Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C.
Trump National Golf Club, Washington, D.C. is an 800-acre (1.3 sq mi) private golf club in the eastern United States, at Lowes Island in Potomac Falls, Virginia, northwest of Washington, D.C.[4][5]
Entrance in 2015 | |
Club information | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39.053°N 77.347°W |
Location | Potomac Falls, Virginia, U.S. |
Type | Private |
Total holes | 36 |
Greens | Bentgrass |
Fairways | Bentgrass [1] |
Website | trumpnationaldc.com |
Championship Course | |
Designed by | Tom Fazio and Arthur Hills |
Par | 72 |
Length | 7,693 yards (7,034 m) |
Course rating | 77.9 [2] |
Slope rating | 145 [2] |
Riverview Course | |
Designed by | Arthur Hills and Tom Fazio |
Par | 72 |
Length | 7,234 yards (6,615 m) |
Course rating | 75.6 [3] |
Slope rating | 148 [3] |
It is part of the Trump chain of golf clubs that includes clubs in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Bedminster. The club contains two 18-hole golf courses, both par 72. The Championship Course was designed by Tom Fazio, and the Riverview course was added in 1999, when the club was still known as the Lowes Island Club. The Riverview Course abuts the Potomac River and was originally designed by Arthur Hills. The club also contains a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) clubhouse, an 82-foot (25 m) swimming pool, an indoor tennis center, and a fitness center.
History
The Trump National Golf Club (Washington, D.C.) was formerly the Lowes Island Club.[6][7] Donald Trump purchased the club in 2009 for $13 million from a bank after the previous owner defaulted on its loans.[8] He financed the purchase with a loan from Chevy Chase Bank.[8] Trump then invested at least $25 million into the property.[8] Trump hired Tom Fazio to remake the golf courses.[8] The clubhouse, pool, and other facilities were also renovated. Renovations were completed in June 2015.
An estimated 465 trees were removed to provide unobstructed views of the Potomac River, prompting objections from some.[9] The Trump Organization officials said that many of the trees were weak, in danger of becoming diseased, and presented soil erosion problems; the Loudoun County urban forester and other county officials "did not oppose cutting down some unhealthy trees" but did not feel "that the extent of the removal was necessary". A company official said that trash and debris was also removed from the riverbank.[10]
Trump had the "River of Blood" monument added near the Potomac River. The monument claims that "Many great American soldiers, both of the North and South, died at this spot. The casualties were so great that the water would turn red." The plaque's claim is dubious, as a number of Civil War historians pointed out; no documented battle took place at or near the site.[11][12][13]
In 2016, Trump's financial disclosures indicated the property earned $17.5 million in revenue.[8] Eric Trump now manages the club.[8] President Trump visited the club six times between mid-March and the end of May 2017.[8]
The course hosted the Senior PGA Championship in May 2017; Bernhard Langer won his record ninth senior major title.[1][14]
Trump presidency
This course became known during Donald Trump's presidency, because he golfed there on weekends when he was not traveling. He used the course throughout the year. Except when traveling to Mar-a-Lago or the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, he would golf at the club and would then travel to his hotel in Washington DC (the Old Post Office) for dinner.
References
- "KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship" (PDF). GCSAA. Tournament fact sheets. May 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- "Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Trump National Washington DC: Championship". USGA. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- "Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Trump National Washington DC: Riverview". USGA. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- "Home - Trump National Golf Club Washington DC". trumpnationaldc.com. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
- "Behold Donald Trumps Epic Riverfront Golf Course". Bisnow. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
- Roberts, Roxanne (2009-02-14). "Donald Trump Buys Lowes Island Club in Sterling". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
- "Lowes Island Club". virginiagolf.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
- Eric Lipton; Steve Eder; Ben Protess (27 May 2017). "With a Presidential Boost, the P.G.A. Comes to Trump National". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- Hedgpeth, Diana (November 12, 2015). "Activists to Trump: You owe us 500 trees". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- Hosh, Kafia A. (August 13, 2010). "Trump golf club in Loudoun removes hundreds of trees near river". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- Fandos, Nicholas (November 24, 2015). "In Renovation of Golf Club, Donald Trump Also Dressed Up History". The New York Times.
- Holmes, Jack (May 2, 2017). "Trump Fondly Remembers the Fake Civil War Battle That Took Place on His Golf Course". Esquire.
- Crilly, Rob (November 25, 2015). "Donald Trump's 'river of blood' golf course claim is debunked by historians". The Daily Telegraph.
- "Bernhard Langer wins Senior PGA for record 9th senior major". USA Today. May 28, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2018.