Trevor Ng
Former US President Barack Obama played a significant amount of golf during his eight years in office, with estimates ranging from 333 rounds of golf, or 41 rounds per year, to 105 rounds during his presidency. This equates to a rate of once every 8.77 days and has sparked discussions about presidential leisure time and priorities. Obama faced criticism for his frequent golfing, especially from his successor, Donald Trump, who has been reported to have played more golf during his time in office.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of rounds of golf in the first year of presidency | 31 |
| Number of rounds of golf in the second year of presidency | 63 |
| Total number of rounds of golf during his presidency | 333 |
| Average number of rounds of golf per year during his presidency | 35 |
| Number of rounds of golf during a two-week vacation on Martha's Vineyard | 8 |
| Number of trips to Hawaii for vacation through this point in his first presidential term | 3 |
| Total miles flown to Hawaii for vacation through this point in his first presidential term | 29,978 |
| Number of rounds of golf through this point in his presidency | 98 |
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What You'll Learn
Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his presidency
Former US President Barack Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his eight years in office, according to various sources. This equates to around 41 rounds per year, or a rate of once every 8.77 days.
Obama faced criticism for his frequent golfing, with his successor Donald Trump claiming during the 2016 election campaign that Obama "ought to get off the golf course" and that he played a lot of golf. However, despite Trump's vocal criticism of Obama's golfing habits, data shows that Trump played significantly more golf during his presidency than Obama. Trump spent at least 248 days of his first term at golf clubs, compared to Obama's 98 days by the same point in his presidency.
Obama's golfing outings contributed to public discussion around presidential leisure time and priorities. He often played with friends and other dignitaries, including Vernon Jordan, Clinton, Tiger Woods, basketball star Ray Allen, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He also played with several top CEOs, including former UBS CEO and Obama fundraiser Robert Wolf, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, and Silver Lake Co-CEO Glen Hutchins.
Obama's golf outings also had political purposes, such as when he played with Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner. According to Boehner's memoir, they kept their conversations casual while on the course but engaged in debt ceiling discussions in the clubhouse, agreeing to proceed with behind-the-scenes negotiations.
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Trump criticised Obama for golfing while in office
During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly attacked his predecessor, Barack Obama, for golfing while in office. Trump claimed that Obama's golfing showed he wasn't working hard, and that he would not have time to play golf if he were elected.
In one of his tweets, Trump criticised Obama for "always playing golf," and for teeing off immediately after announcing the murder of journalist James Foley by ISIS. Obama himself later conceded that golfing after condemning Foley's death was a mistake, acknowledging that it gave a bad impression.
However, despite his criticism of Obama, Trump has spent significantly more time at golf clubs than Obama did during his time in office. According to a Washington Post analysis, Trump has almost always played more golf than Obama on a month-to-month basis, and his average time between rounds is lower. By May 2020, Trump had spent 268 days at a golf course in less than four years, while Obama spent 333 days golfing during his entire eight-year presidency. Trump has also made more trips to golf resorts, with his visits often being to properties he owns, which has resulted in his company generating revenue from charges to the Secret Service.
The cost of Trump's golf trips has been a further source of criticism, with federal agencies spending an average of $13.6 million on each of four trips to Mar-a-Lago during his first term in office, with a portion of that money going directly to Trump. Trump's golfing trips have been estimated to have cost taxpayers $142 million so far, with trips to Mar-a-Lago onboard Air Force One accounting for $59 million.
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Obama's frequent golfing was a topic of discussion
Former US President Barack Obama played a significant amount of golf during his eight years in office, with estimates ranging from 333 rounds to 41 rounds per year. This made him a target of criticism, particularly from his successor, Donald Trump, who had tweeted in 2014: "Can you believe that, with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf. Worse than Carter".
Obama's frequent golfing outings contributed to public discussions around presidential leisure time and priorities. They also sparked conversations about the financial burden on taxpayers, as trips involving Air Force One, Secret Service protection, and accommodation incurred significant expenses. The scrutiny on Obama's golfing habits was further intensified by comparisons with other presidents, both past and present.
During his presidential campaign, Trump vowed to work diligently for the American people and promised not to indulge in golfing excursions. However, Trump's own golfing habits while in office have come under scrutiny, with some sources indicating that he played more golf in his first 100 days than Obama did during his entire presidency. Trump's golfing trips have also been associated with substantial costs to taxpayers, with estimates reaching tens of millions of dollars.
The contrasting attitudes and actions of Obama and Trump regarding golfing while in office have been a topic of interest in the media and among the public. While Obama faced criticism for his golfing frequency, Trump has been scrutinized for the time spent on the golf course and the financial implications of his trips. This dynamic highlights the evolving nature of presidential leisure activities and the shifting public perception of how a president's free time should be spent.
In summary, Obama's frequent golfing was indeed a topic of discussion, inviting criticism and comparisons with other presidents. The dialogue surrounding Obama's golfing habits extended beyond his time in office, with his successor, Trump, facing scrutiny for his own golfing activities and the associated financial burden on taxpayers.
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Trump has played more golf than Obama
While Barack Obama was often criticized for his frequent golfing, his successor, Donald Trump, has played significantly more golf than him. Obama played around 333 rounds of golf during his eight years as president, averaging 41 rounds per year or once every 8.77 days. In contrast, Trump has been reported to have played more than twice as many rounds of golf as Obama, with estimates ranging from 138% to over 200% more. Trump played 75 rounds in his first year and 63 in his second, totaling 310 rounds in his first two years in office.
Trump's frequent golfing has been a source of criticism, with some arguing that he is not spending enough time on his presidential duties. During the 2016 election campaign, Trump criticized Obama's golfing, stating that he ought to "get off the golf course" and that he would be working for the people and would not have time to play golf. However, Trump's actions as president have contradicted his previous statements, as he has regularly spent time golfing, often at his own golf clubs and resorts, such as Mar-a-Lago, which he refers to as his "winter White House."
The cost of Trump's golfing trips has also been a point of contention, with estimates suggesting that they have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Federal agencies spent an average of $13.6 million on each of four Trump odysseys to Mar-a-Lago during his first term, and Trump's trips to his Florida properties have resulted in significant expenses for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies. These expenses include overtime pay, accommodation, and protection for the president.
While both Obama and Trump have been criticized for their golfing habits, the numbers indicate that Trump has played considerably more golf during his presidency, despite his previous criticisms of Obama. The disparity in their golfing habits may be due to their different approaches to the game, with Trump using golf as a means to conduct business and forge political relationships, whereas Obama viewed it primarily as a leisure activity.
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Obama played golf with friends and dignitaries
Barack Obama was known for his love of golf, playing approximately 306 to 333 rounds during his eight-year presidency. This averages out to about 41 rounds per year or once every 8.77 days. Obama's dedication to the sport sparked criticism from some, who felt he played too frequently. However, he defended his pastime, arguing that golf provided him with an opportunity to stay active while also conducting business.
Obama often played golf with friends, aides, and foreign leaders or dignitaries. His golf outings sparked discussions around presidential leisure time and priorities, highlighting a shift in how the public perceived a president's engagement in sports during their tenure.
One notable incident involving Obama's golfing occurred in 2014 while on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Minutes after condemning the murder of journalist James Foley by ISIS, Obama faced criticism for teeing off, with Trump commenting, "He doesn't have enough time because he's playing so much golf."
While Obama was often criticised for his golfing, his successor, Donald Trump, has spent significantly more time on the golf course. Trump has been known to use golf as an opportunity for business meetings with foreign dignitaries and other world leaders, hosting celebrity tournaments, and spending time at his own golf clubs and courses. Despite claiming during his campaign that he would not have time to play golf as president, Trump has played an estimated 300 rounds in four years, averaging about 75 rounds per year or twice a week.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Obama did not golf daily. He played a total of 333 rounds of golf over his eight-year presidency, averaging 31 rounds per year.
No, Trump has played more golf than Obama. Trump has spent more time golfing and has a bigger "carbon footprint" from air travel to golf courses.
Yes, Obama faced criticism for golfing while on the job and during crises, such as the Islamic State challenge in Iraq and Syria, and racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. Trump frequently criticised Obama for golfing while campaigning, claiming he would not have time to play golf if he were elected.
Yes, Obama played golf in Hawaii during his annual vacations to his birth state.
Yes, Obama played eight rounds of golf during his two-week vacation on Martha's Vineyard in 2014.
