When golf legend Jack Nicklaus and U.S. President Donald Trump announce a joint effort on a storied golfing ground, it isn’t simply about teeing off. It’s a move that instantly reshapes the conversation around St. Andrews. So what did the US President say about this collaboration?

"We're going to do some work," Donald Trump said when he flew into Joint Base Andrews aboard Marine One. President Trump told reporters outside the White House, “We're doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We're going to try and reinstitute the golf courses. I'm meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus." 

The 11th Force Support Squadron oversees an impressive setup at Andrews: three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas, and a full driving range. According to Trump, at least two of those courses are now in line for a major facelift. 

"He's [Jack Nicklaus] involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back," added President Trump while explaining that years of deferred maintenance have left the courses in disrepair: “Andrews… was a great place that’s been destroyed over the years due to a lack of maintenance.”

Mr. Trump’s announcement quickly sparked questions about cost. How much will Jack Nicklaus’ design services cost? And because Joint Base Andrews is military property, it’s unclear whether taxpayer money, private donors, or another source will fund the golf course overhaul. However, the POTUS did drop a clue.

What could the cost of this Jack Nicklaus collab look like?

Trump said, “We can — for very little money— fix it up,” referring to the two courses, but did not elaborate or hint at how little that money could be. However, this Jack Nicklaus partnership to restore the courses at Andrews is the first big project of its kind that President Trump has started.

Crews recently demolished the East Wing of the White House to make space for a $300 million ballroom that Trump says is being funded by himself and 37 disclosed private donors. He has already overseen a series of high-profile aesthetic changes, replacing the Rose Garden lawn with a Mar-a-Lago–style patio, redecorating the Lincoln Bathroom and Palm Room, installing a presidential Walk of Fame along the Colonnade, erecting massive flagpoles on both lawns, and adding ornate gold details and cherubs to the Oval Office. 

Comparing the White House renovations to fixing up two golf courses may not be fair. However, collaborating with Jack Nicklaus shows that the POTUS is willing to work with some of the best in the business. So what do you feel about this development? Tell us in the comments.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi