Trump’s Golf Game: Business, Diplomacy, and a Relentless Pursuit of Victory
Golf is more than just a game for Donald Trump; it’s a business venture, a networking opportunity, and, as those who’ve played with him attest, a fiercely competitive undertaking. As the former president visits Scotland this weekend for the opening of a new Trump course near Balmedie in Aberdeenshire, a pattern emerges: for Trump, the fairways are as much about power and prestige as they are about par.
Beyond a Diversion: Trump’s Unique Relationship with the Game
While many modern American presidents, from Barack Obama to George W. Bush, have used golf as a diversion from the pressures of office, Trump’s connection to the sport is fundamentally different. For him, it’s a core component of his brand and a key arena for cultivating relationships. “He’s nuts about golf,” a British golf journalist recalled after an hour-long conversation with Trump in 2012, noting the future president’s deep knowledge of the game’s history.
Trump’s involvement extends far beyond recreational play. He owns 11 courses in the US and three in the UK, with plans for expansion into Oman, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Qatar. However, these ventures aren’t always profitable. Filings with the British government reveal that his Balmedie course lost $1.83 million (£1.35m) in 2023 – its 11th consecutive year of deficits – while Turnberry reported a profit of approximately $5 million.
The Competitive Edge and the Price of Slow Play
Those who have teed off with Trump describe a relentless competitor with little patience for anything less than peak performance. Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s former White House chief of staff, recounted a 2019 match at Trump’s Bedminster club where he briefly held a lead. “I slapped him on the shoulder and joked with him, ‘I got you today, old man,’” Mulvaney shared. Trump responded with a half-smile, a half-sneer, and then proceeded to birdie two of the next three holes, ultimately winning by two strokes. Mulvaney, who played roughly 40 rounds with or near the president, never managed to secure a victory. “Just soul-crushing” is how he described the experience.
This competitive spirit extends to the pace of play. According to Mulvaney, slow players risk losing future invitations – and potentially being left on the course. A veteran golf journalist experienced this firsthand during a 2012 round at Trump’s Balmedie course, when he was asked by another player if he could “get a move on.” The journalist observed that Trump was focused and “motoring on ahead.”
Golf as a Diplomatic Tool
Trump has consistently leveraged golf to forge connections with both domestic and international figures. Despite promising in 2016 that he wouldn’t have time to play golf as president, he frequently used the sport for meetings and relationship-building. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for example, was gifted a golden golf club early in Trump’s first term and the two played five rounds together, fostering a friendship that lasted until Abe’s assassination in 2022.
More recently, in March of this year, Trump golfed with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in West Palm Beach, reportedly winning a club tournament alongside him. Stubb later revealed that their conversation covered critical global issues, including the war in Ukraine and Russia. “In Finnish history, it’s quite rare that the Finnish president has spent so much time with the president of the United States,” Stubb noted.
A Transactional Approach to Access
Experts suggest that access to a tee time with Trump is a highly sought-after prize for those seeking influence. “Anybody who is sophisticated dealing with Donald quickly understands that everything about him is transactional,” explained Professor David Cay Johnston of the Rochester Institute of Technology, a longtime observer of Trump. “If you’re the head of a company or the head of a nation, you either try and minimise any prospective damage he might do to you by buttering him up or to size him up on something if you’re unsure.”
This dynamic was evident during a May meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, where a gift of a South African golf book and the inclusion of local golf professionals in the delegation failed to prevent a contentious discussion over land confiscation policies. However, Trump may find more value in the privacy afforded by golf outings, allowing for discreet meetings away from the press.
Questions of Skill and Integrity
The extent of Trump’s golfing prowess remains a subject of debate. He claims to have won dozens of club championships, including five this year alone, but these victories have all occurred at courses he owns. Sports journalist Rick Reilly, in his 2019 book Commander in Cheat, alleges that Trump’s championship claims are exaggerated and details instances of alleged cheating, including moving his ball and taking multiple mulligans. “He’s a notorious cheat,” Johnston affirmed, recounting a story of Trump allegedly taking six mulligans on a single hole.
Mulvaney, however, stated he never witnessed Trump cheat, suggesting that the president views golf primarily as a means of connection. “This is golf,” he said. “And while that sounds obtuse, golfers know what I mean.” Trump, he concluded, was a golfing enthusiast long before his presidency and will remain one long after.
