Donald Trump has never been shy about his golf game. He has claimed titles, boasted about his handicap, and built some of the most talked-about courses in the world. But one claim stands above the rest, not because of the championship he won, but because of the number he shot to win it.
A 67 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Five under par. Good enough to win the Senior Club Championship and, as it turned out, eight strokes better than what Phil Mickelson had posted at the very same course just weeks earlier.
Trump announced the round on Truth Social, getting ahead of the skeptics before they could even react. “No hanky/lanky,” he wrote, pointing to his Secret Service detail as proof the round was above board. The defense only made the story bigger.
A six-time major champion had played Bedminster and shot 75. Trump was claiming 67. That gap is what turned a club championship announcement into a story people are still talking about.
What did Donald Trump claim about his golf score?
Back in 2023, Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he won the Senior Club Championship at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster by posting a spectacular round of 67.
This personal milestone instantly drew direct comparisons to the professional scorecarded at the exact same New Jersey venue just two weeks prior. During that stretch, the course hosted a premier LIV Golf tournament featuring some of the world’s absolute best players.
Trump claimed 67 was eight strokes lower than Mickelson’s final-round 75 at LIV Golf Bedminster 2023. Trump also explicitly noted that onlookers should not be skeptical of the low number, stating that many people watched him play throughout the afternoon.
He even mentioned that his constant Secret Service detail served as an unintentional oversight committee to prove the legitimacy of his scorecard. To further back up his claim, Trump shared the contact information of the club’s head professional so skeptics could call and verify the tournament results.
Fun fact: Donald Trump has owned and developed a massive portfolio of golf properties around the globe, which includes over 15 golf courses spread across multiple countries.
How do the golf course conditions compare?
Golf experts immediately highlighted that a club championship layout features vastly different setup conditions than a tournament course prepared for touring professionals. When elite fields compete, the grass in the rough is grown much longer, and the putting surfaces are rolled to extreme speeds. These demanding factors drastically increase the difficulty of the course and lead to higher scores for everyone in the field.
Furthermore, the physical yardage of the course plays a monumental role in the overall score. During the professional event, players faced a grueling test stretching over 7,500 yards from the championship tees. Senior club events routinely utilize shorter tee boxes that reduce the distance on every single hole for amateur players.
This crucial difference allows players to hit shorter approach clubs into the greens, making a score of 67 much more attainable than it would be during a professional tournament setup.
Fun fact: The United States Golf Association officially maintains the Handicap Index system, which allows golfers of completely different skill levels to compete fairly against one another on any course.
What is Donald Trump’s history with the game of golf?
Donald Trump has been an avid and passionate golfer for decades, frequently playing alongside top-tier professionals and celebrities at his various resorts. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a highly competitive player who possesses a surprisingly strong game for his age group. Many professional golfers who have shared a cart with him have complimented his driving ability and solid putting stroke on the greens.
However, his athletic exploits on the course have also faced a fair share of scrutiny from various sports journalists and fellow players over the years. Several books and articles have detailed humorous or questionable stories regarding his strict adherence to the official rules of golf during casual weekend rounds. Despite the persistent chatter from his critics, Trump remains fiercely proud of his golfing abilities and regularly boasts about his numerous club championship trophies.
Why do amateur tournament rules differ from professional guidelines?
The governing bodies of golf establish distinct tournament guidelines for amateur club championships to ensure the game remains accessible and enjoyable for everyday players.
While professional tours enforce rigid, unyielding rules under strict tournament conditions, local club events focus on fair and realistic competition for local members. These local club regulations often accommodate varying physical abilities, particularly in senior divisions where players face different yardage requirements.
The score was eight strokes better than Mickelson’s final-round 75. For instance, club events frequently allow subtle adjustments for course maintenance issues or specialized pacing rules to keep the field moving efficiently.
Fun fact: Professional golfer Phil Mickelson became the oldest player to ever win a major championship when he captured the PGA Championship trophy in 2021 at the age of 50.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump claimed he shot a 67 at Bedminster to win the Senior Club Championship.
- The score was eight strokes better than Mickelson’s final-round 75.
- Experts pointed out that professional tournaments use much harder course setups and longer tees.
- Trump defended his score by pointing to witnesses and his surrounding Secret Service detail.
- The golf world viewed the comparison as an entertaining headline rather than an equal sporting metric.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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