Donald Trump wants golf to be more elitist. The country's top golf organizations do not agree.

(Image credit: Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

published 2 July 2015

Donald Trump just can't seem to help himself. The former reality television show star and current 2016 GOP presidential candidate, who has already been abandoned by NBC, Univision, and Macy's over his disparaging comments about Mexicans, has now irked the country's top professional golf organizations.

In a recently released interview with Fortune, The Donald said, "I feel golf should be an aspirational game, something people aspire to." When asked whether that viewpoint was elitist, Trump said that "perhaps that's what golf needs. Let golf be elitist."

While Trump, who owns several golf courses, was confident that the golf world would meet his comments with "tremendous support," his shot ended up out of bounds. On the same day that Trump's Fortune interview was published, the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, USGA, and PGA released a joint statement saying that Trump's comments — and his presumption of their support — were way off. "While the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour and USGA do not usually comment on presidential politics," the statement read, "Mr. Trump's comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf." Sadly for Trump, there are no mulligans in national politics.