Does the U.S. military own and operate golf courses?

YES

The U.S. military owns 146 golf facilities in 40 states, the District of Columbia and in 11 overseas countries, according to the nonprofit Operation Support Military Golf.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), a former Marine, criticized the ownership of non-military assets such as golf courses in a Sept. 29, 2023, interview.

“We can recycle those assets and take the savings and invest it” in training and improved living conditions for troops, he said.

The courses include Monterey Pines in Monterey, California; Carney Park in Naples, Italy; and six courses in Hawaii. None are in Wisconsin.

Sports Illustrated reported in January that the military is one of the top golf course operators in the U.S.

Federal law generally prohibits Defense Department appropriations from being used to run golf courses. Exceptions are made for courses outside the U.S. or in remote locations in the U.S.