Miles Bennett
J.D. Vance, the venture capitalist, author of Hillbilly Elegy, and Donald Trump's running mate, has a well-documented history with golf. In his memoir, Vance mentions trying out for his high school golf team, and he later worked as a cart boy at a golf club, reflecting his interest in the sport. Notably, Trump complimented Vance's golf swing and appearance when they played golf together at Mar-a-Lago, marking a shift in their relationship. This interaction, along with Vance's subsequent defence of Trump's policies, highlights an interesting dynamic between the two figures, with Vance's golfing skills playing a small but intriguing role.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Golf experience | Vance tried out for the varsity golf team in high school but did not make it. He later took lessons at TPC Franklin (Ohio) and worked as a cart boy at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. |
| Golf as a political tool | Vance has used golf to connect with former President Donald Trump, who complimented his swing and appearance. |
| Political career | Vance is a first-term Ohio senator and the Republican vice-presidential nominee for the 2024 election, running alongside Donald Trump. |
| Background | Vance is a venture capitalist and author of the memoir "Hillbilly Elegy", which explores his blue-collar roots and hardscrabble upbringing. He has been criticised as an extremist by Democrats due to his provocative positions on issues such as abortion. |
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What You'll Learn
J.D. Vance tried out for his high school golf team
J.D. Vance, the venture capitalist, author of "Hillbilly Elegy", and Donald Trump's running mate in the 2024 presidential election, tried out for his high school golf team. In his book, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," Vance writes, "During my last year in high school, I tried out for the varsity golf team."
Vance did not make the team, which is perhaps not surprising given his working-class background and the fact that he took up the game relatively late. In his book, Vance describes the difficulties faced by America's white working class in accessing paths to upward mobility. He writes about his own experiences growing up in a struggling family, with a mother who was addicted to drugs and an absent father.
Despite not making the high school golf team, Vance continued to cultivate an interest in golf. He took lessons at TPC Franklin in Ohio and later worked as a cart boy at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. In an interview, Vance expressed his love for the game, saying that he still enjoys playing it, even if he doesn't get to play as often as he would like.
Vance has also been observed playing golf at Mar-a-Lago, where former President Donald Trump complimented his swing and his personal appearance. Trump, who has endorsed Vance in his political career, described him as a "handsome son of a b" with a "beautiful" golf swing.
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He took golf lessons at TPC Franklin in Ohio
J.D. Vance, the venture capitalist, author of "Hillbilly Elegy", and Donald Trump's pick for vice president, grew up in Middletown, Ohio. While in high school, Vance tried out for the varsity golf team, but did not make the team. However, he did take golf lessons at TPC Franklin in Ohio. TPC Franklin, or The Practice Center, is a public golf course in Franklin, Ohio, that was built in 1998 and designed by P.B. Dye. The course is equipped to provide excellent short game practice and can be played as nine or 18 holes.
Vance has spoken about his interest in golf, which was sparked by Tiger Woods' dominance of the game in the early 2000s. In an email, Vance said, "I don't think anyone has done what Tiger did in expanding the demographic reach of the game. He made it cool, and he made it interesting to a lot of kids who probably wouldn't have thought twice about golf if Tiger never picked up a club."
Vance's interest in golf continued beyond his high school years. He took a job as a cart boy at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio, and has been seen playing golf at Mar-a-Lago, where former President Donald Trump complimented his swing. In addition to his golf game, Trump also praised Vance's personal appearance, calling him a "handsome son of a b----".
Vance's journey into the world of golf, from taking lessons at TPC Franklin to playing at Mar-a-Lago, reflects his entry into the political sphere and his alignment with Trump and other Republican figures.
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He worked at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio
J.D. Vance, the venture capitalist and author of "Hillbilly Elegy," is a self-described "hillbilly at heart." In his memoir, Vance writes about growing up in Middletown, Ohio, and the struggles of America's white working class. Interestingly, he also writes about his love for golf, a sport that might seem unexpected given his background.
Vance's journey with golf began during his high school years, coinciding with Tiger Woods' dominance in the sport in the early 2000s. Although he didn't consider himself a huge Tiger Woods fan, Vance acknowledged the impact Woods had on expanding the appeal of golf to kids from backgrounds similar to his own. In his book, Vance recounts trying out for the varsity golf team during his last year in high school, which marked the beginning of his golf journey.
Following his high school attempts, Vance took golf lessons at TPC Franklin in Ohio, where he refined his skills. His passion for the sport led him to take on a job as a cart boy at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. This golf club, located at 1320 Golf Club Drive, holds a special place in Vance's heart. It was at Shaker Run that Vance truly fell in love with the game, cherishing the opportunities to play with his buddies at a low cost or even for free.
Vance's time at Shaker Run Golf Club allowed him to develop his skills and cultivate a passion for the sport. It is unclear how long he worked at the club, but his time there left a lasting impression. Years later, when Vance played golf with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Trump complimented his swing and his appearance, marking a significant moment in their political relationship.
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He rarely has business meetings on the golf course
J.D. Vance, the venture capitalist, author, and former critic of Donald Trump, is now the former president's running mate for the 2024 election. In his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," Vance writes about his working-class background and his late introduction to golf. He writes, "During my last year in high school, I tried out for the varsity golf team."
Vance took golf lessons at TPC Franklin in Ohio and later worked as a cart boy at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. Despite his interest in the sport, Vance has stated that he rarely has business meetings on the golf course. This is interesting, given that golf is often associated with business and networking opportunities.
Vance's political career has been marked by a shift from critic to fierce defender of Trump. Once referring to Trump as "America's Hitler," Vance now enjoys full MAGA backing and is a regular guest on Theo Von's podcast. He has also been key in negotiating between Elon Musk and Trump. As a vice presidential candidate, Vance has emphasized his hardscrabble upbringing and connected it to the challenges facing struggling Americans.
Despite his working-class roots, Vance's brand in the Republican Party has been associated with a network of elites, and he has faced suspicion from the populist MAGA wing. However, his willingness to question Trump's decisions has played to his advantage, allowing him to maintain support from the tech industry. As a potential leader of Trump's political movement, Vance's position as a millennial also addresses concerns about the advanced age of American political leaders.
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He admires Tiger Woods for expanding the demographic reach of golf
J.D. Vance, the venture capitalist and author of "Hillbilly Elegy," has had a complicated relationship with golf. In his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," Vance writes about his attempt to join the varsity golf team during his last year in high school. Despite facing reservations from his family, he pursued his interest in the sport.
Vance took lessons at TPC Franklin in Ohio and later worked as a cart boy at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. In an interview with NPR, Vance expressed his love for the game, although he admitted he doesn't play as often as he would like. He also shared that his grandmother, whom he called "Mamaw", was a fan of Tiger Woods.
Mamaw admired Tiger Woods for being an "outsider shaking up a rich man's game." She was particularly angry at Fuzzy Zoeller's controversial "fried chicken" remark following Woods' victory at the 1997 Masters. Vance recalled her saying, "those a-holes, they're never going to let people like us be part of their crowd."
Vance himself has acknowledged the impact of Tiger Woods on the sport, stating, "I don't think anyone has done what Tiger did in expanding the demographic reach of the game." He recognized that Woods made golf cool and interesting to kids who might not have otherwise considered it. However, he also wondered if the sport still holds the same interest for kids from similar backgrounds now that Woods is no longer dominating the leaderboard.
Vance's own golf game has been complimented by former President Donald Trump, who praised his swing and appearance while playing at Mar-a-Lago. Despite their political differences in the past, Trump selected Vance as his Republican running mate for the 2024 presidential election, and they have developed a strong rapport.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, J.D. Vance plays golf. He took lessons at TPC Franklin in Ohio and worked as a cart boy at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio.
In his book, 'Hillbilly Elegy', J.D. Vance writes about his experience with golf: "During my last year in high school, I tried out for the varsity golf team". He also said, "I loved it. Still do, even though I don't play as much as I'd like".
J.D. Vance is a Republican. He was a critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 election, referring to him as "noxious" and "America's Hitler". However, he later changed his stance and became a loyal ally and defender of Trump.
J.D. Vance is a venture capitalist and author of the book "Hillbilly Elegy". He also sought to enter politics in 2021, running for the Senate seat in Ohio. In 2024, he was chosen by Donald Trump as his running mate for the presidential election.
