I’ve always had it in for golf, even before Trump, for reasons I explained here last year: https://bernardjporter.com/2024/09/22/golf/. Trump’s obsession with the game is probably quite low down among my reasons for disliking both it and him, but it does look quite apposite: a game where you are (in his case, I think) mainly playing against yourself, get carried from hole to hole in a buggy, and with plenty of opportunities to cheat. Today of course he’s in Scotland visiting his golf courses there, one of them at least highly controversial, with him trying to eject an old crofter who is spoiling the view for his rich clients; and followed – I hear – by a trail of little golf buggies, like ducklings following their Mum. That must be a sight! He’ll also be meeting Starmer, which I would have liked to hope goes badly (à la Love Actually): except of course that a trade treaty might depend on it. Humiliating for Sir Keir, I imagine, and for most of the rest of us; but maybe it has to be done. ‘Lie back and think of England…’

Britain once had a prime minister who was mad about golf, AJ Balfour (of Balfour Declaration fame). He wasn’t very good.