In an astonishing revelation, President Donald Trump has devoted a significant portion of his time on golf courses during 2025, raising eyebrows and sparking debate about the role of leisure in leadership.
Since returning to office in January, Trump, who is now 79 years old, has made a remarkable 88 visits to various golf clubs throughout the year. This figure was carefully compiled by the Trump Golf Tracker, an organization that monitors the president's public schedule and logs the moments when his motorcade arrives at these golfing venues.
However, it's essential to note that there are uncertainties surrounding how often Trump actually played golf during these visits. The month of August stands out as his busiest, with ten trips recorded to golf clubs. Additionally, March and November each saw him spend nine days on the greens, while December accounted for another nine visits to his West Palm Beach club.
In defense of Trump's scheduling decisions, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle remarked, "President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again and make the world a safer place. Nobody works harder than President Trump, who has delivered a record number of historic achievements in only a year." This statement highlights the administration's perspective that Trump's golfing is part of his broader commitment to his presidential duties, although opinions on this matter may vary widely.
Interestingly, the tally of 88 golf outings in 2025 already surpasses the number of days Trump played golf during his first year in office, where he engaged in the sport approximately 87 times. This first-year figure was the highest in his initial term, with subsequent years showing less frequency: 67 rounds in 2018, 84 in 2019, and a notable drop to around 47 during the pandemic in 2020.
The financial implications of Trump's golfing habits are also noteworthy. Estimates suggest that taxpayer expenses for his golf trips could reach approximately $110.6 million so far this year, based on a 2019 Government Accountability Office report that analyzed four of his early-term golf outings. This number does not even include costs incurred in December, further complicating the budgetary conversation surrounding his leisure time.
All of Trump's golf excursions this year have taken place at his own properties, including Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Trump National Doral Miami, and others in Jupiter, Florida, Sterling, Virginia, and Bedminster, New Jersey. His return to Florida occurred just a week after his second term began at the end of January, with subsequent visits to Bedminster in March and his Virginia club in April.
Moreover, in late July, Trump traveled to Scotland to play at his Trump Turnberry and Aberdeenshire properties, coinciding with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event for a new golf course he opened in Aberdeenshire.
In addition to golfing, Trump made headlines by attending the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Course in Long Island, New York, in late September, marking the first instance of a sitting U.S. president attending this prestigious event, although Team Europe ultimately claimed victory.
It's worth mentioning that Trump is not the first president enamored with golf; his predecessor Barack Obama famously played an estimated 333 rounds during his eight-year tenure. However, at the current pace, it appears that Trump could surpass Obama's total within the four years of his second term, given his current tally of 88 visits in just one year.
While President Joe Biden is not known for his golfing enthusiasm, he has frequently visited his homes in Delaware, totaling at least 33 trips during his first year and 31 during his second. Some of these visits were short day trips, while others extended into weekend getaways to both his main residence and his beach house in Rehoboth.
As we consider the implications of such leisure activities for those in leadership roles, one can't help but wonder: what does this say about the priorities of our leaders? Is there a balance to strike between personal recreation and public duty? We invite you to share your thoughts on this topic below—do you believe Trump’s golfing is justified, or does it reflect poorly on his presidency?
