Publisher’s note: I wrote the following column on Friday, July 12, prior to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Despite the seriousness of the situation, and the unfortunate division of our country, I decided to still run the column, with the idea that we could all use a moment of laughter during this time. This column, by no means, is intended to diminish or overlook the seriousness of an attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.

There are lots of ways men attempt to prove their manliness to other men, and it happens way too often. They challenge each other to push-up contests on living room floors. They duke it out with bare knuckles in parking lots. They even boast who has the fullest beard. But to challenge another man’s manliness by saying you could beat him playing golf? Seriously?

If you watched the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, or if you caught their recent jabs at each other, you know what I am referencing. If you haven’t, here is the gist.

In the debate, President Biden challenged former president Trump to play golf “if you carry your own bag,” inferring that Trump couldn’t handle it physically. Later, Trump challenged Biden to a golf match, saying the ratings would be “sky-high” and that it would be a chance for Biden to “redeem himself” after a disastrous debate performance. And there were many other golf challenge references between the two.

Admittedly, I am not a golfer. And, admittedly, there is a divide between those who golf and those who don’t. I had a boss who used to say, “There are people who golf and people who work.” If you are a golfer, you are likely offended by that comment. If you don’t golf, you are likely in full agreement.

One thing most everyone could agree on, though, is that to even be average at the game of golf, one must spend a great deal of time on a golf course. And most golfers don’t want to simply be average.

I am not knocking the activity. If you want to golf, go for it. But if you want to be president of the United States of America, don’t brag about your golf game.

Do Trump or Biden really think anyone cares about how they golf? Or their bowling scores? Or if they can throw darts? Wouldn’t we rather hear about their plans to address food costs, gas prices or illegal immigration?

And if these guys need to brag about their manliness, is golf really the test for a level of fitness? Maybe for 80-year-old men it is, but this just doesn’t seem to be the way to connect with the vast majority of Americans, at least not to me, the non-golfer. And I am not alone. According to the National Golf Foundation, about 8% of Americans golf, which means 92% don’t.

If either candidate wants to prove his manhood to the vast majority of Americans, he may want to find a new bragging point. And grow a beard.

Have a memorable Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

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SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

What do you call a shy person with a hammer? BASH-ful! Got it, Carolyn Rogers, Gail Tomlinson!

Today's riddle

Why do doctors use those little hammers to tap patients’ knees?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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Jolene Goodman
Vice President
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 319
Mobile: 515-326-0082
jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com

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