Jackson Reid
Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, was an avid golfer. He played a round of golf with former presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford in 1995, shortly after Clinton's victory over Bush in the 1992 election. Clinton also played golf with Thomas L. Friedman, a contributor to Golf Digest, who interviewed Clinton about the game. Clinton compared golf to life, saying, All the biggest wounds are self-inflicted. Clinton also played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in Ireland on two occasions and was described by Friedman as a merciless player.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plays Golf | Yes |
| Avid Golfer | Yes |
| Golf Partners | George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Arnold Palmer, Thomas L. Friedman, Tiger Woods, Scott Hoch, Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Pádraig Harrington, The Edge of U2 fame |
| Courses Played | Indian Wells Country Club, The Royal Dublin Golf Club |
| Golf Quote | "All the biggest wounds are self-inflicted." |
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What You'll Learn
Bill Clinton played golf with former presidents
Bill Clinton is known to be an avid golfer. In 1995, Clinton became the first sitting president to play on the PGA Tour. He played in the American Express tournament, then known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, alongside former presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford. The group was joined by tournament host Bob Hope and defending tournament champion Scott Hoch.
Clinton is said to have a cavalier attitude towards the rules of the game, taking multiple mulligans during a round. In fact, he became so well-known for this that these extra shots became known as 'Billigans'. Despite this, Clinton is considered to be a good golfer, and he has been described as "long off the tee".
Clinton's love of golf has also been leveraged for political gain. While still in Arkansas, he would try to raise campaign funds from golfing companions. As president, he played regularly with Democratic fixer Vernon Jordan, who would invite prominent business executives to play, including Jack Welch, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates.
Clinton also played golf with Donald Trump, who owned a golf club near the Clinton home in Chappaqua, New York. Trump was proud to have Clinton as a member of his club, saying, "He's a great gentleman, a good golfer, and a wonderful guy."
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Clinton played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club
Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, is an avid golfer. He played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club twice. The first time was on August 25, 2004, when the former president was in Dublin to promote his autobiography, "My Life". He spent the morning signing an estimated 1500 copies of his book at the well-known Eason's bookshop before heading out of the city to play at the Royal Dublin Golf Club.
Clinton was welcomed to the club by the 2004 Captain John McDevitt and his father, Frank McDevitt, the Royal Dublin President. On that occasion, Clinton played with friends, and his caddie was Anthony "Anto" Birney, the club's much-loved starter and locker room steward. Clinton fondly remembered his rounds with Birney, as evidenced by a letter he wrote in 2015 when he heard that Birney was ill. In the letter, Clinton expressed his gratitude for Birney's kindness over the years and mentioned their shared memories of playing at the Royal Dublin Golf Club.
Clinton's second visit to the Royal Dublin Golf Club was in October 2011, and this time his playing partners included three-time Major champion Pádraig Harrington and The Edge, of U2 fame. The club itself is steeped in golfing history, with a magnificent links course designed by the world-famous golf architect H.S. Colt. It is widely accepted as one of the greatest links courses in the world and has hosted many prestigious tournaments, including the Irish Open and the Irish Amateur Open.
Clinton's love for golf is well-known, and he has been quoted comparing the game to life: "All the biggest wounds are self-inflicted." He has also played golf with other presidents, including George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford, showcasing how the game can bring people from across the political spectrum together.
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Clinton compared golf to life in an interview
Bill Clinton is an avid golfer. He played a round of golf with former presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford in 1995, two years after he beat Bush in the presidential election. The three were paying tribute to the tournament host, Bob Hope, for his decades of support of golf, the U.S.O., and the Eisenhower Medical Center.
Clinton has also played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in Ireland, in 2004 and 2011. He was interviewed by Thomas L. Friedman for Golf Digest while riding 18 holes in a cart. In the interview, Clinton compared golf to life, saying, "All the biggest wounds are self-inflicted." Friedman, who had played golf with Clinton seven years prior, noted that Clinton's game had improved during his eight years in office.
Clinton's love for the game was evident in the interview, where he also parcelled out tips from recent professional playing partners and teachers. Friedman described Clinton as being merciless when razzing one of his opponents, Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut.
Clinton's floating mulligan became well-known among golfers, and he was even accused of taking "Middle East mulligans" by Friedman, referring to the compensation for his all-nighters at Camp David. Despite the lighthearted jabs, Clinton's passion for golf and its role in bringing people together is evident.
Clinton's participation in the 1995 tournament with former presidents showcases how golf can unite people across the political spectrum, even in a highly divided political environment. This particular game was described as a kinder, gentler time, where the presidents came together for a few hours of unity and friendly competition.
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Clinton played in the American Express tournament
Bill Clinton is an avid golfer and has played in several notable tournaments. One such tournament was the 1995 American Express, then known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Clinton played alongside former president Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, the man Clinton beat in the 1992 election. The sitting president and two former presidents paid tribute to the tournament host, Bob Hope, for his decades of support for golf, the U.S.O., and the Eisenhower Medical Center.
The historic round brought together five men from across the political spectrum, including defending tournament champion Scott Hoch and host Bob Hope, for about five hours of unity. The game began on the 10th hole at Indian Wells Country Club, with Bush hitting a wayward shot that bounced off a tree and hit a woman in the face. Despite this, the game was not without its lighthearted moments, with Ford happy to have other presidents spraying balls around the course, as he had been accused of doing by Hope through the years.
Hope, 92 at the time, stayed out for all 18 holes, despite pleas from tournament staff to come in for a few holes for some ice cream. The tournament host didn't hit every shot on every hole but insisted on staying on the course as long as the presidents were playing. The American Express tournament has been a fixture in the desert since 1960, attracting celebrities and presidents alike.
Clinton's participation in the 1995 tournament marked the first time a sitting president had played in a PGA Tour event and perhaps the first time three presidents had ever played together. The game was a testament to the power of golf to bring people together, even in a highly divided political environment. Clinton's love for the game is well-known, and he has been quoted comparing golf to life: "All the biggest wounds are self-inflicted."
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Golf Digest interviewed Clinton about his love for the game
Golf Digest interviewed Bill Clinton about his love for the game in 2012. Clinton, who was the 42nd President of the United States, is an avid golfer. He has played at many prestigious golf clubs, including the Royal Dublin Golf Club, where he played with three-time Major champion Pádraig Harrington and The Edge of U2 fame.
In the interview, Clinton discusses how his game has been affected by being president. He claims that his handicap has improved while in office, which he attributes to playing with professionals and other good golfers who have given him advice. He also mentions that he prefers to play alone, as it reminds him of his childhood and nature, and provides a sense of normalcy despite the constant presence of Secret Service agents.
Clinton also reflects on his best year as a golfer, which he says was in 2001 when he got down to a handicap of 10. He expresses his love for the game and his desire to play more, but acknowledges that time constraints and physical limitations have impacted his ability to play as much as he used to.
The interview also includes Clinton's thoughts on golf's history and his take on the game's elite status. He mentions reading a 100-year-old history book about golf's origins in Scotland and expresses his belief that golf was not always an elite sport.
Clinton's passion for golf is evident, and he is quoted as saying, "All the biggest wounds are self-inflicted," drawing a comparison between the game and life.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bill Clinton was an avid golfer.
Yes, Clinton played golf with former presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford in 1995, three years after he beat Bush in the presidential election.
Yes, Clinton played golf with journalist Thomas L. Friedman, who interviewed Clinton for Golf Digest.
Yes, Clinton played golf with professional golfer Arnold Palmer. He also played with Pádraig Harrington, a three-time Major champion, and The Edge of U2 fame at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in 2011.
Yes, Clinton played golf with Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut.
