Former President Donald Trump marked Thanksgiving by engaging in a familiar pastime: boasting about his golfing prowess and taking a swipe at his political rival, Joe Biden. The incident occurred during a holiday phone call with US military members, where the 79-year-old couldn't resist turning a simple question into an opportunity for self-praise and mockery.
The Fairway Feud Reignites
During the call, a petty officer asked Trump if he and Biden were ever "going to play that golf match." This query sparked an immediate and detailed response from the former president. "I'd love to. I've invited him but he doesn't want to show up," Trump claimed, reigniting a long-standing point of contention between the two politicians.
This exchange echoes their first presidential debate last year, where discussions about voter concerns over their ages quickly devolved into a heated standoff over their respective golf handicaps. The debate, which occurred before Biden withdrew and Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, notably derailed as the two traded jabs about their performances on the course.
Trump's Championship Claims Scrutinised
Trump seized the moment to elaborate on his self-proclaimed golfing successes, making bold assertions about his amateur career. "I've won 38 golf championships and I don't get to practice very much," he stated, directly addressing past accusations of cheating that have dogged his golfing reputation.
He provided a specific example to bolster his claims, noting, "I won one last year. I won a club championship, beating a 27-year-old kid." Trump elaborated with a characteristic analogy: "I said 'You know, I'm decades older than you but the fairway doesn't know how old you are,' as you walk up the middle and he's in the rough."
The former president was insistent about the legitimacy of his victories, emphasising, "I've won 38 of them, every one of them legitimately. It has to be legitimate because you have a lot of people following you with club championships."
A History of Controversy on the Course
Trump's relationship with golf etiquette has long been subject to scrutiny and accusation. Prominent sportswriter Rick Reilly dedicated significant portions of his 2019 book, 'Commander in Cheat', to examining Trump's behaviour on the course. Reilly asserted that "Trump doesn't just cheat at golf. He cheats like a three-card Monte dealer. He throws it, boots it, and moves it."
The book revealed that caddies at Winged Foot, where Trump is a member, had nicknamed him 'Pele' due to his alleged habit of kicking his ball back onto the fairway. Film star Samuel L. Jackson has also previously accused Trump of cheating during a round they played together.
However, not all accounts are negative. MLB legend Roger Clemens appeared to defend Trump's abilities after playing a round with him at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia this past summer. Clemens shared a photo of their scorecard showing Trump shot a respectable 77, though he finished behind Clemens' son Kacy (69), club director John O'Leary (71), and Clemens himself (76). "For everyone asking about the scorecard! Mr. President didn't miss a fairway!!," Clemens remarked in Trump's defence.
When pressed about his specific handicap during the military call, Trump was evasive but boastful, claiming, "I guess I'm very - I got to be right around scratch or better. I beat a plus-three." He concluded with characteristic confidence, "So, I'm a good golfer," ensuring that his Thanksgiving message included both holiday greetings and a vigorous defence of his sporting reputation.
