Of Course Trump v. Mueller Has A Golf Component

Back in July, 2017 a few White House sources suggested to a team of Washington Post reporters that there was a fee dispute dating to 2011 when former FBI Director and now Special Prosecuter Robert Mueller left Trump National Washington D.C.

Now in Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman's New York Times story on President Donald Trump's order to fire Mueller last June only to be stopped by White House counsel, the purported fee dispute was among the primary reasons the President cited for firing Mueller.

First, he claimed that a dispute years ago over fees at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., had prompted Mr. Mueller, the F.B.I. director at the time, to resign his membership. The president also said Mr. Mueller could not be impartial because he had most recently worked for the law firm that previously represented the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Finally, the president said, Mr. Mueller had been interviewed to return as the F.B.I. director the day before he was appointed special counsel in May.

"America is being governed by a country-club bore, backed up by other members of the club"

Michael Goldfarb is the host of the First Rough Draft of History podcast and says he's seen enough of country club life to know that we're watching the country clubization of the United States government. Judging by the number of people and variety of political persuasions of those who sent me this link, Goldfarb's premise scored points.

After all, if you've seen the club world in any form, it's not a leap to consider Goldfarb's premise in this New York Times op-ed:

This country club mind-set is not unique to the United States. All over the world there are clubs with people whose wealth (it doesn’t have to be extreme wealth) buys them extra access to government. Indeed, their businesses require that access to make sure they get government contracts to build office buildings and hospitals or simply pave a local road.

When the country-club class gets directly involved in politics, a country is on a shortcut to disaster.

Equating President Trump to the guy at the club bar with an opinion on about everything, here's a view of the golf club world that could do lasting damage to the game's image.

Those who want to resist Mr. Trump should accept that America is being governed by a country-club bore, backed up by other members of the club — a class that doesn’t worry that it will suffer if he makes a mistake.

Will Tax Bill's Elimination Of Golf Business Expenses Have Impact?

Josh Sens of Golf.com does a nice job reporting on the potential impact of changes to deductions ushered in with the new tax laws. In a nutshell, the golf industry may take a hit.

Noting the irony of President Donald Trump trumping the on-course relationship-building he has done against Congress' view that deducting business entertainment was a loophole, Sens explains:

To many in the golf world, the new rule is disappointing, but not surprising. Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, was among those who saw it coming. In late November, as the tax bill was taking shape, Karen and representatives from three other golf industry groups penned a letter to Congress, pleading with lawmakers to preserve the 50 percent business-entertainment deduction. Doing away with it, they wrote, would hurt "small business owners of golf courses across the country" while dampening the myriad business dealings that take place "every day of the week across thousands of courses."

Taylor Funk's Vlog Of Golf With President Trump Quickly Vanishes From YouTube

Golf.com's Dylan Dethier details the video blog posted by aspiring pro golfer, former UT star Taylor Funk, who is attempting to document his rise through the mini-tours with video diaries.

In the latest installment, Funk and dad Fred played golf with President Donald Trump over the holidays. Taylor's vlog of the round made a brief YouTube appearance before vanishing.

The Funk's even appeared on CNN to discuss their round and Trump's even-par front nine.

Pro golfer Taylor Funk on President Trump’s golf game: “He shot a legit 36 on the front nine… He’s definitely a lot better than I thought he was going to be. He’s a good player.” https://t.co/rL6YePqE1I pic.twitter.com/BUEEEYz9OR

— CNN (@CNN) January 2, 2018

Dethier details what was shown in the video, including two swings by the President and even an admonishment from him about shooting video inside the gates of Trump International, which may explain why this one disappeared quickly from the web.

But Funk seemed able to record video fairly freely. Despite a shot early in the vlog where Trump appears to tell Funk not to film him inside, Taylor continued to capture footage throughout the round, including two videos of Trump's swing.

How Schmidt Landed The Trump Golf Club Interview

Regardless of your politics, this NY Times "Insider" piece by Michael Schmidt details how he landed an incredible 30-minute interview with President Donald Trump at his golf club over the holiday break. Things went so well, Schmidt was invited by the President to play, but alas, he had something to file.

The story that ran is here.

Coul Links Co-Developer: "How I discovered Trump is fueling anti-US feeling"

Links House proprietor and Coul Links co-developer Todd Warnock has presented a very sensitive plan for land near Royal Dornoch. He's also done some incredible things for the Dornoch community, where he now lives.

Those accomplishments include the refurbishment of Links House into arguably golf's best hotel, fighting to prevent closure of the Highland Council service point, co-authoring a wonderful book of writings by Dornoch’s John Sutherland and most noticeable of all, turning the deteriorating Dornoch Courthouse into home of four successful businesses employing over 30 people.

But the project, to be designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and produced with developer Mike Keiser, continues to be met with strong resistance. Warnock, writing a guest piece for The Scotsman, makes the case that most Coul Links resistance is Donald Trump-related.

I should say that I have never worked with, supported or agreed with Trump. I could never give my backing to his policies or actions. Yet my partners and I find ourselves described as “peas in a pod” with Trump by a Scottish MSP, John Finnie. He has never met me, my partners or responded to my calls, yet he seems content to use Trump as a stick to tar me with, regardless of my actual beliefs.

I’ve also noticed this approach has been taken up at an organisational level. RSPB Scotland and SWT, for example, continue to focus on my nationality rather than the environmental facts of our strategy. They ignore the substantial environmentalist accomplishments of Mike Keiser and I while taking every opportunity to simply label us as “American millionaires”. In my view, they are endeavouring to whip up anti-American feeling – just go read some of the objections to our proposal on the Highland Council website. This is not unlike the way the Trump singles people out by their nationality or belittles their intentions. Similarly, the small group of locals self-named “Not Coul” try to paste the Trump scarlet letter upon us. A sensationalist video features Trump more than it does me or my partners.

Jack And Gary Tune Up For PNC Father-Son With Trump

I'm going out on a limb and saying Donald Trump achieved a first for a golfer: playing with Tiger Woods one day, Jack Nicklaus the next.

We learn this from an AP report on Trump's Saturday holiday round with Jack and Gary, who are paired together again for the PNC Father-Son next month. (Nicklaus designed Trump Jupiter where the round was played.)

Faxon: Tiger Playing Happy, Pain-Free And Long Off The Tee

In an exclusive to Golfweek, Brad Faxon says he did needle President Trump about the lack of a Twitter name-drop regarding their planned Trump Jupiter four-ball.

More importantly, Faxon offers several details from the round regarding Tiger's game and his impressions of playing with world No. 1 Dustin Johnson.

Tiger looked great to me. He was happy and, more than anything, he’s finally pain-free. The issues he had with the back the last couple of comebacks seem to be gone. He looked effortless, he looked free, he had some power. 

I was impressed with how far he hit the ball. Probably on the 10 holes that they were both hitting driver, Tiger hit it past Dustin half the time and Dustin hit it past Tiger half the time. He looked great. I think more than anything, he looked at ease. He was not concerned about swinging hard and going at it with driver. The ball flight, the sound off the club, all of it was right there.

President Trump Tees It Up With Tiger, DJ And Someone Else

Oh how quickly they forget!

Having 280 characters at his disposal still didn't encourage the President to get a mention in of the fourth today:

After Turkey call I will be heading over to Trump National Golf Club, Jupiter, to play golf (quickly) with Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson. Then back to Mar-a-Lago for talks on bringing even more jobs and companies back to the USA!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017

Brad Faron!:

The President with Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods , Brad Faron, at Trump Jupiter, a great Potus & host pic.twitter.com/MJ3Hr4DNj5

— Dr. Eric Kaplan (@drekaplan) November 24, 2017

The President is a Taylor Made man!

The Presidents new golf bag, Tony Servideo & Head pro David Trout, made it a special gift a special day for our Potus pic.twitter.com/CJY4EDY6uF

— Dr. Eric Kaplan (@drekaplan) November 24, 2017

We did get some Tiger swing video too...

🚨BREAKING VIDEO: Tiger Woods on the range at Trump National Jupiter. pic.twitter.com/aaIjiRbFxn

— Tiger Woods Spot (@TwSpot) November 24, 2017

Bloomberg: Golf Course Deduction Currently Safe But Facing Increased Scrutiny In Trump Era

As Republican tax reformers are eliminating many write-offs, the current House version of a new tax bill currently includes the long-controversial deductions for golf course owners promising never to develop their land. While the "loophole" has come close to being closed, it's getting new attention with President Donald Trump's ownership of golf courses using the deduction in ways that contradict the spirit of the law.

Dan Wilchins and Prashant Gopal, reporting for Bloomberg, present a balanced picture, including the important counterpoint to arguments for eliminating the deduction and the relatively small amount of revenue that would be generated by closing the loophole.

In some cases, the tax benefit can make sense. There are communities where golf courses are some of the only open space available. Without the easements, an owner might be tempted to sell out to the highest bidder, which might develop housing on the space, said Sylvia Bates, director of standards and educational services at the Land Trust Alliance, a conservation group.

But in practice, the deductions that land owners take for golf courses are enormous compared with the conservation value, said Ruth Madrigal, a tax lawyer who worked on conservation easements for the U.S. Treasury department during the Obama administration. A developer can build homes and a nearby golf course, get a conservation easement on the links and claim a deduction that can pay for the entire development, she said.

Video: Japan's Prime Minister (Fortunately) Avoids Injury Trying To Escape A Kasumigaseki Bunker

A Japanese television outlet posted this aerial a few days removed from Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosting President Donald Trump at Kasumigaseki.

The group played nine holes at the 2020 Olympic golf venue with Hideki Matsuyama. 

The bunkers look pretty tough to escape, at least on the path chosen by the Prime Minister:

この動画、消されまくってて、知らない方がいるってわかったので、もう一度。
転んだのは仕方ない。
でもね、貴重な外交の時間を、こんな使い方して、翌日の昼食会の挨拶で、
安倍「昨日はドナルドとゴルフを楽しみ、夕食はイヴァンカ夫人を交えて～」
メラニア夫人に失礼だろ。
滅茶苦茶だよ、安倍。 pic.twitter.com/RpiDToG30n

— umekichi (@umekichkun) November 8, 2017

Page Six: Some Winged Foot Members Want Trump Presidential Portrait Erected

Emily Smith of the New York Posts says some Republican members of Winged Foot are lobbying for a portrait of the President to be erected in the Clifford Wendehack-designed clubhouse.

Smith says there is opposition, including "senior club management".

The insider continued, “It seems the leaders of Winged Foot do not want to rock the boat and politicize the club, given that the US Open will be at Winged Foot in 2020.”

The President's locker at the club where he's been a member since 1969, no longer has his name on it.

“Each member has a locker with their name on it, but Mr. Trump’s name has been mysteriously taken down. Some members are outraged because there seems to be no justification, apart from, perhaps, too many people were trying to take selfies at Trump’s locker, or they simply don’t want to advertise his membership.”

Too late now!