As Donald Trump bids to become President of the United States of America, we take a look at the problem the Republican candidate is causing for the game.
Earlier this year we asked whether Donald Trump was damaging the game. Back then we bemoaned Trump’s decisions to weave golf analogies into his speeches and feared what damage a prolonged presidential campaign with Trump at the fore might cause the game.
With memories of Trump’s ego drive at last year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Turnberry still at the forefront of our minds, we shuddered about what the next year would have in store for the game. After all, when one of the game’s biggest advocates happens to be a misogynist, chauvinist and a ton of other ists to boot, and the game’s governing bodies, who profess to be working towards building a welcoming and all-inclusive game, decide to keep well under the radar on all Trump related matters, it’s not exactly great for the sport’s reputation.
Now, as the final countdown to the most controversial American election of all time gets underway, the USGA has again come under fire for its association with the Republican candidate.
With the US Women’s Open scheduled to be played at a Trump owned course in Bedminster, New Jersey next year, three democratic senators have called for the USGA to move the event in response to the recently leaked video in which he is seen bragging about sexually assaulting women.
The letter, written by Robert Casey, Richard Blumenthal and Edward Markey, highlights the LPGA’s proud history of advancing women’s equality and consequently stresses the incompatibility of staging the event at Trump National.
The USGA have kept any decision closely under wraps, presumably until election day, although it is suggested that they do not intend to switch venues.
It’s perhaps unsurprising. Had the body decided to cut ties with Trump, only for him to then become leader of the free world, there may have been serious consequences for the game. Still, their decision to go with the political winds seems an unfortunate one.
Of course, less than a year before the event, and with existing plans and sponsor commitments in place, changing the venue would prove a logistical nightmare. Nonetheless, as the senators pointed out in their letter, the staging of the showcase event of the women’s game on a course owned by someone who has a "pattern of degrading and dehumanising women" just seems plain wrong.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the game has been forced to make some tough decisions when it comes to Trump. Earlier this year the PGA announced that they would be moving the World Golf Championship away from its traditional home at Doral. Ironically, to a course in Mexico City.
You can’t help but wonder what the impact of a Trump presidency would be. Maybe he would be too busy reaping havoc elsewhere to be concerned with damaging golf’s reputation any further. In fact, if he fails to get elected next week, he may well return to extending his golf empire, which has apparently taken a hit since his bid to gain office began.
On the other hand, if elected, Trump, who reportedly plays off a 3 handicap, may set about trying to beat Barack Obama’s record of over 300 rounds of golf whilst at the helm. Only time will tell.
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