Ava Romero
Former US President Donald Trump's love for golf is well-known, with the 79-year-old hitting the golf course several times a month. While the exact number of times he played golf is unknown, various sources and estimates indicate that he played golf at least 142 times during his presidency, with 428 out of 1461 days (nearly a quarter) of his first term spent at golf clubs or courses. Trump's golfing has attracted criticism due to the financial cost to taxpayers, with his trips estimated to have cost $142 million, and for his frequent visits to his own properties, which directly benefited his businesses. Despite pledging not to have time to play golf during his presidential campaign, Trump golfed 11 times during his first eight weeks in office and continued to play throughout his term, with golf affecting American diplomacy and his relationships with foreign leaders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times Trump played golf during his first 8 weeks in office | 11 |
| Number of times Obama played golf during his first 8 weeks in office | 0 |
| Number of times Trump visited a Trump Organization property during his presidency | 428 |
| Number of days of Trump's first presidency | 1,461 |
| Number of rounds of golf played by Trump during his first presidency | 261 |
| Number of times Trump visited Trump-owned golf courses between January 2017 and January 3, 2018 | 92 |
| Number of times Trump played golf with members of Congress | 7 |
| Number of days of Trump's presidency during which he played golf | 7 out of 29 |
| Number of daytime visits to golf clubs since Trump became president | 285 |
| Number of times Trump played golf since becoming president | 142 (as of November 8, 2020) |
| Number of rounds of golf played by Obama during his presidency | 306 |
| Number of rounds of golf played by Obama during his first term | 105 |
| Number of times Trump visited his properties during his first term | 547 |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's golf trips cost taxpayers millions
During his presidential campaign in 2016, Donald Trump pledged to the American people that he would not have time to play golf, famously stating, "I'm going to be working for you. I'm not going to have time to play golf." However, Trump's frequent golfing trips have become a source of controversy, with critics arguing that they have cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
Trump's love for golf is well-known, and he has been an avid player even in his older years. As a private citizen, he often mocked his predecessor, Barack Obama, for taking time off to play golf during his presidency. However, Trump's own golfing habits during his time in office have drawn scrutiny. It is estimated that Trump played 261 rounds of golf during his first term, visiting a Trump Organization property on 428 out of 1,461 days.
Trump's golfing trips have incurred significant expenses, including Air Force One flights to Mar-a-Lago, Secret Service protection, and accommodation. According to TrumpGolfCount.com, his golfing trips have cost taxpayers $142 million, with flights to Mar-a-Lago accounting for $59 million. The website also estimates that Trump played golf on at least 142 occasions as of November 2020.
The financial implications of Trump's golfing extend beyond the direct costs of his trips. As president, Trump retained ownership of the Trump Organization, and his frequent visits to his own properties resulted in payments from US agencies to Mar-a-Lago and other Trump properties. The Trump Organization has been criticized for charging exorbitant rates to the Secret Service and other government agencies, such as $1,815 per room per night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. These rates are significantly higher than those charged to other guests, including foreign dignitaries.
Trump's golfing trips have also impacted American diplomacy. For instance, Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, played golf with Trump five times, fostering a close personal relationship between the two leaders. Trump's golfing habits have sparked controversy, with critics pointing to the irony of his pledges during the campaign and the financial burden his trips have placed on taxpayers. While the exact costs of Trump's golfing trips are challenging to determine, it is clear that they have resulted in substantial expenses for the American public.
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Trump's golfing frequency vs. his predecessor
While campaigning to become president, Donald Trump stated that he would be working for the people and would not have time to play golf. However, during his presidency, Trump frequently played golf, generating controversy regarding the amount of time he spent on the golf course.
Trump golfed 11 times during his first eight weeks in office, while his predecessor, Barack Obama, did not play golf at all during his first eight weeks as president. Over Obama's two terms, he played 306 rounds of golf, averaging 333 rounds of golf during his eight-year presidency, or 35 confirmed rounds per year. In contrast, Trump is estimated to have played 261 rounds of golf during his first term, visiting a Trump Organization property on 428 out of 1,461 days, or one in every 5.6 days. Trump's average time between golf rounds was lower than Obama's, and he often visited his own golf courses, with 92 visits recorded between his inauguration in January 2017 and January 3, 2018.
Trump's love for golf has also influenced American diplomacy. For example, Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, played golf with Trump five times, fostering a close personal relationship between the two leaders. Trump's golfing frequency has attracted scrutiny, with critics arguing that it reflects poorly on his work ethic and that the cost of his golfing trips, estimated at $142 million, is a burden on taxpayers.
In summary, while Trump criticized Obama for golfing too much, data suggests that Trump played more golf during his presidency, with a higher frequency of visits to golf courses. Trump's golfing has been a notable aspect of his public image and has had implications for his relationships with both domestic politicians and foreign leaders.
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Trump's golf trips and their impact on diplomacy
During his time as president, Donald Trump's frequent golfing trips generated controversy. Despite pledging to "be working for" the American people and claiming he would not "have time to play golf" during his 2016 campaign, Trump golfed 11 times during his first eight weeks in office. By the time of his 2024 reelection campaign, Trump had visited Trump Organization properties on 428 of his first presidency's 1,461 days and is estimated to have played 261 rounds of golf, or one round every 5.6 days.
Trump's golfing trips have had an impact on diplomacy, both in terms of international relations and domestically. In February 2017, Trump invited the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, to play at the Trump International Golf Club. Abe played golf with Trump five times, helping the two leaders to become personally close. Following Trump's victory in the 2024 election, the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, reportedly took up golf again to similarly benefit his country's relationship with the US. Trump's golfing trips have also been used to court foreign investors, with invitations to his Virginia golf club offered to those who invest the most.
Trump's domestic golf trips have also had diplomatic implications. Vice President Mike Pence stayed at the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Ireland in 2019 while meeting with Irish officials in Dublin. Trump suggested that Pence stay at the Trump property, despite it being a significant detour requiring daily flights of over an hour each way. Trump's trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida have also been a source of controversy, with critics arguing that they are a drain on county resources and that Trump is enriching himself by having Secret Service agents stay at his properties. According to the Government Accountability Office, federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago during Trump's first term, with a portion of that money going directly to Trump.
Trump's golfing trips have also been defended as opportunities for the president to develop "deeper and better relationships with members of Congress." Trump has played golf with members of Congress and key Washington, D.C. figures, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and GOP Senators Eric Schmitt, Rand Paul, and Lindsey Graham.
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Trump's golf handicap
Golf has been a significant part of Donald Trump's life, with the former president owning several golf courses and frequently playing the sport. Trump's love for the game has even influenced American diplomacy, as he formed a personal bond with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over several rounds of golf.
Trump's golfing prowess has been a topic of interest, with the former president often boasting about his skills. While his ability has been questioned, he reportedly had a handicap of 2.8, which is impressive, especially considering his age. This self-reported handicap is significantly lower than the average handicap of 5.4 for professional golfers.
Trump's handicap has been a topic of discussion among golfing enthusiasts and the media, with some questioning the accuracy of his self-reported handicap of 13, as reported by the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA). This handicap, which indicates a golfer's skill level, is used to allow players of different levels to compete fairly. Trump's reported handicap of 2.8 would place him among highly skilled golfers, while a handicap of 13 would indicate a more average skill level.
Trump's passion for golf has been well-documented, with the former president hitting the course several times a month and visiting Trump Organization golf properties frequently during his presidency. His dedication to the sport has led to some controversy, as critics have questioned the amount of time he spent golfing while in office. Despite this, Trump has continued to enjoy the game and even claimed to have won several tournaments at his own golf clubs.
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Trump's golf courses
Donald Trump's love of golf is well-known, with the former president declaring his passion for the sport in his book, *The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received*. Trump's affinity for golf has also had an impact on American diplomacy. For example, he played golf with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, on five separate occasions, fostering a closer personal relationship between the two leaders. Trump's victory in the 2024 US presidential election also influenced the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, to take up golf again, hoping to benefit his country during Trump's presidency.
Trump's first golf course, the Trump International Golf Club, opened in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1999. The land for this $45 million course was acquired through a lawsuit against Palm Beach County, Florida, after Trump purchased the Mar-a-Lago resort. By 2007, Trump owned four golf courses across the United States. However, after the 2008 financial crisis, he began buying existing golf courses and redesigning them. Trump's golf courses have hosted notable tournaments, including the LPGA Tour finale from 2001 to 2008 and the 2009 US Junior Amateur and US Junior Girls Championships. In 2014, the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) partnered with the Trump Organization, selecting Trump golf courses for the 2017 Senior PGA Championship and the 2022 PGA Championship.
Trump's golfing habits during his presidency sparked controversy. Despite criticising his predecessor, Barack Obama, for playing too much golf, Trump golfed 11 times during his first eight weeks in office. During his presidency, Trump visited Trump-owned golf courses 92 times between January 2017 and January 3, 2018, according to CNN. Trump's time on the golf course has been defended by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who stated that it allowed him to develop better relationships with members of Congress. However, Trump faced criticism for allegedly spending 22.5% of his time in office on the golf course, especially during times of crisis, such as the horrific flooding in Texas.
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Frequently asked questions
TrumpGolfCount.com estimates that Trump played golf 142 times during his presidency as of November 8, 2020. CNN reported that Trump visited Trump-owned golf courses 92 times between his inauguration in January 2017 and January 3, 2018.
TrumpGolfCount.com estimates that Trump's golfing trips have cost taxpayers $142 million. This includes $59 million spent on trips to Mar-a-Lago onboard Air Force One.
Yes, Trump played golf with members of Congress seven times. He also played with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe five times.
According to a golf tracker, Trump played golf 7 out of 29 days during his presidency. This equates to nearly a quarter of his time in office.
Yes, Trump profited from his golf outings as his businesses charged the US government to house Secret Service agents and other White House staff.
