When people ask how much does it cost for trump to play golf, they usually aren't talking about the price of a bucket of balls at the local range. They’re talking about the massive, multi-million dollar machinery that moves every time a President hits the links. It’s a mix of fuel costs, hotel rooms for agents, and some pretty wild logistics that most of us never have to think about when we're booking a tee time.
Honestly, the numbers are kind of staggering. We aren't just looking at greens fees. We’re looking at a bill that has topped hundreds of millions over the years, mostly because of how a President travels.
The Massive Bill for a Single Round
Most of the time, the "cost" isn't a single check written to a pro shop. It’s the overhead. According to various reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and watchdog groups like Judicial Watch, a single trip to a place like Mar-a-Lago can average around $3.4 million.
Why so high?
Basically, it’s the flying. Air Force One isn’t cheap to run. During his first term, the GAO estimated that four trips to Mar-a-Lago cost about $13.6 million. If you break that down, it’s over $3 million per outing. Most of that—roughly $10.6 million of the total—went to operating the planes and boats (yes, the Coast Guard has to patrol the water while he's at his Florida club).
The rest of that money, about $3 million, goes to "temporary duty costs." That’s the government way of saying "hotel rooms and meals for the people keeping him safe."
Where the Money Actually Goes
It gets complicated because Donald Trump often plays at his own properties. This creates a loop where taxpayer money is being spent at businesses the President owns. Groups like Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) have tracked this closely.
In early 2025, during the start of his second term, records showed the Secret Service spent nearly $100,000 at Trump properties in just the first few months. This includes:
- $50,000 at Trump National Doral.
- $14,000 at his Las Vegas hotel.
- $23,000 specifically at the Doral golf resort.
Critics point out that while some presidents might stay at a military base or a private ranch they own (like George W. Bush’s Crawford ranch), Trump’s preference for his own resorts means the Secret Service has to rent rooms from his company. Eric Trump has previously claimed they charge the government "at cost" or just a nominal fee, but records often show rates as high as $1,185 per night for certain stays.
Comparing the "Golf Tab" Over Time
If you look at the big picture, the total how much does it cost for trump to play golf starts to look like a small country's GDP.
📖 Related: Tax Lawyers Explained: Why They Are Not Just High-Priced Accountants
By the end of his first term, the estimated total was around $151.5 million. Fast forward to 2026, and analysts from outlets like The Independent and HuffPost suggest the second-term tab is already on track to surpass that. In just the first half of 2025, reports indicated he had already spent over $70 million on travel and security related to his golf outings.
A four-day trip to Scotland in July 2025 to visit his Turnberry and Aberdeen courses reportedly cost about $10 million. That's a lot of money for a few rounds of golf, even by billionaire standards.
Is it Different for a Private Citizen?
Kinda. When he’s not in office, the cost drops significantly because the "Presidential" part of the security detail shrinks. He still has Secret Service protection as a former President, but he isn't flying Air Force One.
For a private citizen, the cost of playing at these clubs is basically the membership fee. For example:
- Trump National Bedminster: Membership has been reported to cost up to $300,000 as an initiation fee.
- Trump Jupiter: Annual dues can range from $8,000 to $20,000, plus food and beverage minimums.
But when he's the sitting President, the "cost" is a public expense.
The Logistics of a "Golf Weekend"
It’s not just a guy with a bag of clubs. It’s a motorcade. It’s a C-17 cargo plane carrying armored limousines. It’s a team of communications experts, doctors, and military aides.
✨ Don't miss: Mealy Funeral Home Goochland: What Really Happens When a Town Loses a Legacy
Even a "local" trip to Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia isn't free. While it doesn't require Air Force One, it still involves fuel for a dozens-vehicle motorcade and overtime pay for local police and Secret Service agents.
Breaking Down the Hourly Costs (Estimates):
- Air Force One (Large Boeing 747): ~$273,000 per hour.
- Smaller Presidential Jet: ~$16,000 per hour (fuel and maintenance only).
- Secret Service Personnel: Hundreds of thousands per weekend trip.
What Most People Get Wrong
One big misconception is that the "cost" is what the club charges him. He owns the clubs, so he’s not paying a greens fee. The cost is the security and transportation infrastructure required to get him there and keep him safe while he’s on the 14th hole.
Whether you think it’s a necessary perk of the job or a waste of funds, the financial footprint is objective. The GAO is the best place to find the hard audits, though they often lag behind real-time spending by a year or two.
Actionable Insights for Tracking These Costs:
- Follow the FOIA: Groups like CREW and Judicial Watch regularly file Freedom of Information Act requests to get the specific receipts from the Secret Service.
- Check the GAO Reports: For the most "official" numbers, wait for the Government Accountability Office to release their periodic audits of presidential travel.
- Watch the FAA Filings: Sometimes you can track the movement of support aircraft to get a sense of how much "prep" goes into a single weekend trip.
Understanding the total how much does it cost for trump to play golf requires looking past the golf course itself and into the massive budget of the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. It's a complex web of government spending that shows no signs of slowing down.