Golf took the forefront of the conversation at the recent debate. Both Trump and Biden bragged about their golfing abilities, but which deserves acclaim? Here’s what we know about both candidates as golfers.
Each Candidate’s Golf Handicap
Joe Biden, 81, hasn’t reported an official golf score for years, but he claimed to be a 6 handicap during the debate. When verified at GHIN, it’s true that Joe Biden has a 6.7 handicap. That’s pretty impressive.
Donald Trump, 78, claimed a 2.5 handicap according to that same source. He boasted that he could out-drive the current president and, unlike many comments he made during the debate, that might be true.
The complicating factor? Trump owns several clubs, and he’s responsible for reporting. That matters because self-reported handicaps are notoriously dubious.
Related: What’s a handicap in golf?
Varying Approaches to the Sport
We don’t have a lot of resources showing how Joe Biden performs on the golf course, but Donald Trump loves to spend time playing the game. There’s a recent New York Times article covering his performance at at LIV Golf event at his course in Bedminster, N.J.
According to the Times, Trump putted for birdie and missed by six feet or more. Then, instead of continuing the hole, he picked up the ball and moved on. According to news coverage, he allowed himself a par on that hole.
He also hit a drive and immediately carted after his ball, leaving the rest of his party behind while he continued on his own.
These are both pretty clear violations of golf etiquette.
So what about Biden?
His presence on the golf course is much less frequent and much less public. He hasn’t posted a score with the United States Golf Association since 2018.
While Biden does have photo ops with golfers on his campaign’s Facebook page, there isn’t nearly as much coverage of him actually playing the game. He doesn’t own any golf courses, and he hasn’t earned a reputation for golf in any real way prior to this debate.
Final Verdict
While Trump seems to ignore etiquette on the golf course, and his 2.5 handicap seems fishy at best, he still boasts a strong drive for an elderly man.
Biden, on the other hand, seems more concerned with governing the country than maintaining his golf game. Based on what we’re seeing, it looks like Trump is likely a better golfer.
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
