WASHINGTON — For the first time, new renderings have been revealed for a transformative renovation project to one of D.C.’s three municipal golf courses.
National Links Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to affordable municipal golf nationwide, has released stunning new images of its first planned renovation of Rock Creek Golf Course in Northwest D.C.
“This golf course has been around for a long, long time, and it’s fallen into disrepair,” said Executive Director National Links Trust Damian Cosby in a video posted to X Wednesday morning.
Municipal golf is seen as the gateway for less affluent and younger people, often people of color, to gain access to the game.
“Our mission is to positively impact communities and change lives through municipal golf,” Cosby said in the video. “An investment in the renovation here at Rock Creek will do just that.”
The Rock Creek project, with an estimated price tag of $25 to $35 million dollars, will reconstruct Rock Creek Golf Course into a state-of-the-art golf course and training center. Renderings released by NLT show a lush putting green and a double decker driving range equipped with Toptracer technology at each hitting bay. The driving range includes solar panels on the roof to offset energy costs throughout the facility.
The putting green will be what’s known as a “Himalayas” style putting surface made famous at St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland, with a large and undulating putting surface.
Rock Creek’s Golf Course will also undergo a complete overhaul with the help of world class golf course architect Gil Hanse. It will include a regulation 9-hole course and a 9-hole par 3 course. Rock Creek is currently designed as an 18-hole course, but the land has become so overgrown a four of the holes are currently unplayable.
Work is expected to begin in late fall and take approximately two years to complete. Phase 1 will take approximately a year and will focus on the driving range and putting green. Cosby said NLT hopes to keep at least a few holes at Rock Creek open during that that time. In phase 2, the golf course will be shut down for renovation, while the new driving range and putting green will be open.
The current clubhouse at Rock Creek Golf Course will be demolished, replaced by a two-story clubhouse and pro shop with food and beverages, while also providing new a headquarters for First Tee of Greater Washington, D.C., a youth development organization which introduces the game of golf to young people.
“A true home for the first tee would do so much,” Executive Director of First Tee of Greater Washington, D.C. Clint Sanchez said. “We will be able to triple our impact with our on-course programming at Rock Creek Golf Course.”
As part of its rollout of the plans for Rock Creek Golf Course, NLT showed the renderings to two young competitive golfers from D.C. who relied on the course to help them learn the game, Faris Smith and Tyler Lambert.
“I don’t need a membership here?” asked Lambert as he looked at the renderings on an iPad.
“That’s actually really cool. That looks like Congressional!”
“That’s crazy!” added Smith as she looked at the images of the new driving range. “I think with the renovations this course is going to be amazing.”
Golf course before renovations
Renderings of future golf course
To restore the more than 100-year-old fairways, the National Park Service said Wednesday approximately 1,100 trees will be removed. The plan originally called for about 1,200 trees to be removed. In a statement, NPS wrote "those in poor health or dead are a safety risk to people and property, while the invasive species damage forest health and resiliency. The NPS understands the concerns about the number of trees to be removed and carefully reviewed all comments received during the extended public comment period. The project will include planting hundreds of native trees, 11 acres of new pollinator meadows and increased habitat for wildlife."
NLT said it is still actively fundraising for the project, which will not come from the D.C. government or taxpayers directly.
Cosby said the funds will be raised through a combination of operational revenue from D.C.’s other municipal golf courses, Langston Golf Course in Northeast and then East Potomac Golf Course in Northwest, which are also operated by NLT.
NLT said it will also rely on private philanthropy, grants, and loans to pay for the project.
NLT said it is applying to D.C. government's industrial revenue bonds (IRB) program for non-profit organizations. The IRB program provides access to tax-exempt financing to help businesses and non-profit organizations renovate existing assets, build new construction, make tenant improvements, and obtain capital by securing interest rates up to 4% lower than a traditional commercial loan at zero cost to taxpayers.
For Tyler Lambert, the Rock Creek renovation offers hope of a level playing field.
“It will feel really good to go to a tournament and say I’m from D.C. and I’m not afraid to go play a nice course,” said Lambert. “Because I already have one where I’m from.”
NLT said it does not have a firm timeline on the other projects, but following the completion of Rock Creek, the group will turn its attention to renovating Langston Golf Course and then East Potomac Golf Course.
“We hope to completely change what municipal golf looks like,” said Cosby. “And what better place to do it than the Nation’s Capital.”
NLT has already added Toptracer technology to the driving ranges at both of those courses, as well as cutting back brush and improving the quality of bunkers at East Potomac, and removing invasive plants and expanding the greens at Langston.