In a recent outfit, we see the former president Donald Trump golfing in Scotland. It has roused a passionate discussion about the sport’s integrity, particularly around the idea of an essential tenet like playing the ball as it lies. While the specific practice shown in this viral video – an aide discreetly dropping a golf ball just outside a bunker – is likely illegal. This leaves open the question of whether Trump has broken the accepted norms of golfing etiquette.
Playing the ball as it lies is one of the most sacredly held principles of our game. Rule 9 from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) places great emphasis on them. Players have to commit to their lie and find the best resolution, even if it’s tough. Only then do they have a chance to take their shot from that position. Observers noted that Trump jumped from his golf buggy, club in hand, and seemingly rushed toward a favorable lie, which some critics interpret as an avoidance of the rules.
Rick Reilly, author of Commander in Cheat, has been blowing the whistle on Trump’s cheating on the golf course for years. He noted that the Trump brand is known largely for skirting the rules. He claims that Trump “fudges and foozles and fluffs,” and supposedly even likened him to Pelé at the famed U.S. Knollwood Club Fairways for frequently kicking the ball back onto the fairway. This description is indicative of an anti-competitive trend that many feel is damaging the integrity of the sport.
Tom Nichols, a political commentator, likened Trump’s actions on the course to a scene in the James Bond film “Goldfinger,” noting that while this incident may not be the worst aspect of Trump’s character, it certainly raises eyebrows.
Dame Laura Davies, a renowned golfer, emphasized the importance of playing the game correctly, remarking, “No golfer ever wants to be associated with getting away with something.” She said one of the few sports where competitors self-referee, integrity is first and foremost in golf.
By way of extreme counterexample to Trump’s reported actions, pro golfer Justin Thomas displayed uncommonly good sportsmanship just a few weeks ago. At a recent tournament in South Carolina, he threw a penalty flag on himself after realizing his ball had moved. This move further cements the spirit of play honestly in golf, a practice that most agree to uphold on the course to help keep the sport’s integrity intact.
Golf commentator Andrew Cotter chimed in on the backlash against Trump’s new video. He agreed that, without context, the video looked “very, very bad,” but then admitted he didn’t know what was going on. In an interview with NBC, Cotter emphasized the backdoor and secretive manner in which Trump’s aide missed the mark. He dismissed it as “dodgy” and raised further speculation about potential cheating.
Liz Gray is a high-handicap amateur golfer. She was unapologetic in expressing her displeasure with the cut, referring to it as something that she “loathed.” Most golf lovers would agree with her sentiment. They feel that such incidents hold the sport back from an overall push to distance itself from its dated image.
Though many have been quick to stir up the outrage, most golf and golfing experts urge restraint in assuming Trump’s done anything wrong. That’s what they’re claiming here – that even though the video shows something suspicious, it is too early to conclude for sure that he was cheating.
The debate surrounding Trump’s golf behavior reflects broader concerns about the sport’s image. As golf works to broaden its appeal and move away from the elitist and antiquated stereotype, when the university takes actions that fly in the face of its professed values, there can be hell to pay.
Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball where it lies.” This wildcard principle really resonates in the golf community. It reminds lawmakers just how important integrity is to the sports world.
Reilly encapsulated his disappointment succinctly:
“Well I’m just personally very disappointed in him.” – Rick Reilly