Harper Lin
Former US President Barack Obama has been criticised for golfing on Memorial Day. Obama golfed on Memorial Day weekend seven out of eight times during his presidency, with the exception of 2010, when he visited Chicago. Obama's decision to play golf on Memorial Day has been compared to President George W. Bush, who gave up the game early in his presidency, stating that he did so out of respect for the families of those killed in Iraq. While some critics have called Obama's actions insensitive and disrespectful, others have defended his choice to engage in simple pleasures with family and friends, arguing that the leader of the armed forces can show respect for Memorial Day by not working.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Obama golf on Memorial Day | Yes |
| Number of times Obama golfed on Memorial Day | 7 out of 8 Memorial Day weekends during his presidency |
| Dates Obama golfed on Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2009, Monday, May 30, 2011, Saturday, May 26, 2012, Saturday, May 25, 2013, Saturday, May 24, 2014, Saturday, May 23, 2015, Saturday, May 28, 2016 |
| Obama's activities on Memorial Day | Laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, met with families of those killed in battle |
| Criticism of Obama golfing on Memorial Day | Disrespectful to fallen soldiers, inappropriate, displays bad judgment |
| Defence of Obama | Obama is human, not a priest, can show respect for Memorial Day by not working |
| Political context | Biden and Trump criticised for golfing during the COVID-19 pandemic |
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What You'll Learn
Obama golfed on 7/8 Memorial Day weekends
Barack Obama golfed on seven out of eight Memorial Day weekends during his presidency. The dates he golfed on Memorial Day weekend were:
- Monday, May 25, 2009
- Monday, May 30, 2011
- Saturday, May 26, 2012
- Saturday, May 25, 2013
- Saturday, May 24, 2014
- Saturday, May 23, 2015
- Saturday, May 28, 2016
The only exception was in 2010, when Obama visited Chicago and laid a wreath at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
Obama's decision to golf on Memorial Day sparked criticism from some who viewed it as disrespectful to fallen soldiers. However, others defended Obama, arguing that he had already fulfilled the symbolic duties of the president by laying a wreath.
Obama's golfing habits were also compared to those of former president George W. Bush, who gave up the game early in his presidency, stating that he did so out of respect for the families of those killed in Iraq.
Obama's Memorial Day golfing has been referenced by both Donald Trump and Joe Biden in their criticisms of each other's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Obama's golf partners
Former US President Barack Obama has been criticized for golfing on Memorial Day weekend. Obama golfed on Memorial Day weekend every year except in 2010, according to TrumpGolfOutings.com.
Obama has played golf with sports journalists Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon. He has also played with John Kerry, who he met while Kerry was a senator.
Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his eight years as president, which equates to about once every 8.77 days.
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Obama's golf courses
Barack Obama played golf on seven out of eight Memorial Day weekends during his presidency. Obama was criticised for golfing on Memorial Day, with some arguing that it was disrespectful to fallen soldiers. However, Obama did engage in the honorary practices typical of a president on Memorial Day, such as laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Obama was an avid golfer during his presidency, playing 333 rounds during his eight years in office, which equates to once every 8.77 days. Since leaving the White House, Obama has joined two D.C.-area private golf clubs: the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainseville, Virginia, and the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Obama was last seen on a golf course in September 2017 when he attended the Presidents Cup at Liberty National.
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Club is a one-hour drive from the Obama residence and has hosted four previous Presidents Cups. The Columbia Country Club is just a six-mile drive from the Obamas' home in Kalorama Heights, and its members seem happy about the decision to invite Obama, with one member saying, "I think most members will welcome him".
Obama has also been known to golf in Hawaii, which his successor, Donald Trump, criticised as being detrimental to his carbon footprint. However, Trump has spent far more time at golf clubs than Obama had at the same point in his term, with Trump spending all or part of 248 days at a golf course, compared to Obama's 98 rounds at this point in his presidency.
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Obama's golfing frequency
Barack Obama played golf more than 300 times during his presidency, often conducting business on the course. He played with high-profile figures, including Clinton, Tiger Woods, basketball star Ray Allen, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Obama also played with CEOs such as former UBS CEO Robert Wolf and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts.
Obama faced criticism for golfing on Memorial Day, with some arguing that it was disrespectful to fallen soldiers. However, he did engage in traditional presidential practices on Memorial Day, such as laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or, in 2010, at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Chicago. According to TrumpGolfOutings.com, Obama golfed on Memorial Day weekend seven out of eight times during his presidency, with 2010 being the exception.
Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, frequently criticised him for his golf outings, stating that he would not have time to play golf as president. However, during his first 100 days in office, Trump spent more time golfing than his last three predecessors, including Obama.
Overall, while Obama's golfing frequency, especially on Memorial Day, sparked debates and criticism, he was not the only president to incorporate golf into his time in office. Golf has been a tradition among presidents, with varying relationships to the sport, and it has served as both an escape and an extension of the Oval Office.
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Criticism of Obama's Memorial Day golf
President Barack Obama has been criticised for choosing to play golf on Memorial Day weekend. Obama golfed on Memorial Day weekend seven out of eight times during his presidency, according to TrumpGolfOutings.com. This has been interpreted by some as a sign of disrespect towards America's fallen soldiers.
Right-Wing Criticism
Right-wing bloggers and Republicans have been particularly vocal in their disapproval of Obama's Memorial Day golf outings. One commentator called it an "insult to everyone that's worn a military uniform", while another suggested that Obama was "balancing the budget on the backs of the troops". Obama's decision has also been compared unfavourably to that of President George W. Bush, who gave up golf early in his presidency out of respect for the families of those killed in Iraq.
Responses to Criticism
Others have defended Obama, arguing that he first performed the symbolic duties of the president on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and meeting with families of those killed in battle. They also point out that Obama, as the leader of the armed forces, can show respect for Memorial Day by not working and engaging in leisure activities.
Double Standards
Some have also criticised the double standards applied to Obama compared to his successor, Donald Trump. Despite Trump also playing golf on Memorial Day and facing similar accusations of disrespect, his actions did not receive the same level of scrutiny from the mainstream press. Instead, Trump himself was quick to criticise Obama's Memorial Day golfing, taking to Twitter to point out his predecessor's actions while defending his own hobby.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Obama golfed on Memorial Day in 2011.
No, Obama golfed on Memorial Day every year during his presidency, except in 2010.
In 2010, Obama chose to visit Chicago. He laid a wreath at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery near the city.
By 2014, Obama had golfed around 100 times during his presidency.
Obama golfed on Memorial Day 7 out of 8 times during his presidency.
