Trump’s Scottish Golfing Trip Sparks Debate Amidst Appeals

Former President Donald Trump‘s recent visit to Scotland, which included rounds of golf at his Turnberry resort, has drawn attention and commentary, particularly as he navigates ongoing legal appeals. While the specifics of his current legal situation are not detailed in the provided text, the article focuses on Trump’s golfing history and that of other U.S. presidents.

A Presidential Pastime: Golf in the White House

Trump’s affinity for golf is not unique among U.S. presidents. The sport, with roots tracing back to medieval Scotland, has a long history in American presidential circles. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first sitting U.S. president to golf in Scotland,playing at Turnberry in 1959. George W.Bush visited the Gleneagles course in 2005 but did not play.

William Howard Taft was the first U.S. president to golf regularly, reportedly ignoring warnings from his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt, about the perception of not working hard enough. Woodrow Wilson was an avid golfer, playing almost daily and even having his golf balls painted red for winter practice. Warren G. Harding trained his dog, Laddie Boy, to fetch his golf balls, and Lyndon B.johnson’s swing was famously described as resembling a man attempting to kill a rattlesnake.

Bill Clinton, who humorously claimed his game improved while in office, reinstated a putting green on the White House’s South Lawn, a feature originally installed by Eisenhower. Eisenhower was so fond of the game that he reportedly left cleat marks on the oval Office’s wooden floors from his trips to the putting green.

George W. Bush ceased golfing after the 2003 Iraq War began, citing concerns about public perception. Barack Obama had a golf simulator installed in the White House, which Trump later upgraded. John F. Kennedy, though he largely kept his passion for golf private during his presidency, was a member of Harvard’s golf team and narrowly missed a hole-in-one at Cypress Point Golf Club before the 1960 Democratic National Convention.

According to Mike Trostel, director of the World Golf Hall of Fame, both Trump and John F. Kennedy are considered among the most skilled golfers to have served as president. Trostel notes Trump’s handicap index as a strong 2.5, though he hasn’t posted an official round with the U.S. Golf Association since 2021. This compares to joe Biden’s handicap of 6.7 and Obama’s self-described “honest 13.” The White House has characterized Trump as a championship-level golfer who plays without a handicap.