Jackson Reid
Barack Obama's love of golf is well-known, with the former president earning the nickname golfer-in-chief during his time in office. Obama played a total of 333 rounds of golf as president, including 64 rounds in 2016, his final year in office. This works out at an average of 150 rounds per four years, or 40 rounds per year. Obama's predecessor, President Eisenhower, played an estimated 800 rounds of golf during his time in office, while Trump is estimated to have played 142 rounds as of November 2020. Obama's golfing partners included athletes, celebrities, and politicians, and he was criticised for playing while Louisiana battled floods, and after journalist James Foley was beheaded by ISIS in 2014.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times Obama played golf as president | 150 rounds (as of 2013) |
| Total number of times Obama played golf during his presidency | 333 rounds |
| Number of times Obama played golf in 2011 | 39 rounds |
| Number of times Obama played golf in 2012 | 19 rounds |
| Number of times Obama played golf in 2016 | 64 rounds |
| Number of times Obama played golf in his second term | 129 rounds |
| Number of times Obama played golf in 19 months | 58 rounds |
| Number of times Obama played golf in his third year in office | 34 rounds |
| Obama's golf handicap in 2011 | 17 |
| Vice President Biden's golf handicap in 2011 | 6.3 |
| Number of times Biden played golf with Obama | 6 |
| People Obama played golf with | White House trip director Marvin Nicholson, U.S. Trade Rep Ron Kirk, staffer Ben Finkenbinder, House Speaker John A. Boehner, former President Bill Clinton, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe |
| Courses Obama played on | Andrews Air Force Base, Fort Belvoir, Mid Pacific Country Club in Kailua, Hawaii |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Obama's golfing partners
Barack Obama has played around 105 to 150 rounds of golf during his presidency. Obama's golfing partners have included White House staffers like Ben Finkenbinder, White House trip director Marvin Nicholson, and U.S. Trade Rep Ron Kirk. Obama has also played golf with Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John A. Boehner, former President Bill Clinton, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe. He has also played with campaign photographer David Katz, his friend Dr. Eric Whitaker, and Walter Nicholson, the trip director's brother.
Another frequent golfing partner is Vice President Joe Biden, who has joined Obama on the golf course about six times in five years. Biden, with a handicap of 6.3 in 2011 according to Golf Digest, adds a political dimension to their golfing outings. Obama has also played golf with other politicians, such as House Speaker John A. Boehner, former President Bill Clinton, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe, using these opportunities for camaraderie and potentially informal discussions.
Obama has also chosen to unwind with friends on the golf course. He has played 26 rounds with Dr. Eric Whitaker from Chicago and nine rounds with Walter Nicholson, the brother of his trip director, Marvin Nicholson. Obama's golfing partners from outside the political sphere may indicate his preference for a relaxed and familiar atmosphere while playing golf.
In addition to his regular partners, Obama has included other elected officials in his golfing outings about nine times since taking office. While he may not be a self-proclaimed great golfer, Obama's golfing partners reflect a blend of politics and leisure, allowing him to combine socialising with politicians and staff while also enjoying a diversion from the demands of the presidency.
Golf Leagues: Gambling or Game?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Criticism of Obama's golfing
Golf has long been a pastime for US presidents, from Woodrow Wilson to George W. Bush and Donald Trump. However, Barack Obama's golfing habits have drawn criticism from various quarters, including the media, the public, and his political opponents.
One of the main criticisms levelled at Obama is the amount of time he spent on the golf course during his presidency. Some sources claim that Obama played 150 rounds of golf during his time in office, while others put the number at 333 rounds or even more. This equates to approximately 247 rounds or over 1,100 hours spent playing golf as president, according to different estimates. Obama's frequent golfing outings, often on a weekly basis, led to accusations of neglect of his presidential duties and a lack of focus on important issues.
Obama's golfing also attracted scrutiny due to the financial burden on American taxpayers. The trips involved expenses for Air Force One flights, Secret Service protection, and accommodation, which were estimated to be costly. This aspect of presidential golfing has been a point of contention, with critics arguing that the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Obama's choice of golf partners also sparked criticism. He played with politicians from across the aisle, such as House Speaker John A. Boehner and Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss. Cultural critic Elayne Rapping commented on Obama's golfing with Boehner, stating, "Now he's playing golf with John Boehner, which is about the most uncool thing there is." Obama's games with Republican lawmakers raised eyebrows among his Democratic colleagues, who seemed displeased with the choice of playing partners.
Obama's golfing habits were also used as a political tool by his opponents. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump criticised Obama's golfing in a short video on Instagram, suggesting that Obama was not sufficiently dedicated to his presidential responsibilities. Trump also made statements claiming that Obama's struggles to pass legislation were due to his frequent golfing outings. Trump further accused the media of applying a double standard by not criticising Obama's golfing as harshly as they did his own.
In conclusion, while golfing is a traditional pastime for US presidents, Barack Obama's golfing habits attracted a significant amount of criticism. The main points of contention were the frequency of his outings, the financial cost to taxpayers, his choice of golf partners, and the political implications of his hobby. These criticisms contributed to a perception of Obama as being less focused on his presidential duties and more concerned with leisure activities.
Foursomes Format: Golf's Unique Team Play
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Obama's golfing expenses
Barack Obama played around 105 rounds of golf during his presidency, according to one source. However, other sources place the number at 150 rounds. Obama's golfing partners included White House trip director Marvin Nicholson, who played with him almost weekly, and politicians such as Bill Clinton, John A. Boehner, and Michael R. Bloomberg. Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, was a vocal critic of Obama's golfing during his presidential campaign, but Trump's golfing trips have cost taxpayers $142 million, according to TrumpGolfCount.com, with trips to Mar-a-Lago onboard Air Force One accounting for $59 million of that total. Obama and his family's travel expenses during his eight years in office cost taxpayers $85 million, according to Judicial Watch, a conservative government watchdog group, with their annual trips to Hawaii costing around $3.5 million. Obama's vacations to Martha's Vineyard during the 2007-2012 recession also drew criticism from the media.
Golf has long been a popular pastime for US presidents, dating back to Dwight D. Eisenhower, who is thought to have played around 800 rounds on the White House lawn. While some may criticize the financial burden of presidential golfing on taxpayers, others argue that it is a harmless diversion that can even help presidents stay sharp when making important decisions. Obama himself never claimed to be a great golfer, and his handicap was estimated at 17 by Golf Digest magazine in 2011.
While Obama's golfing expenses may have been a source of controversy for some, it is important to note that presidential vacations have long been a target for criticism. Obama's predecessor, Trump, was criticized for his frequent trips to his properties, such as Mar-a-Lago and his resort in Los Angeles, which cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Obama's vacations to Martha's Vineyard during the recession were also scrutinized by the media, drawing comparisons to other presidents who faced backlash for their vacations, such as George W. Bush, who took long vacations to his ranch in Texas during the Iraq War.
In conclusion, Obama's golfing expenses, while a source of scrutiny, were relatively modest compared to those of his successor, Donald Trump. Obama's golfing trips and family vacations cost taxpayers around $85 million during his eight years in office, while Trump's golfing expenses alone cost over $100 million during his time in office. The high costs of presidential golfing highlight a disconnect between campaign promises and the realities of governing, as well as the ongoing scrutiny faced by presidents when it comes to their personal time and expenses.
Golf Galaxy: A Golfer's Paradise
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Obama's golfing skills
Former US President Barack Obama has been described as a "golf nut" and a "golf lover". Obama himself has said that golf helps him "clear his mind and stay sharp for making important decisions".
Obama played a lot of golf during his presidency. He played 105 rounds of golf during his time in office, according to one source, and 333 rounds, according to another. He played 64 rounds in 2016, his final year in office, and 39 rounds in 2013, his record for a year at the time. Obama played more than half of his golf (129 rounds) during his second term.
Obama's golfing partners included White House trip director Marvin Nicholson, who played with him almost every week, and US Trade Rep Ron Kirk. Obama also golfed with athletes, celebrities, and politicians, including former President Bill Clinton, House Speaker John Boehner, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe.
Obama's love of golf caused some controversy. He was criticised for golfing while Louisiana battled floods, and after speaking with the parents of journalist James Foley, who was beheaded by ISIS in 2014. Obama's golfing trips were also expensive for American taxpayers, with one 2013 round costing $3.6 million.
Despite his enthusiasm for the sport, Obama never claimed to be a great golfer. In 2011, Golf Digest estimated his handicap at 17, and in 2016, he told the Golf Channel's David Feherty that he was an "honest 13". Obama's swing was described as looking "a lot better" in 2010, and he was said to always keep an accurate score, refusing do-over shots.
How Profitable is Putt-Putt Golf?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Golfing US presidents
Dwight D. Eisenhower is said to have played 800 rounds of golf during his presidency, making him America's golfer-in-chief. He even brought the sport to the White House lawn. Eisenhower was a friend of Arnold Palmer and a member of Augusta National. He played every Wednesday in Washington, DC.
Other golfing presidents include William Howard Taft, the first true golfing president; Warren Harding, who played twice a week; Woodrow Wilson, who, like Harding, has a course named after him at Griffith Park Golf Club in Los Angeles; and John F. Kennedy, who kept his golf outings hidden from the media and often skipped around to different holes, rarely playing a full round.
President Barack Obama played approximately 105 rounds of golf during his presidency. Obama played golf weekly and was joined by politicians such as former President Bill Clinton, House Speaker John A. Boehner, and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Obama also golfed with his staff, including White House trip director Marvin Nicholson and U.S. Trade Rep Ron Kirk.
President Donald Trump has been criticised for the amount of time he spent golfing. As of November 8, 2020, he had made 285 daytime visits to golf clubs since his inauguration, with evidence of him playing on at least 142 occasions. Trump's golfing trips have been estimated to have cost taxpayers $142 million.
Golf MOI: Understanding the Basics of Moment of Inertia
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to the Washington Times, President Obama played 150 rounds of golf as of November 2013.
Yes, President Obama faced criticism for his frequent golfing outings. He was blasted for golfing while Louisiana battled floods and after speaking with the parents of journalist James Foley, who was beheaded by ISIS in 2014.
Obama golfed with several athletes, celebrities, and politicians. Some of his partners included Bill Clinton, John Boehner, Michael Bloomberg, Terry McAuliffe, Ben Finkenbinder, Marvin Nicholson, and Ron Kirk.
While Obama golfed frequently, he is not the most golfing-obsessed president in US history. The king of golfing presidents was Woodrow Wilson, who played over 1,000 rounds while in office from 1913 to 1921. Dwight D. Eisenhower is estimated to have played around 800 rounds, bringing golfing to the White House lawn.
