuals. 

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Sergio Non, Chris Reese and Nick Zieminski)