🏌️♂️ Golf, Governance, and the Optics of Leisure: Trump’s 2025 Tee Sheet
- Ian Miller
- Aug 17
- 2 min read
By Ian Kydd Miller : Photographer, writer, and observer of presence in politics and process
Introduction
In a year marked by economic uncertainty, diplomatic tension, and environmental reckoning, President Donald Trump has spent nearly 25% of his presidency on the golf course. With 50 rounds played as of mid-August 2025, the optics of leisure have once again collided with the responsibilities of leadership.
This post isn’t about scorecards or swing mechanics. It’s about presence, priorities, and the cost—literal and symbolic—of presidential recreation.
The Numbers Behind the Swing
Trump’s 2025 golf outings span seven months, with rounds played at:
Trump International Golf Club (Florida)
Trump National Doral (Miami)
Trump Aberdeen (Scotland)—opened in June with a $10 million taxpayer tab
Estimated total cost to taxpayers: $70 million, covering Air Force One travel, Secret Service logistics, and international accommodations.
The Controversies
🏢 Business and Politics
Trump’s frequent use of his own properties raises familiar concerns about conflict of interest. Public funds flow into private resorts, blurring the line between governance and self-promotion.
🎥 Rule-Bending and Spectacle
A viral clip from Scotland allegedly shows a caddie improving Trump’s lie—a small moment, perhaps, but one that echoes larger questions about integrity and image management.
🌍 Golf Diplomacy
Rounds with foreign leaders—like Finnish President Alexander Stubb—are framed as informal diplomacy. But critics argue that golf isn’t governance, and that such meetings lack transparency and accountability.
The Optics of Leisure
In a presidency defined by spectacle, golf becomes more than a pastime—it’s a stage. Trump’s supporters see strength in his swagger; his critics see distraction, indulgence, and detachment.
The deeper question: What does it mean when a leader chooses leisure over presence? When the frame is filled with manicured greens and private jets, what stories go untold?
Historical Context
Compared to past presidents:
Trump’s golf frequency exceeds Obama, Bush, and Biden
His use of private properties and international travel makes his outings uniquely costly and controversial
Final Thoughts
Golf isn’t inherently unethical. Leisure, when balanced, can be restorative. But when the presidency becomes a personal brand, and the fairway a runway for power, we must ask: What stories are being told—and sold—on the back nine?
In a time when presence is needed most, perhaps the real championship lies not in a score of 68, but in showing up for the people, the planet, and the process.
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