Donald J. Trump's Nasty Boorish World of Golf

If it title reflected its actual content, the golf “reality” program on Golf Channel would be called “Donald J. Trump’s Boorish and Nasty World of Golf.”

For the last two years Trump, the New York real estate mogul, has allowed – or more likely directed – cameras to follow him as he engages the world of golf. It is the most recent ploy by Trump to build up his already massive ego, following his first foray into television with “The Apprentice,” where he fired potential protégés more successfully than he ever mentored a new executive. As ratings dropped, “The Apprentice” faded into a hodge-podge of third-rate celebrities all kissing Trump’s golden backside in an attempt to kick-start their faltering careers.

Now Trump has turned his cameras on his golf empire, if an empire consists of a handful of good – but hardly great – golf courses scattered around the U.S. His program, “Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf,” which airs on the Golf Channel, appears as a half-hour infomercial for one man’s ego. Its first season was spent watching The Donald chase around a group of mainly B-list celebs and retired athletes as they played a series of matches at his clubs. It was neither insightful nor entertaining, so Golf Channel mixed it up to focus more on how Trump runs his golf business, including a new “billion dollar” resort he’s building near Aberdeen, Scotland, despite the protests of environmentalists, local politicians and those who live near the project.

In turning the camera on himself, Trump has proven himself to be the biggest caricature of the nefarious capitalist robber baron since “The Simpsons’” Mr. Burns. And, apparently, that’s how he likes it.

This season alone he’s berated employees, cussing at them without ever listening to what they have to say, consistently putting down great golf courses and resorts in an attempt to elevate those he’s acquired, and finally announced he’s keen on making a run to become the president of the United States. It isn’t the first time The Donald has said he’s interested in the presidency.

When he’s not using the program to talk about his potential political aspirations, Trump does discuss golf – specifically the 10 courses that use his name in the U.S., and a new one set to open next year in Scotland. In typical Trumpian hyperbole he claims the Scottish course will be best golf in the world when it play begins. The problem with his golf courses is his penchant for the grandiose and a complete lack of subtlety. On one episode of his program he insists his Virginia golf course needs a 50-foot artificial waterfall created behind its 18th green, an element that looks ridiculous and is completely keeping with Trump’s vision of golf.

His Scottish course, which is in final construction stages, appears to be different. It surely is built in a spectacular spot – with magnificent dunes on the country’s eastern coastline. Exploring the golf design, which is being led by Englishman Martin Hawtree, should have been enough to fill a half hour program. Not for Trump. Late last year it was announced that Paul O’Connor, superintendent on Trump’s project who had previously helped prepare Carnoustie for the British Open, had been fired. News reports indicated O’Connor had refused to create huge earth hills blocking the views of homeowners who refused to sell to Trump. Dismissing O’Connor wasn’t enough apparently, and in the episode Trump couldn’t resist making his former superintendent look foolish. The episode takes considerable effort to centre on O’Connor, editing a series of otherwise unconnected vignettes designed to question his abilities. Of course Trump gets the final say in an interview segment that appears to have been shot long after his visit to Scotland. “You’re fired,” Trump mimes, in his patented style.

It’s a tacky, tawdry bit of showmanship that is uncomfortable to watch. In dealing with O’Connor, who according to news reports is apparently considering a lawsuit against Trump for wrongful dismissal, the real estate baron could have taken the high road. But Trump seemingly cannot stand for anyone who questions him -- at least that is what his television persona seems to indicate.

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