President Donald Trump is now settled it for a 17-day stretch at his Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey. It’s a vacation, of sorts. The President insists he’ll be working all the way through. But that’s no surprise.

Trump builds resorts for a living. Wouldn’t any vacation seem like work?

Working hard from New Jersey while White House goes through long planned renovation. Going to New York next week for more meetings.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017

Of course, Trump is being hit for taking a vacation after smacking down Obama for all his down-time. But you are comparing apples to Hawaiian pineapples. Obama would hang out at some plush island paradise, play golf, have ice cream, splash in the surf. You know, what we would consider a vacation. When Trump hits the links, he’s thinking “What’s the water bill this month for the greens? Darn, I should have run the 18th along the ocean, rather than towards it. Who the heck let the liquid in the ball washer run dry!” Suddenly, having meetings on tax reform or Venezuela doesn’t sound so bad.

Trump had to vacate the White House because of the remodeling and installation of a new air conditioning and heating system. No word on whether plumbers are also on hand to help fix the leaks. The White House also has an issue with bugs and rodents. However, plans to move the press room ran into all sorts of First Amendment complaints.

Theoretically, Trump could have stayed at his Trump International hotel across the street from the White House, or even at the Blair House, where the Trumans lived between 1948-1952 during a massive HGTV-on-steroids renovation. However, I suspect the folks working on the White House wanted Trump out of town. Would you really want a guy whose business was restoring beat-up properties looking over your shoulder?

Trump likely spent weeks saying, “Look. Let me stay. Let my people do this. They can do it cheaper. Better! It’ll be beautiful!!”

Alas, the President is letting them be. Instead he’s camped in Bedminster, and taken to crashing weddings.

President Trump stops to greet wedding guests at his Bedminster, N.J. golf resort https://t.co/jc3mwwFyUB pic.twitter.com/awpOKjkIk3

— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) August 6, 2017

Said one witness, “He was less orange than I expected.” (Really. No joke.)

The Poor Media

The big question about Trump’s 17-days in Jersey is whether the media can endure his absence. Being forced to cover real news could prove a shock to the system. Even trying to fill the hours could have them resorting to cute cat videos. Poor Joe & Mika at MSNBC. Can their relationship handle it? Without Trump, what do they have?

CNN’s Jim Acosta will have to fill his air time accusing the White House of using slave labor to do the reno. He’ll have to pick fights with White House tour guides just to get attention. “Isn’t it true this administration calls it a White House to reinforce its racist agenda? Why isn’t the White House seeking sanctions against Britain for setting fire to the place? Is it because of your Anglo-centric view of the world? For that matter, isn’t calling the former first lady Dolly Madison sexist?”

Maybe he’ll spend the two weeks training for a rematch with Stephen Miller. Washington hasn’t seen a beat down like that since the Bears ripped the Redskins 73-0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. 

There’s an old Washington adage that says administrations get nervous in August because the media has to hunt for things to write about while everyone out of town. Then again, perhaps the media is actually looking forward to the break. You think tearing apart an air conditioning system is exhausting work … try tearing down a presidency.

An Opportunity for President Trump

President Trump could well be the one who’ll benefit most from the break. And I’m not talking about having the time to work on his short game. It’s a perfect opportunity to catch a breath and reflect on his first six months. By any account, they have been as fast-paced, wild and unpredictable as a Tarantino movie at triple speed. 

Already new chief of staff General John Kelly is instituting an order and discipline to the White House that was missing under Reince Priebus. There is even evidence he has gotten Trump to chill on the tweets.

But before Trump tees off again, he needs to reflect on his game so far. What’s worked, what hasn’t? Sure, sometimes a bad bounce lands you in a sand trap, or the strong winds blowing from the left push your shot into the drink. But where did you mess up? Where did your swing go awry? Where would you have been served better by laying up on the approach, where better to drive straight to the hole?

Certainly you’re on a new course, with a dramatically different layout. The old tricks may not apply. And the stakes are far too high. You’re wise to find the right clubs for this course, and it’s understandable it’ll take a while to fill your bag with the right ones.  But it’s up to you to adjust to the conditions and terrain. Don’t fret the grass at your feet. Spray yourself to ward off the blood-sucking mosquitoes. 

Above all else, you’re wisest move? Let the Holy Spirit be your caddie. As this new round begins, he will help keep you out of the rough and straight down the center of the fairway.