Donald Trump: "Let golf be elitist"

[Johan Rens]

So much for the elitist......

 

Trump's golf enterprise is the latest casualty in the backlash over his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants!

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/07/politics/donald-trump-pga-split-after-mexican-comments/

[apprenti23]

So much for the elitist......

 

Trump's golf enterprise is the latest casualty in the backlash over his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants!

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/07/politics/donald-trump-pga-split-after-mexican-comments/

Lots of people, especially democrats/supporters seem worried and nervous about The Donald. Should be one heck of a campaign if he's serious about it!

[Johan Rens]

Lots of people, especially democrats/supporters seem worried and nervous about The Donald. Should be one heck of a campaign if he's serious about it!

Agree with you!  I just don't like the statement he made as I believe golf is for all, so is tennis and all other sport. There are some courses not allowing my disabled friend to play - tired of this BS

[Kenny B]

Agree with you!  I just don't like the statement he made as I believe golf is for all, so is tennis and all other sport. There are some courses not allowing my disabled friend to play - tired of this BS

 

Where is that?!  What's his handicap?  In all of my travels, I have never seen a course that didn't allow disabled golfers to play.  I am not even sure that is legal.  Most courses allow carts to go up by greens when they are equipped with a special flag.  

[Johan Rens]

Kenny, that is the reason why we did not even mentioned it when we did the bookings, also thought all courses allow disabled golfers, but unfortunately not when you are in a wheelchair.  

 

As he will say "my handicap is my wheelchair" - 17 and always play from the front tees. We went to Ireland and 2 courses refused to let him play, so did one in England and one in Spain.  Wrote a letter to the local governing bodies - 8 years later and no rely.  

 

We made a lovely video with great music of disabled golfers which we presented to sponsors. I will find out how to take some content out and then post it in this forum, I am sure a lot of guys will love to see how these guys enjoy the game.    

[Kenny B]

I would love to see it!  

[jdiddyesquire]

I worked over a decade in establishment Republican politics in Washington DC.....

 

Donald won't get an ounce of support from the establishment. And, for better or worse, the establishment candidate is who the GOP elects every single time, without fail.

[Fireinthehole]

I worked over a decade in establishment Republican politics in Washington DC.....

 

Donald won't get an ounce of support from the establishment. And, for better or worse, the establishment candidate is who the GOP elects every single time, without fail.

 

THIS^^^.

I can't believe how much whining I have heard regarding his loss of tv shows and PGA events. Ramblings about "Free speech" etc.

Um yeah, the constitution prohibits governments encroachment on free speech, it does not prohibit private entities from wanting to distance themselves from people who tarnish their image or bottom line.

[banacek303]

If it were up to me, I'd ban Combovers on the course.

[wbealsd]

I worked over a decade in establishment Republican politics in Washington DC.....

 

Donald won't get an ounce of support from the establishment. And, for better or worse, the establishment candidate is who the GOP elects every single time, without fail.

FWIW, I agree with you to a point and wasn't really following this thread since I don't generally mix golf with politics.  That said, the longer this plays out and with the popularity of the "Outsiders" that shows wide based popular support across all demos in the crosstabs of the polls, I think we're witnessing a pretty large scale rebellion against "The Party Establishment."

 

That's true with both parties, as the rise of Sanders demonstrates the split on the Democrat side.

 

IMHO, these polls reflect wide spread dissatisfaction with the "political elite" across the board and conventional wisdom may not be predictive.

 

If either party "force feeds" their "anointed" candidate onto the ticket, they may very well cripple their chances to win the general election.

 

FWIW, I'm a member of my State Central Committee and there's very little support for the assumed "establishment" nominee among state and county delegates.  

 

When it comes time to get out the vote with volunteers for phone banks, literature drops, rallies, etc., they're not going to show up, if there's a Bush or a Clinton on the ticket.

 

I'm not predicting either Trump or Sanders will last through the primaries, but they're symptoms of the party splits, not the cause.

 

As Howard Beale said in the movie Network, voters are saying, "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

[mizuno_lover]

Very astute observations there my friend.  We are experiencing a very similar reaction here to the "party politicians" even though we aren't having an election.  I think any independants will have a day out when the time comes as well as the minor parties like the greens.

[wbealsd]

Very astute observations there my friend.  We are experiencing a very similar reaction here to the "party politicians" even though we aren't having an election.  I think any independants will have a day out when the time comes as well as the minor parties like the greens.

We live in "interesting times."

 

If I were advising a candidate, I'd suggest Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" as their campaign song!

[DarthGolfer]

"They're trying to teach golf to people who will never be able to really play it. They're trying too hard. Because of the expense of playing, and the land needed, golf is never going to be basketball, where all you need is a court."

-Donald Trump

 

Who's ever going to aspire to play golf if they aren't exposed to it at an early age? He's right, there are a ton of other sports that only require a cheap ball, but like all sports, people need to actually play golf to enjoy it.

 

If he were a smart business man, he'd try to innovate a way to introduce golf to people at a young age to get a greater number of players interested in golf as they grow up. There would be more people willing to play at his expensive courses if more people were exposed to golf at a young age. It's called growing your market base, Trump!

 

Someone who's a self proclaimed business genius should understand the importance of investing in your future.

[NiftyNiblick]

Regardless of what golf OUGHT TO BE, the working class era for golf has all but disappeared.  The demise of the urban industrial base and the good union jobs that came with it is now apparent in who's playing golf these days. It's not who was playing in the 60s and 70s. You can't have industrial leagues without industry. 

 

We're not in the polo and ocean yacht racing category yet, but that's the way the game is heading.  People can't afford golf making lattes for a living, and that's pretty much all that we make anymore.  If I had grown up in this era, I'd have never been introduced to golf.

 

Well, that's the militant proletarian point of view.  I wouldn't be surprised if conservative middle Americans may see it differently than an aging 1960s dude from the northeast!  All opinions are welcome.

[mbrodeur86]

As a Canadian, the fact that this guy has any support whatsoever is really a scary thing. Just because someone is "outspoken" and "tells it like it is" does not qualify them to run the most powerful political job in the world. Do you really want this guy representing America and Americans? I can see this guy telling someone like Putin where to go and starting a war because of it. Sanders to me makes more sense. As for his views on golf, how can a middle class American think this guy is looking out for you when he wants only elite rich people playing our sport? Can you seriously say he's looking out for you?

[NiftyNiblick]

I don't want to talk politics on a golf site and start arguments with people with whom I'd otherwise get along. Suffice it to say that as with our Canadian friend, Mr. 86 , Sanders makes more sense to me as well.   The US is not as politically progressive as Canada, however, and no candidate as liberal as Bernie Sanders has ever been elected president down here.  Canada's "Conservative Party" is to the left of our Democrats, while almost the entire remaining world is to the left of our Republicans.

 

We'll see soon enough, I guess. 

[wbealsd]

Regardless of partisan leanings, it's far too early for any accurate forecasts as to who the eventual nominees will be.  It's quite possible, the eventual nominees aren't even in the race, yet.

 

I think the only thing we can say with any certainty is, about 80% of the population is fed up with Washington DC and is rejecting the "Status Quo" politicians favored by the political class.

 

I can't say that putting some fear into the Beltway is a bad thing.  Politicians should never take the citizens for granted, and if they can't understand how disconnected from the rest of the county they've become, I WANT them to be afraid, VERY afraid - lol

 

Grab your popcorn...

[Kenny B]

The people say one thing and the politicians do the other.  I say let's fire them all and start over.

[NiftyNiblick]

There are two conflicts. Non ideologues will blame the "political class" in general.  That is really the same as blaming the electorate itself.  We have professional politicians because due to constituent service, i.e., favors, outside of legislation consideration, people will continue to vote for "their guy."  People respond to service. I do. Anybody who has ever received a political favor does.

 

Ideologues, myself included, will instinctively blame the opposite ideology. That's the other conflict. And since ideological diversity is almost exactly 50/50, with urban centers leaning left and rural leaning right, half of the population will ALWAYS be pissed off.  That's what happens in a culturally diverse society. That's what happens here.

 

And finally, golf is not pool or bowling. An inordinate percentage of the country club set leans right. On a website like this, progressive liberals are not going to find a lot of support.  So maybe I should just shut up!

[~^~]

I read Rick Reilly's "Who's Your Caddie? " which includes a chapter when he tried to caddy for The Donald. In typical Donald fashion,

Donald intentionally mis-understands the concept and instead invites Reilly to play with Trump at one of his posh courses. Reilly tries to explain this to Trump, but the Donald insists Reilly play. So Reilly finally gives in, but asks if he can caddy for Trump the next day. Trump says, "Nobody can put up or keep up with me for more than a day!". After Reilly gets dropped off after the day of golf, he absolutely agrees.