Donald Trump threw innocent children in cages, exited the Paris Climate Accord, called Nazis “fine people,” told congresswomen to go back to the countries they came from, and insulted every “shithole country” on the planet.
A decade ago, a journalist said Americans would one day elect an “ignoramus” as president.
I never thought I’d see it in my lifetime.
The Washington Post says Trump has lied 12,000+ times in office.
This past year, a great writer revealed something as telling: he lies at golf, too!
Not little white ones. But whoppers. Lies within lies.
In Rick Reilly’s book, ‘Commander in Cheat,’ he called Don the golfing con. According to Reilly, the former Sports Illustrated feature writer, The Donald changes scores, foot-wedges his ball back into play, foot-wedges an opponent’s out of play, claims to be a single-digit handicap, has won 18 club championships, and holds numerous course records.
Those boasts are as fake as the piece of roadkill that pretends to be hair atop his head, says Reilly.
Hale Irwin, the great pro, once said, “the longer you play golf, the more certain you are that a man’s performance is the outward manifestation of who, in his heart, he really thinks he is.”
So, who does Donald Trump think he is?
A great golfer, says Reilly.
He writes: “Often Trump and his caddy ride in their own cart and will always be way ahead of you, the better to kick, foozle, or throw his ball out of the cabbage.”
A pencil with eraser is Trump’s 15th club.
His middle name should be ‘Mulligan.’
It’s not good for golf when the sport’s most famous course owner/player also plays footsie with the rule book.
Reilly’s book is golf’s answer to The Mueller Report.
They both sully the president’s name, but the eternal narcissist has fought back. He calls them liars, and their charges witch hunts.
Does everything Trump touches die? as another author and Republican strategist Rick Wilson, suggests.
If yes, then golf is now on life support.
At its best, the game is governed by a chivalric code, a set of rules that’s supported by ethical behaviour. The game is “self-policed” by the players. Or, in Trump’s case, turned into mob-like mayhem.
The great Bobby Jones once hit a drive into the woods and, when addressing his next shot, said the ball moved ever so. No one else saw it. Jones emerged to tell the scorekeeper he had incurred a stroke penalty. He was celebrated for his honesty and integrity. His famous reply was telling: “you might as well congratulate a thief for not stealing.”
Trump wouldn’t enter the woods. His ball would magically ricochet off a tree and roll into the middle of the fairway. Or he’d take a mully.
While Reilly’s book should be on everyone’s must-read list, it also leads to my annual report of the golfing season.
The very rules that Trump breaks like eggs for breakfast, have governed us since The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers chiseled the original 13 on stone tablets. But the 2019 Rules Modernization Initiative was imposed by Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the USGA. While these changes were met with resistance by the game’s Luddites, on the whole, they were welcomed.
It was a banner year for Golf Canada. Its annual report showed a $600K surplus, and although calculations are still to be completed for 2019, the artistic and fiscal success of its two major properties – the RBC Canadian Open, and CP Women’s Open – are sure to plump up this year’s numbers.
“The strong acceleration of revenue growth was a major highlight of 2018 as we strive to develop world-class properties and integrated marketing platforms that enhance Golf Canada’s brand, while delivering sustainable, pro table revenues to maximize our reinvestment into the sport,” said CEO Laurence Applebaum.
It’s a convoluted way of saying: “we’re on a roll!”
Next year’s stops are being held at venerable courses like St. George’s in Toronto, and Shaughnessy G&CC in Vancouver.
Brooke Henderson has won twice this year, propelling her past legendary names like Weir, Knudson and Post to become our all-time winningest touring pro.
Rory McIlroy became the highest profile winner of our men’s event since Tiger Woods did a one-and-done at the 2000 event at Glen Abbey.
Speaking of the Abbey, no word yet on if it will become a housing development or again join our Open rota. Will Golf Canada come up with a new permanent home for the event in the near future?
What we do know is this: by holding the RBC at St. George’s in June, a week before the U.S. Open held at Winged Foot in nearby Rochester, it almost guarantees a stronger field, and more cash and profile for golf in Canada.
Other highlights from ’19: Golf Canada’s Strategic Plan is now in place until 2022.
Golf Ontario gets kudos for holding its first Disability Championship at Woodington Lakes GC. But sadly, Bill Paul is stepping down as chief championship officer at Golf Canada. He ends a 43-year career which includes organizing the last Open at St. George’s in 2010. Holding it in the middle of a massive market like Toronto was a near-impossible task, but he did it with aplomb. He also pulled a rabbit out of his golf bag in 2000 when Tiger Woods entered the Open at the last minute and caused a huge crush for tickets, and sponsor/media requests. Paul kept his cool and scored a 10 out of 10. He’ll be missed.
The apathy of some pros getting involved in growing the game in this country is troubling, and my advice is simple: it is part of your job! Do what it takes to get more women and juniors into the sport. Also, have something to say on the issues, and make better use of your time at the golf shows. Attend. Support your associations. Network. Learn.
Thanks again to the manufacturers that put as much into the game as they take out. Take a bow, TaylorMade.
In Trumpworld, rules are made to be broken – or altered. And isn’t it all about alt these days: alt-facts, alt-rules, alt-scores, alt-club championships, alt-course records?
My father once said there’s a general accounting before we die, a final audit. If that’s true, and I think it is, then Trump’s reckoning will come in the 2020 general election. Reilly’s book could hasten his exit.
For a game I love, and play by the rules, that’s a very good thing.
