East Potomac Golf Links

A public course on the water

East Potomac Golf Links occupies Hains Point, a narrow peninsula in East Potomac Park between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. Its fairways sit unusually close to the monumental core of Washington: views of the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the river and, across the water, Northern Virginia are part of an ordinary round rather than a special overlook. The address is 972 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20024. The National Park Service (NPS) identifies the facility as a public golf course within National Mall and Memorial Parks; the course is operated through playDCgolf. It is recreation on federal parkland, not a private country club.

When it opened—and how the course grew

The course opened in 1920, during a period when American cities were building public golf facilities as part of a wider movement to make recreation available to urban residents. Golf architect and champion Walter J. Travis shaped the original East Potomac design in the early 1920s. Its flat, open setting lent itself to a links-inspired layout, with the landscape and long sightlines doing much of the visual work. The original 18-hole design could be played in reverse; today that course is known as the Blue Course and is played in one direction. A further nine holes followed soon after, and by 1931 the complex included the Red nine, putting facilities and miniature golf. The NPS’s historical account describes the course as a designed cultural landscape, not just a collection of greens and tees. Read the National Park Service history.

Golf for different levels

The main Blue Course is an 18-hole, par-72 round of about 6,599 yards. The White Course is a nine-hole executive layout, while the Red Course is a nine-hole par-27 course built around short holes and the short game. That range makes East Potomac useful both for a full round and for a first experience with golf. The White Course’s shorter holes and multiple tee markers also give families and developing players a less demanding option. Course conditions, walking and cart rules can change; the operator’s daily status page should take precedence over general descriptions.

Practice is a major part of the site. A two-level driving range has 100 stalls, including covered, heated bays, and uses Toptracer screens. Three separate practice holes provide space to work on approach shots, bunkers and putting without committing to a full round. There are putting greens, a golf shop and the Potomac Grille, which serves food and drinks at the clubhouse. Miniature golf adds a nontraditional option for families. FootGolf—kicking a soccer ball toward oversized cups on a golf layout—is also associated with the White Course, but its seasonal availability can vary; confirm before making a trip. The operator lists tee-time booking online and says reservations are not required for range balls.

Hours and practical access

A visit to East Potomac is easiest to plan around the activity you have in mind: a booked round, a few buckets at the range, or a slower stop for mini golf and the waterfront setting. The operator’s published hours list the golf starter from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the shop from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the range from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (opening at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays), Potomac Grille from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with grill service ending at 5:00 p.m., and mini golf from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the last tee time at 5:00 p.m. These are operating hours, not a promise that every activity will be available throughout the day.

Seasonal notices matter. The operator’s current-hours panel, marked “Starting October 1,” gives the range, shop, grille and mini-golf hours, while describing the Blue, White and Red courses as open for walking; carts may be purchased only if permitted. That is why the daily facility-status page is more useful than relying on a general schedule alone. Rain, flooding, storms, other conditions and events can affect play or access, and cart rules can change during the day. Tee times can be booked online through playDCgolf, up to seven days ahead; for a same-day decision, especially about a cart, call the golf shop at (202) 554-7660.

For drivers, the operator recommends reaching Hains Point from Interstate 395 via Exit 2; the course address is 972 Ohio Drive SW. Parking is not uniform across the park. The National Park Service says more than 500 spaces on Ohio Drive east and south of Buckeye Drive, around Hains Point, remain free, while designated lots and other nearby areas are metered. Read the signs at the space you use rather than assuming all Ohio Drive parking has the same rules. The operator says Hains Point remains accessible during DC events, but traffic arrangements can change, so check its status notice and the NPS parking guidance before setting out.

A course in the history of civil rights

East Potomac’s public identity has not always meant equal access. In the early decades, Black golfers were restricted to limited playing times at segregated public courses, while facilities reserved for Black players elsewhere were often smaller and less well maintained. On June 29, 1941, Asa Williams, George Williams and Cecil R. Shamwell challenged that exclusion by walking onto East Potomac and playing a full 18-hole round. U.S. Park Police accompanied them to guard against violence. The protest drew national attention and pushed the NPS toward integrating public golf facilities in Washington. The course therefore carries a civil-rights history within its landscape as well as a sporting one; the story is documented by the National Park Service.

Trump’s championship proposal—and what is actually decided

East Potomac’s future is now the subject of a legal and political dispute. President Donald Trump has promoted a redesign by golf architect Tom Fazio as a “world-class” championship course, saying it could be capable of hosting events such as the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Those are ambitions in the proposal, not tournaments confirmed for this site. On October 18, 2026, Trump said the course would close on November 15 for an estimated 15 months of work. On October 19 he said work would start immediately.

That announcement does not settle the project’s legal status. The D.C. Preservation League and two golfers are challenging the redevelopment. After hundreds of trees were cut at the site in October, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered a pause on redevelopment work through at least October 26. At a hearing on October 19, she expressed skepticism about the government’s argument that the tree removal and the course plan were unrelated; the plaintiffs asked her to extend the pause. The Associated Press reported the hearing and Trump’s closure announcement on October 19. Until the court and the responsible agencies resolve the dispute, the closure date, scope of work and future access remain uncertain. Follow the latest court reporting.

For now, East Potomac remains a public recreation site with golf, practice and family activities, but the current operating status is more useful than any long-term promise. Check playDCgolf before visiting, especially in the weeks leading up to the announced November closure. The enduring question is not only whether Washington will gain a tournament-caliber course; it is how a historic public landscape will balance renovation, access, recreation and preservation.