Sources: Donald Trump Now An Augusta National Member

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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.”

Couples Downplays Masters Chances; Kind Of

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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."