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 Trump, the billionaire real estate developer and 2016 Republican
presidential candidate, has his trademark name on numerous buildings
around the world. But he is perhaps proudest of his involvement in
golf and is considered a savior in many circles for investing in the
industry at a time when many golf courses are closing due to
financial pressures.
Trump now has 18 courses, with a string of major tournaments lined
up at some. A solid player himself, he boasts a handicap in the
single digits. For a while, the Golf Channel ran a regular show
called "Donald J. Trump's Fabulous World of Golf."
He renovated the famous Doral course in Miami and played host there
in March to a World Golf Championship tournament in which Rory
McIlroy, after an errant shot, slung a 3-iron into a pond. Trump
sent a scuba diver out to retrieve the club and gave it back to the
world No. 1.
"What he's been doing is terrific for the game," legendary golfer
Jack Nicklaus was quoted as saying by USA Today around the time of
the Doral tournament. "He brought a new life during a time when the
game was struggling."
So it has been jarring to the golf world when Trump declared as part
of his presidential campaign that Mexico is sending criminals into
the United States. It comes as the golf industry is trying to
encourage diversity in a white-dominated sport.
The PGA of America and Trump's organization announced on Tuesday
that the 2015 Grand Slam of Golf, featuring a handful of top pro
golfers in a 36-hole tournament, at Trump National Golf Club in Los
Angeles would be moved.
The PGA group said it was also looking at other venues for its
junior PGA event this year.
"Going forward, we will continue to make decisions based on a strong
commitment to diversity and inclusion," a spokesperson for the PGA
of America said.
This came a day after ESPN said it would move the ESPY Celebrity
Golf Classic from the Trump course in Los Angeles.
The golf world is almost late to the band wagon in the "dump Trump"
move that swelled up after his remarks on Mexico. Broadcasters NBC
and Univision were the first to cut the cord, followed by Macy's,
mattress maker Serta and the NASCAR stock car racing organization.
Ari Fleischer, who was a press secretary for former President George
W. Bush and now a media consultant for a variety of sports
organization, said the reaction is understandable.
"One of the reasons people love sports is because it's
non-political. And to the degree that Donald Trump puts sports
organizations like golf tournaments in difficult positions, they
won't want anything to do with him," Fleischer said. "I think all of
this is evidence that Donald Trump is finding it a lot harder to be
a candidate than he probably anticipated."
In the furor over Trump's remarks, Latino groups are pressuring
other pro golf associations.
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"I respectfully request that the PGA, the LPGA, the PGA Tour and the
USGA (the U.S. Golf Association) swiftly cut all business ties with
Donald Trump and his various entities and commit to not holding any
further tournaments or events at Trump's courses," Alex Nogales,
president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, said in a letter
to the groups.
Trump has dismissed the criticism with his characteristic bombast.
He is riding high in some polls of Republican voters and feels like
his rhetoric about immigrants is part of the reason why.
"The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico and, in
fact, for many other parts of the world. On the other hand, many
fabulous people come in from Mexico and our country is better for
it," he said on Monday.
There's a lot at stake for Trump.
Trump National Bedminster (New Jersey) will be hosting the 2017 U.S.
Women's Open and 2022 PGA Championship. Trump National Washington,
D.C., will be site of the 2017 Senior PGA Championship.
Turnberry, a famous course in Scotland now operated by Trump, is
holding the Women's British Open this year.
The LPGA said in a statement on Tuesday that with just three weeks
until the Turnberry event, a change in venue is not feasible.
"By no means, however, does this decision suggest support for Mr.
Trump’s comments," the LPGA said.
"He's certainly getting attention but it's costing him in the
wallet," said Bill Whalen, a political expert at the Hoover
Institute at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
As women pro golfers prepared for this week's U.S. Women's Open in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17-year-old qualifier Maria Fassi of Mexico
was asked whether she would feel funny about playing the 2017 event
at a Trump course.
Fassi, who has committed to attend the University of Arkansas, said
she would have no problem with it.
"All I ask from everyone is just a little respect for everyone," she
said. "Not only Mexicans, but also other Latin Americans and even
Americans."
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