Trump’s Golf Claims Under Scrutiny Amid Cheating Allegations
Experts Question Technique and Tournament Wins Following Social Media Videos
Recent video footage of Donald Trump on the golf course has ignited a debate about his claimed golfing prowess, with experts suggesting his technique may not align with numerous tournament victories and a low handicap. The claims come after Trump, 79, asserted another golf tournament win this past weekend.
Allegations of Impropriety Surface
The White House announced Trump had won at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, with scores of 69 and 67. However, social media clips have prompted scrutiny. Golf author Rick Reilly pointed to footage appearing to show Trump‘s caddie dropping a ball on the green, which Reilly asserts is proof of long-standing cheating.
“So you know, it’s NEVER legal for your caddie to drop a ball. YOU can drop one, but never on a green. And since this was a full-score event, it’s not legal for Trump to drag the ball into the hole,” adding “No, no, never. Our president is a f—ing golf cheat.”
—Rick Reilly, Golf Author
The former PGA Tour player Robert Macgregor, a golf coach, analyzed footage from Trump‘s visit to his Turnberry Golf Course in Scotland. Macgregor stated that Trump‘s swing technique did not appear to be one that would result in winning 18 club championships or achieving a 2.8 handicap, as previously reported by Golf Digest in 2017.
Expert Analysis Questions Golfing Credentials
Despite Trump claiming 18 club championships by 2019, with more wins accumulating since, many of these victories are reportedly at courses he owns. Craig Normansell, a U.K.-based professional golf coach, observed Trump‘s short game, noting it appeared weak.
Donald Trump’s caddie appeared to drop the ball for him on the green during a recent golf outing, a move that golf author Rick Reilly says is definitive proof of cheating. https://t.co/pXvY38E0kM
— The Hill (@thehill) August 15, 2023
YouTube golf coach **Danny Maude**, with 1.5 million followers, commented on the apparent faults in **Trump**’s swing, attributing some to age-related stiffness. **Maude** suggested that while **Trump** could hit a driver well, his “artistry” in the short game seemed lacking.
John Means, former head coach at the University of Idaho, raised concerns about the U.S. handicap system’s potential flaws. He explained that a low handicap doesn’t necessarily guarantee consistently low scores, and Trump‘s handicap could be achievable even with scores averaging over 80. Normansell estimated Trump‘s handicap to be between 12 and 18, significantly higher than the 2.8 reported.
On a bunker shot, Normansell found Trump‘s technique “out of the ordinary” and described it as appearing fearful, lacking finesse. He concluded that the claims of winning 18 club championships, especially without handicaps, seemed improbable based on his observations.
Regarding the caddie’s actions, Normansell was unequivocal. When asked if there was any scenario where a caddie dropping a ball onto the green or fairway would not be considered cheating, he responded with a laugh, stating, “No, absolutely not. No!” Publicly available data from DidTrumpGolfToday.com indicates that Trump has played golf on 24.9% of his days in office.
