WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge in Washington spent Monday’s hearing on the East Potomac Golf Links pressing government lawyers to explain why the president is describing a finished redesign of the public course while they have told her no final plan exists. The session ended with no ruling.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes has been weighing a lawsuit brought in February by two golfers and the DC Preservation League, who argue a rebuilt course would push up greens fees at a 106-year-old facility meant for everyone. Democracy Forward represents them.
On Sunday, the president said on social media that work on a championship design by architect Tom Fazio would start Nov. 15, closing the course for roughly 15 months. In court filings days earlier, Justice Department lawyers had described the project as only preliminary, with the Park Service review unfinished.
The fight escalated after the government gave late notice on Oct. 9 that it would cut up to 529 trees and crews started felling them the next day. Reyes ordered a temporary halt. She also turned down a White House request that she step aside from the case.
Reyes noted from the bench that the links were among the first public courses to be desegregated and are protected as a historic landmark. Besides golfers, the surrounding park draws runners, cyclists, anglers and picnickers.
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