Chocolate Drop: The Trump Administration Ousts the National Links Trust

In a New Year's Eve email, the National Links Trust announced that the Trump administration is killing the nonprofit group's contract with the National Park Service to operate and improve the three municipal golf courses in Washington, D.C. The administration has deemed the NLT in default of its lease — a finding that does not appear to have much basis in reality.

For the past several weeks, rumors and reports have circulated about the President's desire to seize control of the courses and transform East Potomac Golf Links into a professional-level tournament venue. Now the administration has made its first concrete, public move.

A few of my many questions about what will happen next:

• Will 80-year-old Tom Fazio, Trump's reported pick to lead the PGA Tour-grade makeover of the golf courses at East Potomac, actually take the job?
• What will the impact of this project be on the accessibility and affordability of golf at East Potomac?
• Which company will be hired to manage the three courses after the NLT exits? (Trump Golf? Surely not!)
• What are the administration's plans for D.C.'s two other municipal facilities, Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf Course?
• Will the in-progress renovation of Rock Creek Park, now on hold because of the NLT's ouster, get back underway at some point?

The National Links Trust is (was?) a bright light in the game. This is all terribly sad and stupid.