Donald Trump paused his Asia trip to explain why his golf game has no holes as he looks to speak to Japan’s leader with the goal of a trade truce between the USA and Asia
20:25 ET, 27 Oct 2025Updated 20:25 ET, 27 Oct 2025
Donald Trump has shared why he thinks he is so good at golf(Image: Getty Images)
Twenty-six days into a government shutdown and en route to Japan, Donald Trump wasn’t thinking about policy, polls, or pressure when he was asked bout golf, his favorite pastime.
Before boarding Air Force One for the Tokyo leg of his Asia trip, the president fielded a question about his most difficult shot on the course with all eyes on his health. His answer wasn’t about struggle but rather about domination.
“It used to be chipping,” Trump said, pausing for effect. “But I’ve become a very good chipper. I hit them all pretty good.” Then came the signature Trump flourish. A confident pivot from reflection to self-celebration for the golfer allegedly known for using tricky tactics.
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“I’m a pretty good golfer,” he said. “I won 38 club championships. That’s pretty good.”
He then went on to list the three reasons why he believes he’s so good at golf. He said: “Pretty much, I hit… I’m very solid, very consistent, pretty long.”
Trump, who turns 80 next year, added that he still plays regularly with golf legend Gary Player. “You know, Gary’s 90, and he shot 70 with me the last time we played. Ah, that’s pretty amazing from 68,” Trump said, referring to the course yardage.
When asked about his putting, Trump shrugged off the idea of weakness. “Putting’s pretty good, yeah,” he said. “Used to be my best. Still pretty good.”
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This isn’t the first occasion where the former president has used the press to tally his achievements. During his 2016 campaign, Trump asserted he had 18 club championships, many at his own venues like Trump National Golf Club Westchester and Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
Since then, he has claimed several more “wins,” such as senior titles in Palm Beach, which he states he earned by submitting his scores remotely. The Did Trump Golf Today website reports that Trump has played 70 days out of 281 since returning to office, meaning he has spent about 24.9 percent of his presidency on the course.
The estimated taxpayer cost: $98 million, based on GAO data from his first term.
President Donald Trump recently had his hand injury timeline exposed by granddaughter, Kai(Image: Getty Images)
His global golf empire stretches from Scotland to Palm Beach, Los Angeles to Dubai, with 18 courses worldwide. His Miami layout is expected to become a PGA Tour signature event next season. In March, Trump declared what he called “probably” his final championship win at his Palm Beach course.
“Such a great honor!” he wrote on Truth Social. “I want to thank the wonderful Golf Staff, and all of the many fantastic golfers that participated in the event. Such fun!”
His most recent viral moment came courtesy of Bryson DeChambeau, who featured the president in a YouTube video titled “Breaking 50 with President Donald Trump.”
Shot at Trump National Bedminster, the video features Trump and DeChambeau trying to score under 50 on the front nine. They nearly succeeded, finishing with a 51, while DeChambeau estimated Trump’s handicap at roughly 2.5.
