A pro golfer who joined Donald Trump for a round of golf over the Christmas break has revealed that the president didn’t take a single call during their game – after posting, and then swiftly deleting, a video of them on the course together.
The clip, posted by Taylor Funk, shows Trump both hitting drives and putting during the round at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
But it’s unlikely Donald was happy about the clip as the real estate mogul, who has played more golf than any other US president, appears to be unusually shy about his game, and has gone out of his way to block reporters from filming him while on the course.
Taylor Funk posted a clip that showed Trump both hitting drives and putting during the round at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida
Funk said he was surprised by Trump’s golfing skills. He is seen here hitting a driver
In another part of the video, he swings for the ball as Taylor Funk and Funk’s father Fred look on
It’s rare to see footage of Trump on the course. Despite playing more golf than any other US president, appears to be unusually shy about his game
In an recent episode, after CNN obtained footage of him playing by hiding in the bushes, a white truck was parked in that spot and trees were planted to obscure the angle.
The video was deleted a short time after it was posted, although DailyMail.com obtained the clip before it disappeared. The pro golfer also posted a picture of himself with Trump with the hashtag #Maga.
During the video, the 45th president appeared impressed with Funk, who played at the University of Texas and is early in his pro career, and is heard saying in the clip: ‘So I’m hitting a 4-iron and he’s hitting a sand wedge, there’s something not good about that.’
Funk ended the vlog with his own musings on Trump, saying he ‘Asked a lot of questions, wanted to know how he could be a better golfer, a better president.’
Trump, seen here driving his gold buggy to the next hole, has gone out of his way to block reporters from filming him while on the course
Trump appears to enjoy being in the driving seat, and once again took the wheel, with fellow golfer Fred Funk grasping onto the roof for support
During the video, the 45th president appeared impressed with Funk, and is heard saying in the clip: ‘So I’m hitting a 4-iron and he’s hitting a sand wedge, there’s something not good about that’
Trump, who wore a grey sweatshirt and red hat with ‘USA’ across it in white lettering, chatted to one of his fellow golfers as Taylor took his turn
The two were joined by Funk’s father, fellow professional golfer Fred Funk
The two were joined by Funk’s father, fellow professional golfer Fred Funk.
Taylor Funk also revealed that during the game, the leader of the free world did not take any phone calls.
‘No, it was all golf. He was fully in the moment and with us. We played with two other guys and he was great with them too,’ he told CNN when asked if Trump worked or took calls while playing.
Taylor and Fred also gushed about their opponent’s skills.
‘He was good,’ Taylor said of Trump. ‘He shot a legit 36 on the front nine. I was really surprised. Back nine was a little worse. I think he got a little tired, but it was still respectable. He actually played well. I was very surprised.
‘He’s definitely a lot better than I thought he was going to be. He’s a good player. He was a lot of fun to play with, very engaging. I don’t have a bad thing to say about our round. It was amazing.’
But considering the amount of practice Trump gets, it’s hardly surprising.
Taylor Funk joined Donald Trump for a round of golf over the Christmas break (pictured together at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida)
Trump, who once attacked then-president Barack Obama for spending too much time on the golf course, has spent around a quarter of his first year in the presidency – about 90 days – on his own golf courses.
He reportedly visited the golf course every day he was in Florida over Christmas and New Year’s.
He finally returned from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beachon Monday.
‘I think it’s the press that has an issue with his time on his course,’ argued White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders this week.
She added that Trump had built relationships with other politicians while playing a round or two.
‘We’ve had an extremely successful 2017, and some of that’s due to the relationship building he was able to do there.’
Taylor Funk (right) posted a picture of himself with Trump (center) and is father Fred (second from right) after the game