Page 15 - Golf World (February 2020)

“I think it is [possible]. I have to do everything right and have all
the pieces come together, but who knows what the future holds?”
Tiger Woods says he hasn’t given up the chase of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories.

THE BIG QUESTION

Is Donald Trump playing too much golf?

As he enters the fourth year of his Presidency, we look at how much of it has been spent on the fairways.

“I’m going to be working for played golf 306 times during Trumpgolfcount.com, a that a golf-mad Trump
you. I’m not going to have his eight years in office, website run by self-confessed spending over four hours at a
time to play golf.” roughly a round every nine data junkie Sophie Germain, golf club can mean only one
Those were the words of and a half days. Trump’s calculates that Trump has thing, that equates to more
Donald Trump, late 2016, in numbers are somewhat made 228 visits to golf clubs than six rounds per month,
the midst of his campaign to harder to track as he tends to since being sworn in, with at which arguably is a lot for a
be elected President of the be less open about when he least 107 of those being man with so much on his
United States. He was is and isn’t playing golf. He confirmed as times Trump plate.
criticising the outgoing has spent over 200 days at definitely played golf. Either way, Trump has
President, Barack Obama, golf clubs, but it’s impossible The Washington Post’s played more golf in the first
saying, “Can you believe to know whether he Philip Bump, meanwhile, three years of his presidency
that with all the actually played calculates that Trump played than the man he criticised for
problems and difficulties on all of those golf 77 times in the first year playing too much. If Trump is
facing the U.S., President occasions. Trump of his Presidency alone. re-elected and serves
Obama spent the day owns many golf Clearly, Trump is entitled another four years, he may
playing golf?” Trump’s courses and could to time off and to spend it well overtake Obama’s total,
election campaign be using the playing golf. If you give him but he’ll have to up his game
was successful, facilities to the benefit of the doubt and to become the most golf-
but has he conduct assume he has only played obsessed President in history.
stayed true to meetings, 107 times in nearly three That title belongs to
his promise? without even years as President, that is less President Woodrow Wilson,
Obama is swinging a than one round every 10 who clocked up nearly 1,200
believed to have club. days. If you take it as read rounds from 1913 to 1919.

240
220
200 THE PRESIDENT’S
180 PLAYTIME
160
140
Outings 100
120

80 Obama rounds
60
40
20 Trump confirmed rounds
0
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135
Trump golf club visits
Weeks since Inauguration

golfworldtop100.com | February 2020 Golf World 15