National Links Trust signs 50-year lease to revamp historic D.C. golf courses

A game changer tonight for two of the district's most historic golf courses, the National Links Trust just inking a 50-year lease to revamp and manage the Rock Creek Park and Langston courses. But the deal comes with a catch. Their time overseeing the East Potomac Golf Links is coming to an end. Tom Fitzgerald is live at the Langston Golf Course in Northeast tonight to break it all down. Well, good evening. You know, this place is so much more than just a golf course in Northeast D.C. It is the home to the oldest African-American men's and women's golf club in the United States. It was once managed by Lee Elder, the first African-American to play in the Masters, and it is single-handedly responsible for the desegregation of the golf game in this country. That sets the stage for the news that came down today, this 50-year lease between the National Links Trust and the Interior Department of the National Park Service, meaning that the trust can finally tee off on stalled efforts to renovate both Langston and Rock Creek public golf courses. Now, in addition to the course improvements and the new clubhouses, Langston will also be launching a student workforce development program, paid internships, and college scholarships. A big issue in golf is the representation and playship by black folks like myself and Cole. It's currently less than 3%. And without these courses, we don't have access, and we need real community partnerships. There is enough massive courses and enough, you know, like country clubs and stuff like that, that's fine. but there's not enough of these spaces where people can just come out, play. Now, over at Rock Creek Golf Course in northwest D.C., it was pretty clear there is a lot more work that's needed there. National Trust Link says in the next few months it's set to resume their work in two phases, first construction and practice facilities, second on the course renovations and the restorations. Now, Rock Creek golfers told Fox 5 today the course, it's in rough shape. The grass has faded, there are invasive plants that have moved in, and this work is badly needed. I love that they're accessible, and honestly, part of the charm is I feel like they're a little beat up and anyone can play on here, but the place definitely needs some love. It absolutely needs some work. I mean, it has some rough edges, but it's the character that keeps us coming back, so that's why I'm here. Absolutely. I think it's great to have a staple of the community, stay here for a long time, and have a cheap place to play golf. We should tell you, Fox 5 did reach out to National Links Trust and the Interior Department today. We were told the trust would not be speaking on this today. But as you heard up at the top, their management of the East Potomac Golf Course will end on November 15th. We're live in Northeast tonight. We'll send it back in to Jim and Maria.