Nina Caldwell
Former US Vice President Mike Pence is not known for his golfing abilities. In fact, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, described Pence's golfing as painful in his book, Breaking History: A White House Memoir. Kushner recounted how Trump vetted Pence for the vice-presidential role by inviting him to play golf at his New Jersey resort, a round that usually takes Trump two hours, but with Pence, took four. Despite this, Pence has been known to play golf with Trump and has even stayed at Trump's Doonbeg golf resort in Ireland, although Trump later denied suggesting this.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plays golf | Yes |
| Golf partner | Donald Trump |
| Golf club | Trump International Golf Club |
| Golf club location | Doonbeg, Ireland |
| Golf club distance from meeting location | 117 miles |
| Golf club distance from meeting location (other sources) | 140 miles |
| 180 miles from Dublin (where he met the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar) | Yes |
| Used political donations to pay for golf tournament fees | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Mike Pence's golf fees were paid with political donations during his 1990 campaign
- Pence's relationship with Trump began at a golf game
- Pence stayed at Trump's golf resort in Ireland, despite meetings in Dublin
- Trump suggested Pence stay at his golf resort in Ireland
- Pence is a good golfer, according to Trump
Mike Pence's golf fees were paid with political donations during his 1990 campaign
During his 1990 congressional campaign, Mike Pence used political donations to pay for his golf tournament fees. This was in addition to using donations to pay for his mortgage, his personal credit card bill, groceries, and his wife's car payments. While the spending was not illegal at the time, it reportedly undermined his campaign and stunned voters.
Pence's golf fees were listed in FEC reports, with a $100 payment made on August 5, 1988, to cover the entry fee for the Steve Alford Golf Tournament and a $15 payment on August 23, 1988, for a Johnson County golf outing. In total, Pence spent $12,867 from his 1990 campaign account on personal expenses, including seven installments of his $992 monthly mortgage and his wife's $222 monthly car payment.
The spending prompted accusations of hypocrisy, as Pence's campaign strategy involved portraying his opponent, Rep. Philip R. Sharp, as tainted by donations from special-interest political action committees (PACs). Billy Linville, Sharp's campaign manager, called it "a brazen act of hypocrisy" and claimed that it was a defining moment in the campaign.
Despite losing the 1990 race, Pence's use of campaign funds for personal expenses led to key changes in campaign finance policies. Subsequent rules passed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) barred the use of campaign funds for personal needs, addressing the ethics concerns raised by Pence's actions.
Years later, in 2019, Pence, then serving as Vice President under Donald Trump, faced criticism for choosing to stay at Trump's golf resort in Ireland during a visit, despite his official duties taking place in Dublin. Critics accused Pence of corruption, arguing that he was using public funds to enrich his boss's private business.
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Pence's relationship with Trump began at a golf game
Just 13 days after their golf game, Trump announced Pence as his vice-presidential running mate, praising him as a "solid, solid person" who "fights for the people." This marked the beginning of a close working relationship between the two, with Pence serving as Trump's vice president during his first term. Pence supported Trump's campaign and administration, even as they disagreed on certain issues, such as the Muslim ban and Trump's frequent line about who pays tariffs.
During their time in office, Pence and Trump had a complex dynamic. Pence described their relationship as amicable, but it ultimately ended on a sour note due to their differing responses to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Pence refused to overturn the election results, despite Trump's urging, and faced danger himself as rioters stormed the Capitol, some chanting "Hang Mike Pence."
In the aftermath, Pence distanced himself from Trump, criticizing his conduct and refusing to endorse him in the 2024 election. Pence's memoir, "So Help Me God," details his perspective on their falling out, including Trump's failure to check in on his safety during the riots. Despite their initial bond formed over a shared love of golf, the relationship between Pence and Trump evolved into a complicated political alliance that ultimately dissolved.
In addition to their initial golf meeting, there are other instances where golf factored into their relationship. Pence chose to stay at Trump's golf resort in Ireland during an official visit, despite criticism of using public funds to enrich his boss' private business. This decision further linked Pence to Trump's business interests.
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Pence stayed at Trump's golf resort in Ireland, despite meetings in Dublin
In 2019, US Vice President Mike Pence chose to stay at Donald Trump's golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, despite his official meetings taking place in Dublin, located 117 to 180 miles away. This decision sparked accusations of corruption, as critics alleged that Pence used public funds to enrich his boss's private business instead of staying in the Irish capital, where hundreds of hotels were available.
Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, stated that the idea for Pence to stay at Trump's resort was a suggestion from Trump himself. Short explained that Pence was originally supposed to travel directly to Doonbeg, where his family has ancestral roots, but a late change in schedule required adjustments, and a hotel in Dublin had not been vetted by the Secret Service. He also mentioned that Trump's resort was uniquely suited to accommodate the security detail.
Pence dismissed the criticism as political attacks, emphasizing the significance of staying in the town where his great-grandmother grew up. This trip to Ireland followed a visit to Poland, where Pence met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and replaced President Trump, who opted to stay back and monitor Hurricane Dorian.
The timing of Pence's stay at Trump's resort coincided with Trump's visit to one of his properties in Virginia, marking his 227th day at a golf club since becoming president in 2017. The vice president's trip to Ireland included meetings with Irish President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and business leaders from both sides of the Atlantic. Pence's support for policies hostile to the LGBT+ community drew further criticism, especially in the context of his meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner, Dr. Matthew Barrett.
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Trump suggested Pence stay at his golf resort in Ireland
Mike Pence, Donald Trump's former vice president, has been known to play golf. In fact, Pence and Trump played a game of golf together over the July 4 holiday weekend, during which Trump invited Pence to his New Jersey golf club. This sparked speculation that Pence could be a potential running mate for Trump.
Trump later confirmed this speculation, tweeting:
> "I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M."
In 2019, Pence found himself at the center of controversy when he chose to stay at Trump's golf resort in Ireland during an official trip to the country. Despite his meetings taking place in Dublin, Pence opted to stay at the Trump International Golf Club in Doonbeg, which is located on the west coast of Ireland, roughly 117-180 miles away from the capital.
Pence's decision to use public funds to pay for his stay at his boss's private business led to accusations of corruption. Critics argued that he should have stayed in Dublin, where there are plenty of hotels, instead of incurring additional travel costs by staying at the Trump resort. Ted Lieu, a Democratic congressman for California, tweeted:
> "You took an oath to the Constitution, not to [Donald Trump]. Funneling taxpayer money to [the president] by staying at this Trump resort is sooooooo corrupt."
However, Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, defended the decision, saying that it was Trump's suggestion for Pence to stay at his resort. Short told reporters:
> "I don't think it was a request, like a command... I think that it was a suggestion... It's like, 'Well, you should stay at my place.'... It's a facility that could accommodate the team. Keep in mind, the Secret Service has protected that facility for him, too, so they sort of know the realities, they know the logistics around that facility."
Pence himself dismissed the criticism as "political attacks," stating that it was important for him to stay in the town where his great-grandmother grew up and that Trump's resort could uniquely accommodate his security detail.
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Pence is a good golfer, according to Trump
Former US Vice President Mike Pence is an avid golfer. In fact, it was a golf game that sparked his partnership with former US President Donald Trump. Over the July 4 holiday weekend, Trump invited Pence to his New Jersey golf club, marking the beginning of their political alliance. Although Pence described Trump as a "very good golfer" who "beat me like a drum", it was Pence's golfing skills that reportedly caught Trump's eye.
Trump, impressed by Pence's golfing abilities, selected him as his vice-presidential running mate just 13 days after their initial golf game. This decision came as a surprise to many, as Pence had only recently joined the list of potential vice-presidential candidates. Despite their eventual divergence on certain issues, Trump's initial interest in Pence was sparked by their shared love for golf, and Pence's golfing abilities played a role in his selection as Trump's running mate.
Pence's golfing prowess continued to make headlines during his tenure as Vice President. In 2019, Pence chose to stay at Trump's golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, despite his official duties taking place in Dublin. This decision sparked accusations of corruption, as critics argued that Pence was using public funds to enrich his boss's private business. However, Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, defended the decision, citing security concerns and Pence's ancestral connection to the area.
Trump himself later denied having any influence over Pence's choice of accommodation, tweeting that he "had nothing to do with the decision." However, Short maintained that it was Trump who suggested the resort, as he had planned to be in Doonbeg for family reasons. Whether or not Trump's suggestion constituted a direct command is unclear, but the incident highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of mixing politics with personal business interests.
While Pence's golfing skills may have initially caught Trump's attention, their political partnership evolved beyond shared recreational interests. As Pence stated, he supported Trump because he believed the country needed change. This sentiment, combined with their golfing connection, laid the foundation for their political alliance, even as their relationship would later sour due to their divergence on other issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mike Pence does golf. In fact, Pence and Donald Trump first met at Trump's New Jersey golf club, where Trump beat Pence "like a drum".
Yes, in 2019, Pence stayed at Donald Trump's golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, despite his official meetings taking place in Dublin, on the other side of the country.
Yes, critics accused Pence of corruption for using public funds to enrich his boss's private business. Citizens for Ethics, a Washington D.C. watchdog, also criticised the decision, stating that "the priority is always making Trump money".
