Sources: Donald Trump Now An Augusta National Member

Donald Trump, the New York real estate developer, reality television star, litigation hobbyist and occasional political pundit, was extended a membership to Augusta National Golf Club this fall, sources exclusively tell GeoffShackelford.com.

Trump first started telling confidants about his new membership not long after the exclusive home to the Masters opened for play in October, 2011. Anecdotal evidence of his membership surfaced soon thereafter. Golfers who encountered Trump at Doral Resort last month while playing his latest $150 million purchase reported that he discussed ways he could influence how the home of the Masters might be better now that he was a member.

“He told us he’d put fountains in the lakes on 15 and 16 for ambiance, claiming there’s too much silence when a guy is standing over a putt during the final round,” said Dave Pidgeon, 36, of Coral Springs, Florida. “Trump also said the club was missing out on a great chance for better aesthetics at the 13th green by raising the creek level. He compared the water movement in the brook to a sewer line he saw feeding into the Hudson.”

Another Doral guest was visiting from Munich, Germany, and eavesdropped as Trump, accompanied by a film crew, walked through the hotel lobby with an accompanying entourage. Detlef Hindenburg and wife Angela were heading for lunch when they listened to a discussion about decor, which Hindenburg later posted about on GolfClubAtlas.com. Though the Trump entourage's focus was on redecorating Doral’s lobby, Trump could not help but mention a recent trip to Augusta.

“These drapes are awful,” Hindenburg recalls Trump announcing, pointing to a pink-flamingo patterned set. “But this is nothing compared to Augusta’s clubhouse which, in all honesty, and I say this in the nicest way possible because I'm a member now, is just a tired dump. It’s termite infested. All those old clubs and photos and the paintings of dead guys on the walls makes you want to take a nap. I told Billy Payne, 'you’re fired' if you don’t do something to liven this place up.”

Hindenburg said he is sure the word “dump” was used because he recalls looking to his wife immediately following the comment and she mouthed the “D” word to him.

Blurry cell phone image captured by a reader of Donald Trump heading for the Bush Field terminal after landing in his jet (click to enlarge)The final piece of evidence confirming Trump’s membership surfaced after he was photographed by reader Green Blazer's cell phone camera when he spotted the mogul arriving at the Augusta’s Bush Field, where he is seen leaving his jet and wearing a green jacket (right).

Contacted to confirm whether the story of his membership or critical comments about the club were true, Trump declined comment.

Then he called back five minutes later.

“Hypothetically, if I were to say I was a member, wouldn’t that be a compliment to the club? I mean, it’s not like I’m a bad guy or a poor guy. Or God forbid, a woman.”

As for criticizing Bobby Jones’s dream course, Trump had a few nice things to say.

“I love all the azaleas and the flowering trees. Jones was a genius to bring that stuff in. I don’t think I’ve encountered a genius for the visual possibilities of flora and fauna like that, except maybe Steve Wynn. That’s a compliment to Jones, I assure you.”

Steve Ethun, press officer for Augusta National and The Masters, declined comment.

“We do not discuss membership-related matters, particularly on a Sunday and most definitely not on April 1st.”

Boomer Esiason & Craig Carton Gang Up On Hank, Call Him "Scum Of The Earth," "Terrible Human Being"

A CBS New York reports on the WFAN interview of Hank Haney by Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton resulted in Haney eventually hanging up after having suffered through various cheap shots.

As shocking as it may be, there are talk radio hosts calling someone "scum of the earth" and a "terrible human being," only after they sell a few ads built around making money off of their guest, who they view as violating one of "the most fundamental of trusts anyone could have," the athlete-coach relationship. What a country!

About five minutes in, the interview takes a turn and by the end Carton and Esiason are patting themselves on the back about how great it felt to have gotten Haney to hang up. Carton gushes that he's Tiger's biggest fan and "I pick him to win every freakin' tournament, I always will." Of course, the name of Tiger's current instructor also escaped Carton.

Esiason doesn't say much but when he does, he bumbles along with a few jabs, butchering various elements of the book he appeared to not have read, including most irresponsibly, a portion where he suggests that Haney implies there were "racial vibes" in Tiger's relationship with Phil Mickelson. Had Esiason read the book, he'd know Haney was referring to the climate in the world of golf, not Phil personally.

Descriptions used by Carton during the course of the interview:

Repeated references to Haney as a "coward" if he hangs up, or just a coward in general.

“The scum of the earth” for writing such a book.

"Terrible human being."

"Guys like you, the scum of the earth"

"Pond scum."

"Snake."

Listen and see what you think. I thought Haney did a fine job sticking up for himself and the book. Esiason and Carton seemed pretty proud of their efforts and have been promoting the interview on Twitter. I'm guessing the irony of trying to profit off an interview where you belittle someone for profiting off of someone is going to fly right over their heads.

Oh, and Tiger still won't come on your shows guys, no matter how much you pucker up and kiss his rear end!

Members Buy Boston Golf Club

Carol Britton Meyer of the Hingham Journal reports the good news that the members have saved Boston Golf Club from a possible outside purchaser, likely assuring the low-profile Gil Hanse design remains in its current rustic form.

There had been rumors that a certain developer known for his hair and buying distressed properties had looked at BGC as a possible acquisition.

Couples Downplays Masters Chances; Kind Of

John Huggan on a modest but confident-sounding Fred Couples heading into the Masters:

Realistically -- there's that word again -- Couples doesn't see himself as a challenger for a second green jacket, citing an inability to find a higher gear as the biggest difference between himself and the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.

"I have played fairly well at Augusta over the last few years," he continued. "But when I have a shot to work my way up the board, I don't continue to do it. I'm not like the young guys. I don't go on streaks of four or five birdies in, say, six or seven holes. So while I'm consistent in my scores, I don't shoot 66 or 67 like Rory, Tiger or Phil. Those are incredible scores on that course. For me, a really good score is 70 or 71. But if I shoot four of them, I'll be in a great spot by the end of the week."