Forget Donald Trump… granddaughter Kai, 16, is the real golfer in the family!
The award boards at Trump International in West Palm Beach, Florida, have long been worth a second look. The course is a 15-minute drive from Mar-a-Lago and has a plaque on a wall listing all the men who have triumphed in the club championships.
As of 2019, the name Donald Trump appeared three times: 1999, 2001, 2009. The only problem? As Rick Reilly points out in Commander in Cheat, the course wasn’t even open in 1999.
In his vast golfing empire, the former president claims to have won at least 18 club championships.
The final score, according to Reilly? “Lies 16, Incomplete 2, Confirm 0. By then Trump’s nose has grown so long he could play with it.”
Last year, however, in Florida, Trump’s name was again etched on those plaques.
Kai Trump is an impressive young golfer tipped for big things, and she’s only just turned 16
Her grandfather, former US President Donald Trump, is known for his love of sports
Kai (right) poses with her grandfather Donald and legendary golfer Tiger Woods (center)
The winner’s photo featured Donald, wearing a MAGA hat and smiling broadly.
However, next to him and with the trophy was granddaughter Kai Trump.
“Over the weekend I won the Women’s Club Championship @trumpgolfpalmbeach!” the teen posted on Instagram.
To the cynics, her boast came with some more compelling evidence. Alongside the family photo were highlights of Kai’s triumph: a drive shot high into the Florida sky, a twisting putt in the hole, a chip from beside the lake, and another trophy shot from the palatial clubhouse.
On her social media, there is ample evidence to suggest that the family name will appear on many more plaques.
Kai is indeed only 16, but she’s already been tipped to become the most accomplished golfer in the Trump dynasty.
The teen daughter of Donald Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa – is 5’10” and claims to be part of Callaway Next, ‘the next generation of Callaway Tour Pros’.
Her longest run would be 275 meters. Only 14 players average longer on the LPGA in 2023.
Kai plays it for an Instagram video; some pros think she can earn a golf scholarship
Kai’s father is Donald Trump Jr, and her mother is Vanessa Haydon. Also depicted is Donald III
Kai poses for a photo with her grandfather during his time as US President
She has raced with Bryson DeChambeau, Swedish professional Daniela Holmqvist, two-time world endurance champion Kyle Berkshire and other promising youngsters.
She has met Tiger Woods and his fellow big winners Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed. Of course she shared the course with her ‘grandpa’.
They were part of a Pro-Am team ahead of the controversial LIV golf tournament at Trump’s Doral Golf Course in Florida.
Kai starred alongside Eric Trump, Sergio Garcia, recent US PGA champion Brooks Koepka and a supporting cast of Secret Service agents.
Together they shot 9-under, the joint lowest score of the day.
The teen claimed to finish the round with five birdies; on the final hole, she watched her grandpa outrun his approach shot before sticking hers within 10 feet of the flag.
Trump’s empire of courses has allowed Kai to hone her skills and hit trick shots across America.
She also played a round of golf with big-hitting pro Bryson DeChambeau (left)
Kai claims she can already hit the ball a remarkable 275 yards at the age of 16
Donald is regularly spotted on the golf course wearing his ‘Make America Great Again’ cap
Some members in Palm Beach have suggested that she is talented and dedicated enough to earn a scholarship.
I hope Kai didn’t inherit her grandfather’s economic relationship with etiquette.
It is said that New York’s Winged Foot caddies nicknamed Trump “Pele” – that was his habit of kicking balls back into the game.
On his Bedminster course, where another LIV tournament was taking place against a backdrop of protests, Trump was accused of hitting his ball into a pond, after which his caddy led him to a ball in the middle of the fairway. Another member of his playgroup is said to have yelled, “What have you done with your mask and flippers?”
Trump’s name is also on the honor board in Bedminster. The story goes that he never entered any of the competitions he ‘won’. Instead, he found out the winning score and declared, “Oh, me and so-and-so played better than that today.” So we actually won.’