OUR Vision for the Future of Rock Creek PArk Golf

In late 2024, National Links Trust will begin the first chapter of the Nation’s Capital Project - The Rehabilitation Rock Creek Park Golf. Rock Creek Park Golf is one of the oldest public golf courses in the country and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. While historically significant, over the last several decades lack of investment has caused conditions to deteriorate to the point where the community’s use of the facility has drastically decreased. NLT will address this and rehabilitate the facility to become a true community asset for golfers and non-golfers alike. Economic and environmental sustainability will be key tenets to this project that will be funded entirely by NLT’s operations and private philanthropy.

By investing in this facility, NLT can increase our impact in the community and change lives through golf by expanding the reach of our programs and providing better access to affordable recreation and greenspace.

Learn More ABOUT THE PROJECT

Our work has been informed by three pillars:

• Create engaging, environmentally and economically sustainable facilities where golf is affordable and fun.

• Transform facilities into multi-use community spaces that celebrate the city’s unique history.

• Break down barriers to entry, promoting inclusion to golfers of all skill levels and socioeconomic backgrounds.

A rehabilitated Rock Creek Park Golf facility has been envisioned to better serve everyone in our community. Our project will result in:

• Greater impact on our community and more lives changed through increased reach of NLT programs - like our workforce development and caddie program - and increased access to affordable recreation and green space for those in the community.

• Increased economic activity will result in 60 new jobs for local residents, increased investment in community programs, and will allow the landscape to be sustainably managed to promote forest health, reversing decades of deterioration.

• Environmental sustainability through requiring fewer resources for turf maintenance, using renewable energy sources, providing native habitat for wildlife, and more.

• Increased reach of community partner programming - like First Tee - Greater Washington, DC - who will have a permanent headquarters in the clubhouse.

• Pedestrian access to the facility and better connection to the city’s public transportation system.

• Accessible recreation for non-golfers like our multi-use jogging, walking, and hiking trails, a picnic pavillion, and putting course modeled after the Himalayas at St. Andrews

• Fun, engaging, accessible golf courses for golfers of all ability levels to enjoy.

Our goal is to create a true community asset for golfers and non-golfers alike, increasing the impact we can have our community and the number of lives changed through golf in our nation’s capital. Environmental sustainability has been a point of emphasis throughout the design process and will remain so through construction and operations. Increased economic activity at the facility will allow for significant focus and investment in environmental sustainability initiatives. Once completed, the management of the facility will set a national standard for environmentally-friendly golf courses. We will reduce the facility’s carbon footprint and will adapt to the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather. Environmentally-sustainable aspects of this project include:

• Long-term net gain in tree canopy including 200 new native trees planted in the first phase of construction.

• 11.1 acres of meadows added including 4.5 acres of pollinators, significantly increasing the amount of rare, critical meadow habitat in Rock Creek Park.

• Reuse of felled trees for furniture, countertops, siding, trim, and decking in our project and others on NPS land.

• Significant reduction in soil erosion and sediment run-off into Rock Creek through rain gardens, healthy turf coverage, meadow grasses, and other stormwater management techniques.

• Solar and Geothermal energy used to power operations.

• Fewer resources used in golf course maintenance due to new turf grass selection, increased air flow, and sunlight.

• Capture and use of rainwater that falls on-site through irrigation pond and cistern.

• Invasive plant management program that will protect forest edge from overgrowth of non-native plant species.

• Healthy, native habitats created for wildlife.