Trevor Ng
Former US President Donald Trump has been known for his love of golf, with some suggesting he loves the game more than being president. Trump has been playing golf since his time at Fordham University and has acquired and constructed golf courses since 1999. By 2016, he owned 17 golf courses worldwide through the Trump Organization. Trump has played a significant number of golf rounds during his presidency, with 35 trips to his golf courses in New Jersey, Florida, and Virginia in his first six months in office. His golfing habits have drawn criticism and sparked discussions about potential conflicts of interest and the cost of Secret Service protection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf courses owned by Trump | 17 worldwide as of 2016 |
| Number of trips to golf courses in his first six months in office | 35 |
| Number of trips to Florida golf courses in his first six months in office | 14 |
| Number of trips to Virginia golf courses in his first six months in office | 13 |
| Number of trips to New Jersey golf courses in his first six months in office | 8 |
| Number of times Trump played golf during his first term | 261 |
| Number of times Trump played golf since taking office in January 2025 | 40 |
| Year Trump began acquiring and constructing golf courses | 1999 |
| Year Trump opened his first golf course | 1999 |
| Number of golf courses owned by Trump as of 2007 | 4 |
| Number of lawsuits filed against Trump claiming that foreign payments at his golf courses violate the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's golf habits as President
Donald Trump's golfing habits have been a topic of interest for many since he became president. Trump's love for golf is well-known, with some suggesting it is his greatest passion. This has led to criticism and even warnings from the American public about the frequency of his golfing trips.
During his first six months in office, Trump made 35 trips to his golf courses in New Jersey, Florida, and Virginia. This equates to a golf trip every 5.6 days. In total, Trump played 261 rounds of golf during his first term, and as of July 2025, he had played 40 rounds since taking office again in January, averaging a round every 4.4 days.
Trump's golfing has also been the subject of controversy due to the potential conflicts of interest it presents. As a real estate developer, Trump began acquiring and constructing golf courses in 1999. By 2016, he owned 17 golf courses worldwide through the Trump Organization. Despite criticism, Trump chose not to divest from these business holdings when he became president, a decision that led to ethical concerns and lawsuits claiming violations of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Trump's golfing has also had an impact on 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 habits as president have certainly left their mark, both domestically and on the global stage.
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Trump's golf courses
Former US President Donald Trump owns several golf courses worldwide through his holding company, the Trump Organization. Trump's love for golf is well-known, with the former president even stating in his book, "The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received", that "golf is more than a game. It is a passion".
Trump's first golf course, the Trump International Golf Club, opened in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1999. By 2007, he owned four courses across the US. Trump acquired and constructed more golf courses after the 2008 financial crisis, often redesigning existing ones. As of 2016, he owned 16 golf courses, with 12 in the United States, two in Scotland, one in Ireland, and one in the United Arab Emirates. There are also plans to open three more golf properties in Indonesia and Dubai.
Trump's ownership of golf courses has also been a subject of controversy. At least three lawsuits were filed, alleging that foreign payments received at his golf courses and hotels violated the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution. Additionally, Trump's decision not to divest from his business holdings, including his golf courses, after becoming president led to criticism from ethics lawyers and journalists for potential conflicts of interest.
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Golf's influence on Trump's diplomacy
Former US President Donald Trump is a well-known golf enthusiast, having played 261 times during his first term in office, and 40 times since taking office in January 2025. Trump's love of golf has influenced his diplomacy in several ways. Firstly, it has provided an opportunity for relationship-building with other world leaders. For example, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played golf with Trump five times, fostering a close personal relationship between the two leaders. Following Trump's 2024 election victory, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took up golf again to benefit his country's relationship with the US.
Trump has also used his golf courses as centres of power and influence, hosting foreign dignitaries, meeting with members of Congress, and signing executive orders at his properties. This has led to accusations of corruption, with special interest groups, foreign governments, and political committees holding events at Trump's properties in an attempt to gain access to the president and his administration.
Trump's ownership of golf courses has also caused controversy due to potential conflicts of interest. Despite criticism, Trump chose not to divest from his business holdings after his election, including his golf courses. This led to concerns from ethics lawyers and journalists about the potential for influence-peddling.
Trump's interest in golf has also influenced his approach to international relations. In 2014, he purchased the Turnberry course in Scotland with the expectation of hosting the Open Championship. This caused a backlash from environmentalists, as the development resulted in the site losing its status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Overall, Trump's love of golf has had a significant impact on his diplomatic approach, with world leaders viewing the sport as a tool for gaining influence and access to the president.
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Trump's golf partners
Donald Trump's love for golf is well-known. He has been playing the sport since his university days and has golfed with several celebrities, athletes, and politicians over the years.
Trump's regular golf partners include close political allies like South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Rudy Giuliani, and Mick Mulvaney. In 2019, Trump tweeted a photo of him golfing with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. He has also golfed with golf stars Nicklaus and Woods separately on multiple occasions. In February 2017, Trump golfed with former New York Yankees MLB baseball star Paul O'Neill and McIlroy.
Trump has also used golf as a networking opportunity. In June 2017, Bob Corker, then a Tennessee Republican senator, enraged Trump with his comments about the administration. Hoping to de-escalate, Corker's aides asked the White House to arrange a meeting between the two men on the golf course. They were joined by former star NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and Andrew Giuliani, the son of Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. In March 2023, Trump golfed with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in West Palm Beach and discussed the war in Ukraine, Russia, and global security.
Trump has also golfed with Kid Rock and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. According to Paul, the two mostly focused on golf but also discussed Trump's tax policies.
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Golf's impact on Trump's business
Golf has had a significant impact on Trump's business ventures, both positively and negatively. Trump's love for the game is well-known, with some arguing that he loves golf more than anything else. This passion for golf has influenced his business decisions, as he began acquiring and constructing golf courses as early as 1999. By 2007, Trump owned four golf courses in the United States, and by 2016, he owned 17 golf courses worldwide through his holding company, the Trump Organization.
Trump's ownership of golf courses has provided him with a platform to promote his brand and increase his business exposure. His courses have hosted various professional golf tournaments, including the LPGA Tour finale from 2001 to 2008 and the PGA Championship in 2022. These events attract a significant amount of attention and media coverage, which can boost the reputation and profitability of the host course.
However, Trump's involvement in the golf industry has also led to controversies and legal issues. His decision not to divest from his business holdings, including his golf courses, after being elected president raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. At least three lawsuits were filed, claiming that foreign payments at Trump's golf courses and hotels violated the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. While these lawsuits were dismissed, they attracted negative publicity and criticism from ethics lawyers and journalists.
Additionally, Trump's frequent golf outings during his presidency received mixed reactions. Some admired his passion for the sport, while others criticized the frequency of his golf trips, arguing that it reflected poorly on his work ethic and commitment to the presidency.
Overall, golf has been a significant aspect of Trump's business endeavours, offering both opportunities for expansion and challenges in the form of ethical concerns and public perception.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump played golf 261 times during his first term in office, which equates to a round every 5.6 days. Since the start of his second term in January 2025, he has played 40 rounds, or one every 4.4 days.
Trump owns golf courses in the United States and abroad. He has played rounds at his courses in New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, Scotland, and Ireland.
Trump began acquiring and constructing golf courses in 1999. His first course, the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, was acquired through a lawsuit against Palm Beach County. By 2016, he owned 17 golf courses worldwide.
Yes, Trump's love of golf has affected American diplomacy. For example, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe played golf with Trump five times, helping the two leaders to become personally close.
Yes, Trump has been criticised for not divesting from his business holdings, including his golf courses, after his election. This has led to concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, his frequent golf outings have drawn warnings from the American public.
