‘Leave us alone!’: Washington golfers fear Trump’s public course makeover will price them out

For decades, Max Salas has savored his time on Washington's East Potomac Golf Links, a public course that offers an affordable golfing experience to the general public. However, the 74-year-old retiree is dismayed by President Donald Trump's plans to transform the course into a high-end facility suitable for hosting major championship events.

"Leave us alone! Leave us alone!" Salas exclaimed when asked how he would address Trump. "What the hell do we need a championship course in a public course? We're here, we've been here for years, and it's ridiculous."

Salas is among the golfers apprehensive that Trump's proposed renovation could turn a budget-friendly public amenity into an exclusive and pricey destination reserved only for those who can afford it. Currently, the maximum fee for playing 18 holes at East Potomac is US$48 (RM195). In contrast, private golf courses owned by Trump often charge significantly higher green fees, sometimes running into hundreds of dollars.

President Trump, a lifelong golfer, has criticized the state of East Potomac, stating that the current course is outdated, damaged, and unsafe. He argues that the course is no longer fit for use and requires significant improvements. However, for Salas, the renovation raises concerns about Trump's priorities during a time of global conflict. "We're in the middle of a war, and he's over here trying to tinker with a golf course?" he questioned. "I mean, where is this guy's sense? Common sense?"

While some golfers might welcome a championship-standard course, others are worried about the financial implications. Fidel Enrique Garcia Rendon, a 59-year-old Pilates studio owner, fears that the cost of playing the revamped course could make it unaffordable for him. "If it goes to a championship course level, the fees are going to go from US$22 to US$250 or plus, US$350 who knows?" he said. "So I definitely will not be able to come here and play because at that price, I cannot afford it."

Similar concerns were expressed by fellow retiree Tom Carmody, who questioned both the ultimate cost of the renovated course and its completion timeline. "It just makes me nervous, quite nervous," Carmody stated. "For one, just his ability to follow through. I mean, what’s going to happen? Will he stop halfway through or quit or something like that?"

However, Carmody's primary concern is whether the promise of public access will remain intact even if green fees increase substantially. "He talks about it remaining open to the public, but instead of US$30 or US$40 a round, maybe it’s US$120, US$150 a round, which is going to eliminate a lot of people."