For Jourdain Yardan, golfing at the East Potomac Golf Links on Washington DC's waterfront is a twice-weekly ritual. "Anyone from any walk of life, whether they're starting to play golf or whether they're a seasoned golfer, they can come out here and play golf at a pretty reasonable rate," the 35-year-old told the BBC while putting on the course on Monday.
However, President Donald Trump does not seem convinced of its charms, calling the 106-year-old course "Trash Island" on Truth Social. He intends to shut it down for renovations to create a space that "will be open to the Public while, at the same time, designed to the Highest Level of Golf and able to hold World Class Tournaments".
Context
The renovation is part of the president's sprawling and controversial efforts to shape the US capital, which include a new White House ballroom, a 250-foot-tall arch, and other changes to longstanding landmarks. The golf course is a smaller project, but deeply personal to many who live in the city.
Yardan worries that regular people will not be able to golf at the course if it is renovated as Trump suggested. He described a potential shuttering, even if temporary, as a "huge dent" in DC culture that could change the heart of the space.
Developments
Trump, an avid golfer and owner of more than a dozen courses, claims his vision for the course will make it "one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World". However, courts will need to mediate the dispute between the White House and the community before Trump can realize his plans.
The historic course, which sits 2 miles (3 km) south of the White House, is one of three public courses run by the National Park Service in the nation's capital. A lawsuit from the DC Preservation League and two golfers from the course asks the court to stop Trump's planned renovation.
