Why US presidents love the home of golf

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Image caption Dwight D Eisenhower played Turnberry in 1959 while still president of the USA

If Donald Trump were to have a bumpy ride in Scotland this weekend, it would not be a very first for a United States president – a minimum of on the golf course.

Mr Trump is anticipated to require to the fairways of Turnberry on Saturday as demonstrations about his see echo around parts of the UK.

His love of the video game is well recorded – after all, he owns 17 clubs all over the world, consisting of 2 in Scotland.

When he tees up on his own Trump Turnberry course, he will be the 2nd sitting United States president to do so.

The? Well, that would be golf fanatic Dwight D Eisenhower, who handled Turnberry throughout a weekend remain at Culzean Castle, Ayrshire, in 1959 after talks in Paris with General De Gaulle.

He would have been well gotten ready for his encounter with the course, having actually set up a green outside the Oval Office.

But it wasn’t Eisenhower’s very first brush with the rough in Scotland.

While still a United States basic in 1946, he was visualized playing in military uniform at St Andrews.

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Image caption General Eisenhower playing a round at St Andrews in 1946

Since then, Scotland appears to have actually ended up being a magnet for United States presidents, with each identifying the country’s significance to the playing golf world.

Bill Clinton has actually played golf here on more than one event considering that stepping down as president in 2001.

Later that year he made a surprise see to St Andrews for a round of golf over the world-famous Old Course.

Mr Clinton, who played off a handicap of 12 at the time, stated soon prior to he teed off: “I am anticipating this, it is really interesting for me.

“I have actually just seen it on tv however I have actually played each of these holes in my mind numerous times.”

He handled to strike an 86 on the day – 14 over foregone conclusion.

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Image caption Former United States President Bill Clinton in action at Loch Lomond Golf Club in May 2001
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Image caption Mr Clinton has actually been a really eager golf enthusiast

The previous president had actually played Loch Lomond Golf Course a couple of days previously, carding a 90.

In December that year he was back for more, playing a round at Turnberry .

Arriving at a hotel for an engagement that night while still using casual playing golf clothing, he informed press reporters: “It’s charming. I’m grateful to be back.

“I have had a terrific time – it’s a gorgeous day. It’s a little warmer than I believed it would be.”

US presidents and golf

  • All however 3 United States presidents considering that William Taft (1909-1913) have actually been golf players – the exceptions being Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter, inning accordance with Golf Monthly
  • The last time a non-golfer beat a golf enthusiast to the United States presidency was 1976, when Jimmy Carter beat incumbent president Gerald Ford
  • Woodrow Wilson played a reported 1,200 rounds of golf throughout his 8 years in workplace
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt was an eager golf player up until he contracted polio in his late 30s
  • Trump has in current years noted an extremely low handicap of 3 – although it is believed he has actually not produced a signed scorecard as evidence
  • John F. Kennedy balanced 80 on the course in spite of persistent pain in the back
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Image caption Donald Trump is imagined playing golf at his golf links course in Balmedie in 2012

Barack Obama was another previous president to admire the house of golf after handling the Old Course throughout a quick check out to the UK in May 2017.

He guaranteed to go back to experience “genuine” Scottish weather condition after playing golf in 26C (78.8 F) heat.

He joked: “I guarantee you I will be back because, unless it is drizzling and blustery, I will not feel I have actually got the complete Scottish experience.”

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Image caption Barack Obama has actually assured to go back to Scotland for a round of golf after playing St Andrews in 2015

George W Bush, another huge golf fan, likewise had his minute at Gleneagles 13 years ago – however it wasn’t on the fairways.

In 2003, he stopped playing the video game in the wake of the battle of the UN head office in Baghdad, stating later on that he didn’t “desire some mother whose boy might have just recently passed away to see the commander-in-chief playing golf”.

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Image caption George Bush went to Gleneagles in 2005 for a G8 top

But even if he ‘d been lured to slip on to the Gleneagles course, far from the spying media, occasions were to conspire versus him.

His check out to the G8 top at Gleneagles in July 2005 accompanied the 7/7 terrorist battle atrocity in London, where more than 50 individuals passed away.

And any possibility of a swinging a club was pursued he hit a policeman during a bike trip on the premises of the hotel, which left him with scrapes on his arms and hands.

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Image caption Any ideas that George Bush might have had of playing golf at Gleneagles in 2005 vanished after he hurt his hand in a bike mishap

It’s not simply presidents who have actually been lured on to Scotland’s fairways.

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Image caption Former United States vice president Dan Quayle has played many times in Scotland, consisting of at Carnoustie

Remember Dan Quayle? The previous vice-president has actually played various times in The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, consisting of at St Andrews and Carnoustie.

In 2012, he was estimated in the Courier’s Fife addition as stating: “It’s a really unique location, golf in Scotland.

“I constantly aim to be favorable, with a smile on my face.

“Sometimes it’s simple, in some cases it’s not.

“You constantly aim to approach it believing that the next shot is going to be the very best shot you’ve ever struck.”

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-44810023

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