Jackson Reid
Joe Biden has been known to enjoy a round of golf or two, with the current US President playing his first round as President in April 2021. Biden's golfing abilities have been called into question, with the President himself claiming to have a handicap of six, although former President Donald Trump and former Ohio Governor John Kasich have disputed this. Trump and Biden have often compared their golfing abilities, with Biden criticising Trump for playing golf during the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden has played at least 333 rounds of golf during his time in office, compared to Trump's 298 rounds during his single term.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times Biden golfed in his first 100 days as president | Once |
| Biden's golf handicap | 6 |
| Biden's last logged golf round before becoming president | 2018 |
| Biden's golf partners on April 17, 2021 | Senior advisor Steve Ricchetti and Ron Olivere |
| Biden's golf course on April 17, 2021 | Wilmington Country Club |
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What You'll Learn
Biden played golf once in his first 100 days as president
Golf has long been a favourite pastime of presidents. From Woodrow Wilson to Donald Trump, many presidents have mixed golf with their White House duties. Trump, in particular, was an avid golfer, playing regularly on weekends at Mar-a-Lago and visiting his golf courses in Northern Virginia and Florida 19 times by his 100th day in office.
However, Joe Biden has taken a different approach to golf during his presidency. In his first 100 days as president, Biden played golf only once. On April 17, 2021, Biden played a round of golf at the Wilmington Country Club in his home state of Delaware. This was his first time playing golf since taking office in January and his first official round since 2018. Biden played alongside White House advisor Steve Ricchetti and Ron Olivere, the father-in-law of his late son, Beau.
Biden's low golf count during his first 100 days as president stands in stark contrast to Trump, who visited golf courses 19 times during the same period at the beginning of his term. While Trump faced criticism for neglecting his presidential duties due to his frequent golfing, Biden has prioritized other activities during his time in office.
It is worth noting that Biden was once an avid golfer himself, often playing golf as vice president. However, his ability has been mocked by some, including former Ohio Governor John Kasich, who made light of Biden's skills at the GOP convention. Despite this, Biden maintains that he could have beaten Trump on the golf course, showcasing the rivalry between the two politicians even in their leisure activities.
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Biden's predecessor, Trump, played golf 19 times in his first 100 days
Golf has been a popular pastime for many US presidents over the last century, with the sport becoming closely associated with the office. While in office, Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, played golf 19 times in his first 100 days. Trump, who owns 17 golf courses, has been criticised for spending too much time on the golf course and neglecting his presidential duties. He has defended his actions as "exercise".
Trump's golf outings have been tracked by websites such as TrumpGolfCount.com, which claims he visited golf clubs 285 times and played on at least 142 occasions as of November 8, 2020. This surpasses former President Barack Obama's record of 333 golf outings over eight years in office. Trump had criticised Obama for playing too much golf, but he has exceeded Obama's pace, going on 19 golf outings in his first 100 days compared to Obama's one.
The tradition of presidential golf is rooted in the American association of golf with the upper class. The first American president to play golf while in office was William Taft, commander-in-chief from 1909 to 1913. However, the cultural link between golfing and the presidency was solidified during Dwight Eisenhower's presidency from 1953 to 1961, with Eisenhower bringing golf to the White House lawn and playing around 800 rounds.
Biden, a solid golfer in his younger years, has a more relaxed attitude towards the game. He played golf once in his first 100 days in office, visiting the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware on April 17, 2021. While Biden has joked about Trump's golfing habits, he has also claimed that he could have beaten Trump on the golf course.
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Trump has mixed golf with White House duties
While presidential golf traditions have evolved since Woodrow Wilson's time in office, Donald Trump has been criticised for mixing golf with his White House duties. Trump is an avid golfer, having acquired and constructed golf courses since 1999. By 2016, he owned 17 golf courses worldwide through his holding company, the Trump Organization.
Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, was criticised by Trump for golfing while in office. However, Trump far outpaced Obama's record, with 298 golfing trips in one term compared to Obama's 333 visits over eight years. Trump's frequent visits to his golf courses have been alleged to boost publicity and sell more memberships. Furthermore, Trump's mixing of golf and work differs from some of his predecessors, who preferred to separate their official duties from their leisure time on the golf course.
Trump's golfing has also been a financial concern. As president, he maintained ownership of his businesses, including his golf courses, which led to criticism from ethics lawyers and journalists for potential conflicts of interest. Each visit to his golf courses in Florida cost taxpayers about a million dollars in travel expenses. Trump's constant visits to his Mar-a-Lago resort, which he dubbed his "winter White House," have raised questions about the focus of his presidency and the potential promotion of his business interests.
Trump's love for golf has also influenced American diplomacy. He has conducted business on the golf course, and his golfing relationships with foreign leaders, such as Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, have impacted international relations. Trump's approach to mixing golf with his presidential duties reflects his mindset and the evolution of presidential golf traditions.
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Biden played golf frequently as vice president
While Joe Biden has played golf as president, he did not play that much while in the White House, and he played much more frequently as vice president. Biden played golf once in his first 100 days in office as president, visiting the Wilmington Country Club in his home state of Delaware on his 87th day in office. This was his first round since 2018, and his handicap index is just over 6.
Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, played much more golf, with 19 outings in his first 100 days in office. Over his four-year term, Trump played over 300 rounds, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump has been criticised for neglecting his presidential duties by playing golf, though he defended his actions as "exercise".
By contrast, Biden played golf frequently as vice president under Barack Obama. Biden's ability as a golfer has been mocked by former Ohio Governor John Kasich, who said at the GOP convention, "Joe Biden told me that he was a good golfer. And I've played golf with Joe Biden". Biden himself has claimed that he could have beaten Trump on the links, and during their 2024 debate, he needled Trump for being dishonest about his golf score.
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Biden's ability as a golfer has been mocked
While Joe Biden has played golf, his ability as a golfer has been mocked. Biden, who played golf frequently as vice president, has only played a handful of times since taking office as president. His first game of golf as president was on April 17, 2021, at the Wilmington Country Club in his home state of Delaware. This was his first game since 2018, and it was noted that he had not played much while in the White House.
Biden's self-proclaimed ability as a golfer has been a source of humour for some. Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, for example, mocked Biden's ability at the GOP convention, stating, "Joe Biden told me that he was a good golfer... And I've played golf with Joe Biden". Biden's claim that he could have beaten former president Donald Trump on the links has also been met with scepticism. During their 2024 debate, Trump was dubious of Biden's assertion, stating, "I've seen your swing".
Trump, who played golf frequently during his time in office, totalling over 300 rounds in four years, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has criticised Biden's golfing ability. Trump, who had a golf simulator installed in the White House, has questioned Biden's handicap, claiming that Biden's swing is not that of a skilled golfer.
Despite the mockery, Biden has maintained a handicap index of just over 6, according to the United States Golf Association. This suggests that, while he may not play as often as some of his predecessors, Biden does possess a certain level of skill in the game.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Joe Biden plays golf. He played his first round as president on April 17, 2021, at the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware.
Joe Biden played golf once in his first 100 days as president. During the same period, his predecessor, Donald Trump, went to the golf course 19 times.
Joe Biden's handicap index is just over 6, according to the United States Golf Association. Biden himself claimed to have a handicap of 6, but later admitted it was an 8.
Yes, Joe Biden played golf frequently as vice president. He often flew at taxpayer expense to play golf with President Barack Obama.
