You’ll be hard-pressed to find many fans of public golf, regardless of political persuasion, who are happy with recent developments in Washington, DC. The nation’s capital has been a source of disappointment for many, following the Department of the Interior’s decision in late December to terminate the National Links Trust’s lease on three municipal golf courses — Rock Creek, East Potomac and Langston. The decision came just weeks after President Trump floated the idea of taking over the courses himself, raising concerns among public golf advocates about both the affordability and the fate of the historic designs.
This week, however, there’s better news for muni golf boosters, which involve the same nonprofit but hail from the other side of the country. The National Links Trust has announced a new municipal project in Washington state. It was built through a partnership with the Friends of the Port Townsend Golf Park to shape the future of Camas Prairie Park, a historic public golf course about 60 miles north of Seattle.
Formerly known as the Port Townsend Golf Club, Camas Prairie Park is anchored by a nine-hole golf course that dates to 1904 and today functions as a multi-use public space, with a driving range, disc golf, walking trails, a restaurant and a nature preserve. After two years of local stewardship, the Friends received a 20-year lease extension at the end of 2025.
Under the new agreement, National Links Trust will help develop a master plan focused on affordability, environmental sustainability and community access. As part of the agreement, a Himalayan-style putting course will also be constructed, supported by a $250,000 grant from a family foundation.
Trust officials say the partnership had been in development for months before the DC lease was terminated, a point they would like to clarify given the timing of the announcement.
“It may seem like we are preparing for a post-DC future, but that is not the case,” a Trust spokesperson said. “This is not instead of DC. We are going to follow parallel paths.”
The spokesperson added that the partnership with Port Townsend “represents the most concrete step we have taken toward a national footprint.”
The announcement comes amid significant uncertainty about the Trust’s future in Washington, DC. The nonprofit was founded in 2017 to revitalize Rock Creek, East Potomac and Langston, with celebrated architect Tom Doak on board to oversee the renovation plans. Since acquiring operations in 2020, the Trust has invested more than $8.5 million in capital improvements. Over that same period, rounds played and revenues have increased, and green fees remain among the lowest of any major municipal system in the country. Planned renovations, supported by pro bono work from Doak, Gil Hanse and Beau Welling, were already underway when the lease was revoked.
In a statement after the contract was terminated, the National Links Trust said it was “devastated” by the move and disputed the Trump administration’s claim that it had defaulted under the lease.
What happens next in the capital remains unclear. President Trump has said he wants to keep golf affordable for local players and is reportedly looking to hire Tom Fazio to oversee a redesign. The president and the architect met in person in December, although no formal plans have been announced. The National Links Trust will continue to deliver the courses in the meantime, but a spokesperson said the uncertainty makes it difficult to manage staff, budgets and long-term planning.
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