Donald Trump is only slightly more talented than the most talentless celebrity out there – Kim Kardashian. Trump has made himself a celebrity by being a savvy businessman and then capitalizing on the current run of reality television shows. Prior to The Apprentice he was famous and people knew who he was, but after the run it had on NBC he has moved himself into full-fledged superstardom. He also happens to have a large sum of money and he likes to spend it on things that interest him. For better or for worse he is really interested in golf.
When he entered golf in earnest a few years ago, I was excited. If he is able to bring his money, his celebrity, and his management style to golf, then golf will benefit. And for the most part he has done that. He has taken to investing in struggling clubs, pumping big amounts of money into them, redesigning them, and making them better. Famous locations such as Doral and Turnberry had to change their names to Trump Doral and Trump Turnberry, but I am willing to put up with that if he makes the courses better. And by all accounts he has done just that.
But Donald is not content being this superstar who likes to play golf. Recently he has taken an interest in politics. In 2011 he dipped his toes in the water at the start and realized he had absolutely no chance to win the Republican nomination and even less of a chance of challenging Obama. He quickly exited stage left. Now in 2015 he is back and because he now knows the temperature of the water he has jumped in with both feet. He announced his campaign by taking on what seems to be one of his campaign talking points, immigration.
During this speech he crossed the line. Maybe he did on purpose, maybe it was a slip, either way it was polarizing. To the base of people he was speaking to, it seems to resonate with them. So much so that he is leading the poles. But in saying what he said he has given golf a really big headache. Particularly the governing bodies of the game. Mike Whan, commissioner of the LPGA Tour, who’s touring pros are headed to Trump’s Turnberry course for the Women’s British Open, basically said if the LPGA had the power and ability to change the event they would have. Trump of course fired back because he likes to have the last word, and said if you want to move it, go right ahead.
But this leaves us with the question of what should golf do with Donald. The PGA Tour is deeply tied to the Donald. Their Puerto Rico event is hosted at his course the same week that the World Golf Championship is hosted at his Trump Doral course. Not to mention there are majors scheduled at some of his courses. Primarily because he makes nice golf courses. Golf has some hard decisions to make.
I sense that this will not be the only damaging thing he says during his campaign. He is always looking for the headline, the soundbite that will catch our attentions, and as the campaign progresses he is going to need to turn up the volume, to keep people paying attention. Right now he is everywhere doing interviews with just about every media outlet and when those fires die down and it gets to be time to get the real fires going he is likely to say all sorts of nonsensical things. He is going to leave golf, particularly the powerful people like Finchem’s, Whan’s, and Davis’s in a real quandary.
The sensible thing to do is give the blanket statements like we don’t necessarily agree with what the guy says, but golf is not a political entity so we are going to just play golf. But that is not the precedent that has been set by other sports. When Donald Sterling went on his racist tirade with his then lady friend, the NBA quickly made a stand. He was out. By allowing events to be hosted at Donald’s courses it could easily be perceived that the elitist white guys who run golf don’t necessarily disagree with Trump. Golf must tread lightly.
I recommend taking the lead from the NBA, but we don’t have to go quite as far as they did. Let’s agree that for now, professional golf needs to take a break from Trump. His statements were inflammatory and crossed a line. Were they racist to the same level as Sterling, probably not, and that is why it is just a break, not a cutting of ties. The golfing powers that be should be smart enough to recognize that Trump’s chances to win are very low. So once the bright lights of the presidential campaign winds down golf can go back to business as usual. Heck, even if he wins he is likely to go back to being a celebrity president rather than this soundbite machine that we see now and everything will be forgotten.
Golf has a good amount of its own energy building now. A big crop of young talented golfers and likely in 2016 a healthy Tiger Woods. It doesn’t need the bad publicity that Donald is running around with right now.
Photo credits: © Andy Buchanan
Nice article Michael. I agree with the PGA taking a break.
Great article! I also think he said at one point that the golfing community will always support his decisions, and that golf should go back to being an elitist sport (something along those lines). And that made me very upset, because that goes against the mission of the PGA, “The PGA mission and vision is to promote and grow the game of golf at all levels and provide our current and future Members with the opportunity to maximise their career potential” (taken from pga.org). It also goes against the other golf organizations too. I don’t understand why he’d just go out and say golf supports him. How does he know? He obviously doesn’t understand the direction the golfing industry wants to take…. ok rant over…
I’d keep a low profile with Trump if possible.
What utter bollocks. Trumps comments about illegal immigration were inflammatory to lefties and Barry O’s supporters in the media. To everyone else still capable of thinking for themselves they can see the sham fake outrage generated by the eternally outraged left!
As for taking a break from Trump, somehow I highly doubt your average eternally outraged leftie really gives a toss about golf.
Essentially you are creating a problem that doesn’t exist.
Mailman
It’s not about the left, it’s about the facts. Trump panders to people like mailman who believe in right wing extremist fairy stories. Why bother with facts when you can bloviate?
The GOP birthed Trumptopia. They made it permissible to spout fire, hate, brimstone and fantasies. Forget rational arguments. Karma is a bitch, as they say.
As to golf, Trump may not go away soon. His version of frank talking is refreshing to many in comparison to the typical politician. Once politicos stop fearing, and state what they think, others who are reasonable will trump Trump.
And Trump will flame out.
Go to Google and read up on “NPD”, a personality disorder…remind you of anyone?
Oh please spare me your fake outrage Dessy. You should be more concerned with spending the next decade in opposition…which given the quality of the democrat candidates is looking more and more a foregone conclusion 🙂
Mailman
Since Mr. Trump’s comments regarding Mexican immigrants here illegally, there have been three highly public murder/rapes of American women by Mexicans here illegally. All had prior criminal records and or had been deported, one numerous times. Thank God somebody had the guts to say what needed to be said. So far as Golf distancing itself from Mr. Trump, got news for you son, that is not your call. If anyone decides that, it is likely to be Donald Trump himself. Lastly, if golf wants to distance itself from anyone, it’s crap stirrers like you. Go back to school, journalism doesn’t seem to be your cup of tea.
What I love about our sport and golfers in general is that there’s never politics spoken on the course. We enjoy the game and the group we play with.
All I know is that it’s gonna feel like an eternity for the next presidential election to come. All of the debates and political trash talk will be painful. I’ll try to stay away from the news and stick to the Golf Channel.