Ava Romero
While there is no evidence that Vladimir Putin plays golf, the sport has a long history in Russia, dating back to the reign of Nicholas II. In 1891, the first golf course in the Russian Empire was established in the village of Murino, Saint Petersburg. Following the revolution of 1917, golf was forgotten until the establishment of the Golf Club Tumba Moscow in 1988. Today, there are 32 golf courses in Russia, and golfers like Maria Verchenova and Nina Pegova have represented the country in the Olympics. Interestingly, Putin has been accused of mocking former US President Donald Trump and his love for golf. In 2017, a Russian state TV show aired images of Trump playing golf, with Putin's press secretary dismissing the idea that Putin's shirtless photos were propaganda. The topic of Putin and golf gained further attention when golfers Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were asked if they would play in a hypothetical tournament hosted by the Russian President.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf courses in Russia | 32 |
| Year the first golf course in Russia was established | 1891 |
| Location of the first golf course in Russia | Village Murino, Saint Petersburg Governorate |
| Year the first 18-hole golf course in Russia was established | 1994 |
| Location of the first 18-hole golf course in Russia | Suburban area of Nakhabino near Moscow |
| Russian golfer who participated in the 2016 Olympic Games | Maria Verchenova |
| Putin's opinion on Trump's golf game | Mocking |
| Putin's involvement in golf-related events | None |
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What You'll Learn
- Putin's mockery of Trump's golf game
- Golfers Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were left speechless when asked if they would play in a tournament hosted by Putin
- Portraits of Putin adorn driving range targets at a UK golf course
- Russia's first 18-hole golf course opened in 1994
- The first golf course in the Russian Empire was established in 1891
Putin's mockery of Trump's golf game
In 2017, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, warned that Russian state TV was personally mocking President Donald Trump and his golf game. The state-owned channel, Rossiya 1, aired an episode of its news discussion show, 60 Minutes, which dedicated a segment to Trump's golf game, comparing it to propaganda. The show's host dismissed photos of Putin's shirtless fishing trip as "another propagandist photo album" and accused Western media outlets of unkind coverage. In contrast, Trump's golf trip was presented as an example of propaganda by the Russian state TV.
The ex-ambassador's warning came amid increasing mockery aimed at Trump in Russia, despite an early tide of optimism when he was elected. Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, had made disparaging remarks about the Trump administration's approach to Russia. The 60 Minutes episode also featured criticism of Barack Obama's holiday and Justin Trudeau's tartan kilt, in addition to the segment on Trump's golf game.
While there is no direct evidence of Putin personally mocking Trump's golf game, the state-owned media in Russia, which is largely controlled by the Kremlin, was used to disparage Trump's golfing image. This incident highlights the complex relationship between the two leaders and the geopolitical tensions between their nations.
In recent years, there have been instances of golf being used as a form of protest against Putin. In March 2022, a golf course in the United Kingdom, Grove Golf and Bowl, added giant pictures of Putin to its driving range targets, inviting golfers to "knock some sense" into the Russian leader while raising money for Ukraine. This creative initiative allowed golfers to channel their anger towards Putin and the war in Ukraine, providing a unique form of relief and contributing to a humanitarian cause.
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Golfers Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were left speechless when asked if they would play in a tournament hosted by Putin
Golfers Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were left speechless when asked by a reporter whether they would consider playing in a golf tournament hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This question was posed to them following their decision to play in the controversial Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Poulter and Westwood were speaking ahead of the inaugural LIV Golf event at Centurion Club in St Albans, where they were joined by their Majesticks team members and fellow Englishmen Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter. The two golfers defended their decisions to sign up for the Saudi-backed Series, despite concerns over the origin of the funding being used, including allegations of sportswashing.
When asked about playing in a tournament hosted by Putin, Poulter initially responded, "That's just speculation, I'm not even going to comment on speculation." The reporter persisted, asking, "In a generality, is there any way you wouldn't play on a moral basis? If the money was right, is there any way you wouldn't play?" Poulter took a sip of water and, after an awkward pause, simply stated, "I don't need to answer that question."
The journalist then turned to Westwood, asking if he would like to answer. The reporter further probed, "Would you have played in apartheid South Africa, for example?" Westwood replied, "You're just asking us to answer a hypothetical question, which we can't answer." The journalist pushed back, stating that they were "moral questions." Ultimately, both Poulter and Westwood refused to directly address the question of whether there is anywhere in the world they wouldn't play.
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Portraits of Putin adorn driving range targets at a UK golf course
Golfers at a UK course are being invited to take their frustrations out on Russian President Vladimir Putin by hitting balls at his face. Grove Golf and Bowl in Leominster, Herefordshire, has added giant portraits of Putin to its driving range targets. The golf course is asking customers to "knock some sense" into the Russian leader while raising money for the people of Ukraine.
Owner Roger Helme, who owns the center with his family, said: "Like everyone, we have been watching the news, feeling helpless as the situation unfolds." Ten percent of all takings will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian appeal.
Regular customer Will Maguire, 37, from Hereford, said: "I won't lie, it is pretty satisfying to crack a ball off Putin's face and gets rid of a lot of stress. [...] It's a fun way to raise money for what is just an awful, unimaginable situation and anything that can help the Ukrainian people has got to be a good thing." Another golfer, Danny Frampton, 42, of Leominster, said: "It certainly helps improve your game as I couldn't stop aiming for him. At one point, you had about 20 golfers all going for the same target. It was quite funny really. It's a great feeling when you land a ball off his bonce. I think it's a brilliant idea and a great way to help out in a small way as everybody has been mortified by what they have been seeing unfold over there."
The UK is not the only place where people are taking out their anger on the Russian president. In March 2022, a video went viral on social media showing a man in Ukraine using a photo of Putin for target practice with a rifle.
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Russia's first 18-hole golf course opened in 1994
Russia's first 18-hole golf course, the Moscow Country Club, was opened in 1994. The course is located in the suburban area of Nakhabino, near Moscow. The development of golf in Russia began with the establishment of the first Golf Club in Moscow in 1988—the Golf Club Tumba Moscow, which was later renamed the Moscow City Golf Club (MCGC). In 1992, the Russian Golf Association was formed, recognised by the Russian Olympic Committee, the European Golf Association, and the Golf Club of St Andrews.
The Moscow Country Club was the second golf course to be built in Russia. The first golf course in the country was a 9-hole course that appeared in 1891 in the village of Murino, Saint Petersburg Governorate. This course was located where the Devyatkino railway station now stands and was named after the course. After the revolution of 1917, golf was forgotten in Russia for a long time.
The Moscow Country Club was developed by LeMeridien, and it debuted on the world stage in September 1994 with the inaugural Russian Open Championship, a 54-hole event featuring a mix of accomplished and less-skilled players. The course was built with significant investment from Russia's richest men, including Oleg Deripaska, Vlamidir Potanin, and Roman Abramovich.
The development of Russia's first 18-hole course was not without its unique stories. After finishing the course, the site manager spoke with a colonel at a nearby military base, and about 100 Russian soldiers came over to walk each hole, picking up all the small stones. Additionally, a 9-hole tournament was held in 1993, exclusively for Russians, to ensure that the first champion was a native.
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The first golf course in the Russian Empire was established in 1891
While there is no information on whether or not Putin plays golf, the history of golf in Russia dates back to the reign of Nicholas II. Interestingly, the first golf course in the Russian Empire was established in 1891, in the village of Murino, Saint Petersburg Governorate. This 9-hole course was located where the "Devyatkino" railway station now stands, bearing the name of the original course. After the revolution of 1917, golf was forgotten in Russia for a long time.
It is worth noting that the first golf club on the southern coast of France, Cannes Mandelieu Golf Club, was founded by Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich Romanov in the 19th century. This indicates that golf had some presence among the Russian aristocracy before the revolution.
The development of golf in Russia entered a new phase with the establishment of the Moscow City Golf Club (MCGC) in 1988. Previously known as the Golf Club Tumba Moscow, it gained recognition from notable golf organizations such as the Russian Olympic Committee, the European Golf Association, and the Golf Club of St Andrews.
In 1992, the Russian Golf Association was formed, based on the MCGC. The Moscow Country Club, Russia's second golf course, opened its doors in 1994. It was not until 18 years later, in 2004, that the Golf Club in the Krylatskoe area near Serebryany Bor became the first to open. This course was designed by the renowned English company RMJM, known for their work on golf courses in the USA and Europe.
Today, Russia boasts 32 golf courses, with the ANCO "International Center of Golf Tourism" working to enhance the country's reputation in the world of golf and attract inbound golf tourists. Despite these developments, golf in Russia has faced recent setbacks. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian golfers were banned from competing in tournaments under the International Golf Federation (IGF) and the European Golf Association.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no evidence that Putin plays golf. However, in 2017, an ex-US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, warned that Putin was mocking then-US President Donald Trump and his golf game.
Yes, in 2022, golfers Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were asked by a reporter whether they would consider playing in a golf tournament if it was hosted by Putin. Both golfers refused to answer.
Yes, the first golf course in the Russian Empire appeared in 1891 in the village of Murino, Saint Petersburg Governorate. Today, there are 32 golf courses in Russia.
In 2022, a golf course in the United Kingdom added giant portraits of Putin to their driving range targets. The family-owned business planned to donate the proceeds to help the Ukrainian people.
No, Putin has never hosted a golf tournament.
