Harper Lin
Barack Obama's golf game in Hawaii forced a military couple, Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr., to relocate their wedding ceremony a day before their planned nuptials. The couple, who were both US Army captains, were scheduled to tie the knot at the 16th hole of the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, located near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua. While the White House denied prior knowledge of the couple's relocation, Obama personally called the bride to apologize and congratulate her, making their wedding all the more memorable. This incident sparked discussions about the frequency of Obama's golf outings and their impact on the public, with critics, including President Donald Trump, drawing attention to the former president's golfing habits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | December 2014 |
| People Involved | Barack Obama, Natalie Heimel, Edward Mallue Jr. |
| Location | Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, Hawaii |
| Reason for Relocation | Obama's golf plans |
| Apology | Yes, Obama personally called the couple to apologize |
| Number of Times Obama Played Golf as President | 333 rounds in 8 years |
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What You'll Learn
Obama's golf game forced a couple to relocate their wedding
In December 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama's golf plans forced an Army couple, Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr., to relocate their wedding venue. The couple, both captains in the U.S. Army, had initially planned to get married on the 16th hole of the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua.
Natalie and Edward had just finished their rehearsal on Saturday when they were informed that they would need to find a different location for their ceremony as the President was scheduled to play golf at the same time and place as their wedding. The couple were told to move to another part of the golf course, which offered better views than the original spot. Some guests even caught a glimpse of Obama as he golfed.
The White House later stated that they were unaware that a wedding was taking place when they booked the golf course and that the decision to relocate the wedding was made unilaterally by the golf course manager. Obama personally called the couple to apologise for the inconvenience and to offer his congratulations. The bride, Natalie, told NBC News that she wasn't angry with Obama, acknowledging that the President's visit was one of the two things that could have disrupted their wedding, the other being the weather. She also said that she didn't believe Obama had been made aware of the wedding by his staff.
Obama has faced some criticism for the frequent golf outings during his presidency, with some questioning the timing of his games. However, it is common practice for presidential recreational activities like golf to be kept "unofficial" and not announced beforehand to minimise costs and disruption for securing locations.
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The couple were US Army captains
U.S. Army Captains Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr.'s wedding plans were disrupted by President Barack Obama's round of golf. The couple, who were stationed in Hawaii, had chosen to get married at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, a military course with ocean views near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua. They had planned to exchange vows on the 16th hole of the course, which was located on the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, a spot where Obama frequently played golf while on vacation with his family.
The day before their wedding, Heimel and Mallue Jr. were informed that they would need to relocate their ceremony as the President and his friends intended to play a round of golf at the same time and location. The couple had just finished their rehearsal when they received the news, leaving them little time to make alternative arrangements. Despite the last-minute change, the couple took the disruption in stride, with Heimel's sister, Christie McConnell, describing them as "pretty even-tempered and planners". She added that although it may have been stressful, they seemed to be handling the situation well.
The wedding was moved to another part of the golf course, which reportedly offered even better views than the original spot. Some guests were even lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the President as he golfed nearby. Although the couple had invited Obama to their wedding, they did not expect him to attend, especially as they had received a congratulatory no-show letter from him in response. However, Obama later found out about the clash and personally called the bride to apologize and offer his congratulations.
Obama's golfing outings had previously drawn criticism for their impact on the public. As his recreational activities were often not announced beforehand, they could unexpectedly disrupt people's plans, as seen in this instance. This particular incident sparked discussions about the timing of the President's frequent golf outings and the challenges of balancing presidential duties with leisure activities.
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Obama apologised and congratulated the couple
U.S. Army Captains Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr.'s wedding plans were disrupted by former U.S. President Barack Obama's round of golf in Hawaii in December 2014. The couple, who were getting married at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course near Obama's vacation home, were informed the day before their wedding that they would have to move their ceremony as the former president was due to play golf there.
Obama, who was on vacation in Hawaii, his birth state, was unaware that a wedding was taking place when his staff booked the golf course. The golf course manager made the decision unilaterally, without informing the White House.
Obama personally called the bride to apologise for disrupting their wedding plans and to offer his congratulations. The groom, Edward Mallue Jr., said they weren't angry with Obama, and the bride, Natalie Heimel, told NBC News, "I'm sure that his staffers didn't let him know there was a wedding."
The couple's wedding organiser moved the ceremony to a "much prettier and much nicer venue", and some guests even caught a glimpse of Obama as he golfed. The groom's sister, Jamie McCarthy, said that Obama's personal call to the couple was "wonderful", and the bride's sister, Christie McConnell, said the phone call from the president made the wedding all the more memorable.
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The couple were aware of the risks of a presidential visit
Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr., both US Army captains, were well aware that their wedding venue was near Barack Obama's vacation spot in Hawaii. They knew that the former president loved to play golf and that his visits to Hawaii were often marked by rounds of golf. They were also aware that Obama's recreational activities were typically not announced beforehand, making it difficult to anticipate when his visit might disrupt their plans.
Natalie and Edward had invited Obama to their wedding, but they received a no-show letter in response. The couple knew there was a chance their wedding plans could be affected by the president's visit, and their worst fears came true when they were informed the day before their wedding that they would have to relocate their ceremony. Obama and his friends planned to play golf at the same spot where the wedding was supposed to take place.
The couple had just finished their rehearsal at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, a military course with ocean views near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua, when they were told about the change. They had to move their wedding away from the 16th hole, where Obama would be playing, to another part of the course that offered better views. Some of the wedding guests even caught a glimpse of Obama as he golfed.
Despite the last-minute change, the couple took the disruption in stride. They understood the risks of having their wedding near a presidential vacation spot and did not hold any hard feelings towards Obama. In fact, Obama personally called the couple to apologize for the disruption and to offer his congratulations. The bride, Natalie, later told NBC News, "We knew there were two things that could mess up the wedding. One was the weather and the other was the president. I'm sure that his staffers didn't let him know there was a wedding."
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Obama's golf outings have been criticised
Former US President Barack Obama's golf outings have been criticised on several occasions. One notable incident occurred in 2014 when Obama's golf game in Hawaii forced a military couple, Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr., to relocate their wedding ceremony at the last minute. The couple, who were both US Army captains, had planned to tie the knot at the 16th hole of the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, located on the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, near Obama's vacation spot. This incident sparked some criticism towards Obama, with some questioning the timing and frequency of his golf outings.
Obama has faced scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum for his golfing habits, especially when they appeared to contrast with more somber events. For instance, in 2014, Obama delivered a statement on the death of American journalist James Foley, who was executed by Islamic State militants. Immediately after this somber address, Obama proceeded to play golf, which drew criticism from some, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and left-leaning blogger Ezra Klein.
Another instance of criticism surrounding Obama's golf outings occurred during the Memorial Day weekend of 2020, when the US coronavirus death toll was approaching 100,000. President Donald Trump, facing criticism for his own golfing during this time, attempted to shift the focus onto Obama by claiming that the media failed to cover Obama's frequent golf trips to Hawaii and their impact on the carbon footprint. Trump asserted that Obama was "always playing golf" and accused the media of double standards.
While Obama has been criticised for his golfing, it is worth noting that he played 333 rounds of golf during his eight years as president, which equates to once every 8.77 days. This is significantly less frequent than President Trump, who, at a similar point in his term, had been to a golf club once every 4.92 days and had spent all or part of 248 days at a golf course. Additionally, Obama's golf outings were typically considered "unofficial" and were not announced beforehand, which made it challenging for potential disruptions to be anticipated.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 2014, a military couple, Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr., had to move their wedding venue from the 16th hole of the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course as former US President Barack Obama was playing golf there during the time of their ceremony.
No, Obama was not aware of the wedding. He called the couple to apologise and congratulate them after he found out.
No, the couple did not get angry with Obama. They said they "knew there were two things that could mess up the wedding. One was the weather and the other was the president".
