This year, Donald Trump was president of the United States of America. Or was he? According to TrumpGolfCount.com, he has been mainly on the golf course, racking up 81 visits so far, one every 4.5 days, at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of $42m (£31m). From the options, choose the major news event of 2017 that Trump could have been keeping tabs on instead of working on his chip shots.
On 4 February, President Trump kicked off his golfing presidency with a round at Trump International, West Palm Beach, Florida. What else was happening?
MTV became the first awards show to have gender-neutral categories.
The Department of Homeland Security suspended the implementation of Trump’s travel ban.
French presidential frontrunner François Fillon was alleged to have paid his wife for a nonexistent job.
Apple became the first $800bn company.
On 4 March, the president was back at Trump International for his 34th hour at a golf club since the start of the year. Meanwhile, his Twitter mentions were exploding because:
UK minister Priti Patel had resigned after unauthorised meetings with Israeli government officials.
Malaysia had expelled its North Korean ambassador in response to the airport murder of Kim Jong-un’s brother Kim Jong-nam.
Daniel Craig confirmed he will play James Bond one more time.
Ukraine banned Steven Seagal as a threat to national security.
On 2 April, Trump teed off early at Trump National, Potomac Falls, Virginia. What did he miss – perhaps while he was busy admiring the “River of Blood” plaque he had had installed at the course to celebrate a fictional civil-war battle?
Amazon announcing it was buying Whole Foods for $13.7bn.
A Sufi shrine in Pakistan being attacked, leading to the death of 20 people.
The former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh being killed by Houthi rebels.
Tiger Woods being arrested and charged with DUI.
On 7 May, the Leader of the Free World was sizing up his nine iron at Trump National, Bedminster, New Jersey. As he considered raising the club’s annual $350,000 membership fee did he also know that on the same day:
Sir Gerald Kaufman, father of the House of Commons, had died.
The WannaCry malware attack had paralysed computer networks globally – including some government systems.
France had banned too-thin fashion models.
France had gone to the polls for the presidential run off between Emmanuel Macron and Trump-supported Marine Le Pen.
On 4 June, back at Potomac Falls, Trump was out swinging sticks with former Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning. What else was happening?
A collision at sea between the USS Fitzgerald and a Philippine cargo ship killed seven US sailors.
Serena Williams was pictured naked and pregnant on the cover of Vanity Fair.
UK political parties suspended their election campaigns after the Borough market terror attack.
In Mosul, Iraqi forces retook the site of the symbolic Great Mosque of al-Nuri from Islamic State.
At Potomac Falls, on 22 July, Trump clocks up his 301st golfing hour of 2017, no doubt maintaining his improbable handicap of three. On the same day:
Parsons Green tube station was hit by a bungled “bucket bomb”.
The Florida coast was hit by Hurricane Irma, leading to $300bn of damage.
Congress agreed new sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Big Ben chimed for the last time before a four-year restoration process.
It’s 9 August, Wednesday afternoon, and the golfer-in-chief is dragging his buggy back across Bedminster, apparently golfing with “a random person”. What pending crisis might he have discussed with said random person – New York businessman Mike Fazio?
North Korea announces plans to fire rockets near the US territory of Guam.
Catalan separatists stage a referendum over independence from Spain.
British PR giant Bell Pottinger collapses in the wake of a South African political-meddling scandal.
Billy Corgan agrees to purchase the National Wrestling Alliance.
On 5 November, the Japanese prime minister, Shinzō Abe, takes a tumble while golfing with the Donald at Kasumigaseki in Tokyo. What did the pair miss?
Black Sabbath’s final concert.
Bernie Ecclestone being axed as head of Formula One after an $8bn takeover.
The Paradise Papers being released. Those linked with offshore tax avoidance included Trump’s commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross.
A mistrial being declared Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case.
On Black Friday, 24 November, golfing world No 1 Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods join the president for a “quick” round. While Trump was presumably trouncing the pair, what else was happening?
More than 300 people were killed in the Sinai mosque attack in Egypt.
The Saudis began a blockade of Qatar, claiming the nation “supports terrorism”.
Brexit was cancelled.
Bananarama reunited.
Solutions
1:B, 2:B, 3:B, 4:D, 5:C, 6:C, 7:A, 8:C, 9:A
Scores
7 and above.
No one likes a smart arse
4 and above.
Shanked it
0 and above.
Fake news! Is your name Kellyanne Conway?
