Trevor Ng
Barack Obama played a lot of golf during his eight years as president, with sources estimating that he played 333 rounds of golf, which works out to once every 8.77 days. Obama was often criticized for playing too much golf, but he was a keen player and was pictured driving a golf buggy with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, in Hawaii. Obama also spent an afternoon playing golf with the Malaysian Prime Minister. Obama's playing partners usually included childhood friends, White House officials, and the occasional world leader.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of rounds of golf played during his presidency | 333 |
| Number of rounds of golf played in the first year of his presidency | 31 |
| Number of rounds of golf played in the second year of his presidency | 63 |
| Average number of rounds of golf played per year during his presidency | 41.625 |
| Average number of days between rounds of golf during his presidency | 8.77 |
| Total estimated travel expenses for playing golf during his presidency | $114 million |
| Golf partners | Childhood friends, White House officials, Vice President Joe Biden, Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key, Malaysian Prime Minister |
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What You'll Learn
Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his presidency
Barack Obama was an avid golfer and played a total of 333 rounds of golf during his eight years as president. This averages out to about 41 rounds per year, or once every 8.77 days. Obama's love of the sport is well-documented, and he was often criticised by the media and fellow politicians for playing too much golf.
Obama's playing partners included a mix of people, such as childhood friends, White House officials, and occasionally foreign leaders. He was photographed driving a golf buggy at Hawaii's Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, in the passenger seat. Obama also spent an afternoon at the Kaneohe Bay course with the Malaysian Prime Minister.
Obama's dedication to the sport has reportedly improved his game, with rumours that his scorecard regularly hits the mid-80s. One of his playing partners described him as a picture of composure on the golf course, making jokes when he or his partners hit a bad shot.
Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, was also known to spend time on the golf course, often playing with Tom DeLay, the former House of Representatives majority leader. Another former president, Bill Clinton, also enjoyed golf and played with a 12 handicap.
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Obama played golf with Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key
Former US President Barack Obama played golf with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in Hawaii in 2014. The two leaders, who were on holiday with their families, discussed their shared interest in the sport. In addition to playing a casual round, Obama and Key reaffirmed their commitment to working together on trade relations and regional security.
Obama and Key's round of golf reflects the close partnership between the United States and New Zealand. The two leaders developed a friendship through their shared love of the sport, and this was not the only time they played together. Key is a well-known golf enthusiast, and he and Obama became golf buddies during their overlapping time in office.
Obama was often criticised by the media and politicians for playing too much golf. However, he did not play as frequently as some other presidents, such as Woodrow Wilson, who played over 1,000 rounds during his time in office. Obama played a total of 333 rounds during his eight years in office, averaging just over 41 rounds per year or about once every 9 days.
While Obama faced criticism for his golfing habits, he was not alone in combining the sport with his presidential duties. President Trump has also been known to use golf as an opportunity for business meetings with foreign dignitaries and world leaders. Trump has played golf more frequently than Obama, with 75 rounds in his first year and 63 in his second, compared to Obama's 31 and 63 in the same periods.
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Obama was criticised for golfing after announcing the murder of James Foley
Barack Obama faced criticism for golfing after announcing the murder of James Foley, an American journalist, by ISIS in 2014. Obama delivered a statement on the beheading of Foley, and minutes later, he was spotted playing golf on his vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. This decision sparked outrage among American citizens, with many taking to Twitter and on-air to express their anger and disappointment.
The media and the public criticised Obama for appearing insensitive and not taking the situation seriously enough. Some people, including TV commentators, felt that Obama's actions insulted the Foley family and sent the wrong message to the ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and other jihadi terrorist militants. Obama was photographed smiling and enjoying his game of golf, which further fuelled the backlash.
In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Obama acknowledged that golfing after the statement on Foley's murder was a mistake. He admitted that he should have anticipated the negative perception and the optics of his actions. Obama also shared that he had found it difficult to hold back tears when speaking privately to Foley's family and that he recognised the contrast between world events and his recreational activities.
The controversy surrounding Obama's golfing highlights the scrutiny that presidents face regarding their leisure activities, especially during times of national tragedy or crisis. Obama's successor, President Trump, also faced criticism for his frequent golfing trips, with some accusing him of neglecting his presidential duties and generating revenue for his company through these outings.
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Obama's golf partners included Vice President Joe Biden
Barack Obama played a lot of golf during his presidency. He played 333 rounds of golf during his eight years in office, which is approximately once every 8.77 days. Obama was often criticized by the media and politicians for playing too much golf. However, he didn't play as frequently as some other presidents, such as Woodrow Wilson, who played over 1,000 rounds during his presidency.
Obama's love of golf is well-documented, and it is estimated that he spent roughly 1,000 hours playing 214 rounds since he was elected in 2008. His playing partners describe him as composed and good-natured, making jokes when he or his partners hit a bad shot. Obama himself has said that he doesn't have time to play golf, but he clearly makes time for it, often playing with friends, aides, and foreign leaders.
Obama's successor, President Trump, has been critical of Obama's golfing, saying that he should "get off the golf course" and that he played more golf than people on the PGA Tour. However, data shows that Trump played golf much more frequently than Obama, with Trump playing once every 4.92 days during his presidency. Trump also used his golfing trips to promote his company's golf courses and generate revenue, whereas Obama played at a variety of different courses.
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Obama's golf trips cost $114 million in travel expenses
Former President Barack Obama's golf trips and family vacations were a source of criticism during his presidency due to their high cost to taxpayers. According to various sources, including Judicial Watch and Golf Digest, the total cost of Obama's golf outings and vacations during his eight years in office was approximately $114 million. This figure includes transportation costs, such as Air Force One flights, as well as Secret Service protection, accommodations, and other security and staffing expenses.
Obama played a total of 333 rounds of golf during his presidency, averaging just over 41 rounds per year or about once every 9 days. While he was criticised for playing too much golf, Obama's successor, President Trump, played even more. In his first year, Trump played 75 rounds of golf, and 63 in his second year, totalling 138% more than Obama during the same period in his presidency.
Trump often played at his own golf courses and, similarly to Obama, faced criticism for the cost of his trips and the amount of time spent golfing instead of attending to presidential duties. Trump's trips to his golf courses have generated revenue for his company, with charges incurred for the Secret Service. According to HuffPost, Trump's golf outings and travel expenses during his first two and a half years in office cost taxpayers $102 million, which was $12.7 million less than Obama's total travel expenses for his entire eight-year presidency.
While the exact breakdown of costs for Obama's golf trips is not publicly available, the high expenses associated with presidential travel have been a longstanding controversy. The cost of transportation, security, and accommodations for the First Family and their entourage can quickly add up, as seen with the Obama family's 2014 trip to Hawaii, which cost taxpayers over $8 million.
In conclusion, Barack Obama's golf trips and vacations during his presidency incurred significant expenses, totalling an estimated $114 million. While this sparked criticism, it is important to note that presidential travel costs have been a recurring issue, and subsequent administrations have also faced scrutiny for their travel expenses.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Obama did golf with political leaders. He was pictured driving a golf buggy with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, in Hawaii. He also golfed with the Malaysian Prime Minister and Vice President Joe Biden.
Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his eight years as president, which equates to about once every 8.77 days.
Yes, Obama was criticized by some media outlets and politicians for playing too much golf. However, he did not play as frequently as some other presidents, such as Woodrow Wilson, who played over 1,000 rounds during his time in office.
There is no evidence to suggest that Obama golfed with Trump.
