New York Congressman Lee Zeldin recently retweeted a post from Nassau County Executive Laura Curran showcasing her golf skills. The tweet, which featured a video of Curran hitting a ball onto the green, was captioned with “It’s been a while since I’ve played, but it looks like I still got it!”
While some may view this as simply a lighthearted social media post, others see it as an opportunity to discuss the intersection of politics and leisure activities. Golf has long been associated with politicians and business executives as a way to network and make connections outside of traditional work settings.
Former President Donald Trump is perhaps one of the most well-known examples of this phenomenon. Before entering politics, he was known for his love of golf and even owns several golf courses around the world. During his presidency, he frequently played rounds with other political figures such as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
However, not all politicians are avid golfers or support the sport’s association with power dynamics. In 2017, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner for participating in exclusive Wall Street-backed golf tournaments.
Critics argue that these types of events perpetuate elitism and exclude those who cannot afford to play at expensive courses or do not have access to powerful networks. Supporters counter that playing golf can help build relationships across party lines and facilitate important conversations between decision-makers.
Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, it is clear that leisure activities like golf continue to play a role in shaping political discourse both in New York and across the country. As for Zeldin’s retweet, it remains unclear whether he was endorsing Curran’s skills on the course or simply enjoying some light-hearted banter on social media.
In conclusion, while this tweet may seem trivial at first glance its underlying implications regarding politics’ relationship with sports cannot be ignored by any means whatsoever.