WEST PALM BEACH — Donald Trump arrived Friday afternoon to his latest pride-and-joy project — Trump International Golf Club — fresh off flying down from New York in his private 727.
He extended his hand to me as I anxiously awaited a match with him.
“You’re usually wearing shorts,” he said to me, noting my attire (khaki slacks and a pressed golf shirt). “I read The Post’s Golf Page all the time and I love it. You’ve dressed up for the occasion.”
Indeed, I tried — best I could — to be on my game as Trump’s guest at his spectacular new course which lies within a stiff 3 iron from the West Palm Beach Airport (though once inside the gates you feel as though you’re enveloped in paradise).
You see, I came here wanting a piece of The Donald. I pictured this headline: The Post whips The Donald in a $2 Nassau.
A year ago, we kicked off the Sunday Golf Page from Greenland, where we competed in the World Ice Golf Championships.
This year, our Golf Page kickoff took place amid quite a bit more luxury and decadence.
I envisioned beating The Donald and, knowing how competitive he is, enjoying being invited back a number of times for rematch after rematch to the point where I (on my slender sports writer’s salary) would actually become an honorary member.
When I arrived at Trump International, which with its three million yards of earth moved is like no course you’ve ever imagined in flat Florida, I learned that Trump was a 5 handicap to my 12.
Trump, however, informed me that he hadn’t played in a month, so being the perfect guest (sucker?) I told him he’d give me two shots a side (when I probably should have taken at least three a side).
When the dust cleared from our match, though, the extra stroke or two would have mattered little.
Trump was on, and he loved every minute of it.
He shot a 1-over 73 and wiped me out despite the fact that I didn’t play poorly at all, shooting a decently respectable 83.
Playing golf with Trump was a pleasure — despite having to fork over $10 to him for his victory only hours before I was to fly commercial coach class out of West Palm. There seemed to be an imbalance there. But a match is a match, and the guy did (MD+IT)have game(MD-IT).
Much like the way he glides through life, Trump’s feet almost never touch the ground on the golf course, either. He’s a hit-and-run player who basks in a three-hour round, loves chatting while playing and loves complimenting his own shots.
“I knocked that one stiff; not bad for not playing in a month,” Trump chirped after crisping his first drive to the middle of the fairway on No. 1.
He would only get better from there, going 3-up on me through six holes while playing in 1-under. Trump’s only hiccup on the front was a double on No. 8
I blew my chance to make a move on No. 11 — after we’d stopped for a beverage at the turn and said hello to actor Nick Nolte and played through Fran Tarkenton and his foursome on 10.
Trump hit a short tee shot on the 177-yard par-3 and then was fat on his chip approach. Me? Thinking I had the hole in hand, I four-putted from just off the green and lost the hole. So instead of shaving the deficit to 2-down I found myself bewildered at 4-down.
“You’re playing (-ssq-)customer golf’ now,” Trump said.
I wish I could say I was, but I was trying as hard as I could to bring the trophy home, figuring my sports editor, Greg Gallo, wouldn’t allow me back without having beaten Trump.
But from there, not even the expert local-knowledge help of our caddie, Herman “Catnip” Walker, could dig me out of the hole I’d chiseled.
Trump International, which has a who’s-who list of 200 members (Celine Dion is a regular) and will cap off at 250 at $300,000 initiation to join, is already being rated as one of the world’s finest courses.
It cost Trump $42 million to build the course. As is his trademark, not a penny was spared.
“A lot of times you can spend the money and have everything going and when it’s complete it’s not quite what you envisioned,” Trump said. “This place, though, turned out better than my wildest expectations. I feel proud to let people see it.”
I came, saw and was duly impressed — with Trump’s legitimate game and with his golfing creation. Unfortunately, I lost. But there will be a rematch. I’ll simply require a couple more strokes a side.
That’s my ‘art of the deal’.
