Barack Obama’s old comments about Donald Trump’s golf game are drawing fresh attention after Trump’s latest club championship victory, putting his ability and scorekeeping under the spotlight again. The former president paired a compliment with a pointed joke about Trump’s scoring.
Trump has continued to present himself as a highly accomplished golfer, most recently celebrating a 70 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. That combination has made the old exchange relevant again for golf fans.
While Trump’s framing of his score of 70 as proof of natural talent has won praise from his supporters, critics remain quick to point out that these claims continue to be met with skepticism.
Obama gave Trump credit before taking the shot
Obama made the comments during a December 2020 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, when he was asked whether he would play golf with Trump.
Obama said Trump was “actually a pretty good golfer,” but then added that there were “sometimes problems with the scoring” and whether Trump was keeping track of his strokes.
Obama’s line revived a longstanding controversy surrounding Trump’s scorekeeping and adherence to the rules. He did not offer firsthand evidence, as the two presidents are not known to be regular golf partners.
Why Trump’s golf game remains part of the conversation
Donald Trump has frequently highlighted his golf achievements, and his recent tournament claims have renewed discussion about his playing ability. In August 2026, Trump said he won the senior and super-senior divisions at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster after posting a 70 on a par-72 course.
Trump has also claimed numerous club championship victories at his properties. These claims have attracted both support and skepticism, but disputed accounts or criticism of scorekeeping do not by themselves establish that any golf rules were violated.
The allegations did not begin with Obama
Obama’s 2020 comments landed in a controversy that had already been discussed for years. A 2015 Washington Post investigation examined accounts from people who had played with Trump and reported allegations involving moving balls, improving lies, and scorekeeping.
Trump rejected the accusations, saying he did not need to cheat. Trump has consistently denied cheating and has argued that his golfing accomplishments speak for themselves.
Ultimately, critics view these stories as proof of a pattern, while supporters see them as unproven claims blown out of proportion by political opponents. As a result, the truth behind his golf game remains a matter of personal opinion.
Fun fact: Obama and Tiger Woods teamed up in a 2013 round at a Florida course, and it was reported that Woods praised Obama’s short game and athletic ability.
Trump’s record adds another layer
Trump’s golf history is unusual because many of his competitive victories have come at courses he owns. That has allowed him to compete regularly while also drawing attention to the setting in which he earned his titles.
Still, the location does not automatically invalidate his results or prove that any rules were broken. It does, however, help explain why questions about his golf record attract attention and why each new victory is examined so closely.
The bigger story is the contrast
The renewed interest isn’t simply about whether Trump can shoot a low score. It is about the contrast between his confidence as a golfer and the long-running questions surrounding how some rounds have been recorded.
Obama’s comment works because it contains both sides of that story. He acknowledged that Trump has genuine golfing ability while joking about whether the scorecard always tells the whole story.
That distinction matters. Trump can be a capable golfer and still face criticism over disputed accounts from past rounds. Likewise, criticism of his scorekeeping does not erase evidence that he can hit quality golf shots.
A disputed record is difficult to verify
Trump’s golf achievements are often reported through his own announcements or results from tournaments held at properties he owns. That does not automatically invalidate them, but it can make independent verification more difficult.
The distinction is important: a strong score may demonstrate real golfing ability, while a championship claim still depends on the event’s format, field, and available records. Without complete outside documentation, the public is left weighing Trump’s account against longstanding criticism from former playing partners.
Why Obama’s old remark still resonates
Obama’s line remains memorable because it wasn’t a blanket dismissal of Trump as a golfer. Instead, it separated the player’s quality from the score’s credibility.
That is why the remark has resurfaced now. Trump’s latest championship gives fans a new performance to discuss, while Obama’s old comment provides context for why impressive scores can attract extra scrutiny.
The evidence supports a careful conclusion rather than a definitive accusation. Trump is an accomplished and highly visible golfer; he has repeatedly denied cheating, and allegations about his scorekeeping remain contested.
Fun fact: In a 2016 Golf Channel interview, Obama described himself as an “honest 13” handicap. He said his irons were good, his driving was straight but not especially long, and his sand game was his biggest weakness.
TL;DR
- Obama praised Trump as a “pretty good golfer” in 2020 before joking about problems with his scoring.
- Trump has repeatedly denied cheating and continues to claim club victories at his courses.
- His latest Bedminster championship and reported 70 have revived discussion around his golf record.
- Questions about his scorekeeping date back years and remain allegations rather than proven findings.
- Obama’s remark stands out because it acknowledged Trump’s ability while questioning the credibility of his scores.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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