Whatever you think of Donald Trump and his presidency, it cannot be denied that he is a political figure the like of which has never before been seen in the USA. Whether one thinks that is a good or bad thing probably depends on one’s level of partisanship.
I don’t think he was good for the USA in the wider world, for diplomacy everywhere, and nor – of immediate concern for those of us in this industry – did he benefit the sport of golf. It was not positive PR to see the ‘leader of the free world’ playing golf when there were important issues demanding his attention at the White House – and he was, rightly, widely criticised. One can only hope that golf is not, once again, perceived as an elitist sport as a result.
Several tour operators of my acquaintance have decided to take a moral stance – courageously, in uncertain business times – not to place business at Trump golf courses in the UK and Ireland, and no doubt the Trump properties in the Middle East will also witness a backlash.
Similarly, it remains to be seen how soon the USGA and The R&A will back down and allow Trump’s properties to host Majors. Any ‘blacklisting’ is a direct consequence of his actions as US president, but, these are not insurmountable issues for his golf venues.
Commercialism in sport demands short memories and a blind eye to be turned, and we are only a rebranding away from a return to pre-Trump ‘normality’. If only it were that simple to put right everything else.
The idea of a business magazine for the golf industry, first came to founder – and publisher – Michael Lenihan when he visited La Manga Club in 1996. With a publishing background, and having just sold the rights to Football Management – a B2B magazine he launched in 1993 – he stumbled across a copy of Golf Enterprise Europe. And the rest, as they say, is history.
A year later, to coincide with the Ryder Cup at Valderrama in September 1997, the first edition of Golf Management Europe was published, and in 2020 – to reflect the growing global reach of the magazine – the word ’Europe’ was removed from the title.
An all too often frustrated golfer, Michael has interviewed some of the best operators in world golf, and has had the privilege to visit, and play, some worldclass golf courses. He divides his time between the UK and Spain, and has membership at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club in Suffolk.
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