On a brisk January morning in Northeast Washington, D.C., dozens of volunteers armed with rakes, trash bags, and a deep sense of community pride descended upon Langston Golf Course, not for a tournament, but for something far more meaningful. As part of the annual MLK Day of Service, they came to give back to a place that holds deep historical and cultural significance. But hovering over the hum of cleanup and camaraderie was an unsettling cloud: the Trump administration’s move to terminate the lease agreement with the nonprofit currently managing D.C.’s public golf courses.
Trump Administration Ends 50-Year Lease Early, Citing Breach
Langston, along with East Potomac and Rock Creek Park, is overseen by the National Links Trust, a nonprofit organization that, until recently, held a 50-year lease with the federal government. That lease is now in jeopardy. The administration, invoking alleged failures to meet lease terms, missed rent payments, and insufficient course repairs, has abruptly announced plans to cut the agreement short after just five years.
It’s a bold accusation. But the Trust isn’t staying quiet. According to executive director Damian Cosby, more than $8 million has already been invested in upgrading the courses, including Rock Creek Park’s ambitious renovation project, which has been at a standstill for years due to bureaucratic permitting. “We’ve complied with all lease obligations,” Cosby insists, reaffirming the organization’s mission to keep golf affordable and accessible to all.
Langston’s Legacy: A Course Built for Inclusion
And that mission matters, especially at Langston. Built in 1939 as a sanctuary for Black golfers during segregation, the course carries a legacy on every fairway. For volunteers like Jeanine Hill, it’s more than a golf course. “This is my course home,” she said, pausing between tasks. “I just wanted to give back.”
Others were more blunt. One volunteer lamented the potential loss of Langston and East Potomac to elite development: “It’s atrocious. It’s a tragedy.”
Future of Public Golf in D.C. Uncertain
So while the Trump administration touts its commitment to “getting the job done,” the community wonders exactly what that job is, and who it’s meant to serve.
As for what’s next, the Department of the Interior has yet to provide clarity. But the National Links Trust says it isn’t giving up. Not yet. It will keep the courses open and operating for as long as it can, holding the line for public access, community history, and the enduring spirit of service.
