Jack Nicklaus tapped by Donald Trump to redesign 'President's Golf Course'

Coming off a major courtroom victory, Jack Nicklaus has now struck a deal with President Donald Trump to spruce up the courses at Joint Base Andrews - adding a site long known as the 'president's golf course' to his long list of construction projects.

Meanwhile, Nicklaus' eponymous former company has filed for bankruptcy after the legendary golfer won a $50 million defamation lawsuit against the brand last month.

The Golden Bear sued Nicklaus Companies over what he saw as two false claims: The allegation he considered a $750 million offer to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league, and the accusation the 85-year-old was unable to manage his affairs because he was suffering from dementia.

The golf legend joined Nicklaus Companies in 2007 as part of a $145 million deal, but he eventually quit and planned to continue designing golf courses on his own.

Now Nicklaus will be doing just that with Trump, who took an aerial tour of the Courses at Andrews aboard Marine One on Saturday.

'We're going to do some work [there],' he told reporters.

'We’re doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We’re gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I’m meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus,' Trump told reporters outside the White House before boarding Marine One to head to Andrews. 'He’s involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back.'

Located in Maryland, about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) from the White House, Andrews houses Air Force One. Gerald R. Ford was the first president to golf there in 1974, but the facility was most recently a favorite of Barack Obama.

An 11th Force Support Squadron asset, the facilities include three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas and a driving range, according to the Andrews website. Trump said at least two of the courses could get facelifts.

Trump has infrequently golfed at Andrews, but prefers to spend most weekends playing at or near one of his own properties . Those are Bedminster in New Jersey, or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. On those weekends he remains at the White House, Trump often golfs at his course in Sterling, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.

The potential Andrews redesign follows construction crews already having demolished the East Wing of the White House to make room for a $300 million ballroom that Trump commissioned. He's promised that it is being paid for by himself and private donors - including 37 individuals, firms and charitable organizations that have publicly disclosed contributing to the project.

Nicklaus won 18 professional majors and 73 times on the PGA Tour. The Nicklaus Design firm features a team that has completed more than 425 courses in 40 states and more than 45 countries.

In October, a six-person jury in Palm Beach County, Florida found Nicklaus Companies damaged his reputation and exposed him to ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt. Nicklaus Companies owner and executive chairman Howard Milstein and executive Andrew O'Brien were also named individually as defendants, but jurors did not find them personally liable.

Now, as reported by Bloomberg News, Nicklaus Companies has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with estimated assets between $10 million and $50 million and liabilities as high as $1 billion.

'We take this step to protect our brand, our client relationships, and—most importantly— our employees,' Nicklaus Companies CEO Phil Cotton, in a statement. 'We are dedicated to protecting the brand and continuing to offer the highest standard of service to our clients all over the world.'

Earlier this year, a New York judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Nicklaus Companies against Nicklaus that attempted to prevent the golfer from using his name, image and likeness to promote his golf course design business.

While Nicklaus is once again free to design golf courses under his own name, Nicklaus Companies retains the rights to sell clothing and equipment with 'Jack Nicklaus' logos.