Miles Bennett
Golf has long been a favourite pastime of American presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama, and now Joe Biden. Biden, once an avid golfer, played his first round as president at the Wilmington Country Club in April 2021. This was his only golf outing during his first 100 days in office, compared to his predecessor Donald Trump, who played 19 times during the same period. Trump, known for his love of golf, has challenged Biden to a game, sparking media coverage and discussions about the rivalry between the two leaders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times Biden has golfed in his first 100 days as president | Once |
| Biden's golf course of choice | Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware |
| Biden's golf partners | Senior advisor Steve Ricchetti and Ron Olivere, the father-in-law of his late son, Beau |
| Biden's handicap index | Just over 6 |
| Biden's history with golf | Grew up caddying at Wilmington Country Club; played frequently as vice president |
| Biden's thoughts on golfing | "The course record was still intact." |
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What You'll Learn
Biden plays golf for the first time as president in April 2021
On April 17, 2021, US President Joe Biden played golf for the first time since taking office. He played at the Wilmington Country Club in his home state of Delaware, where he is a member. He was joined by senior advisor Steve Ricchetti and Ron Olivere, the father-in-law of his late son, Beau.
Biden's handicap index is just over 6, according to the United States Golf Association. However, he had not logged a round of golf since 2018. During his time as vice president under Barack Obama, Biden played golf frequently. His love for the sport has been well-documented over the years, and he even grew up caddying at the Wilmington Country Club.
While Biden has only played a handful of times since becoming president, his predecessor, Donald Trump, played a total of over 300 rounds during his four years in office, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's frequent golfing trips sparked criticism from those who accused him of neglecting his presidential duties, and he defended his actions as "exercise".
Biden's first round of golf as president was met with varying reactions. Some may find it surprising that he has only played a few rounds while in office, but it appears that he is prioritizing his responsibilities as leader of the United States. Others speculate about how much time presidents spend on leisure activities versus governing. Nonetheless, Biden has expressed his enjoyment of golfing, stating, "The great thing about it is that I’m outside…I’m doing something I enjoy."
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Biden golfed once in his first 100 days as president
Golf has long been a favorite pastime of American presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Joe Biden is no exception. However, Biden has been keen to avoid the criticism levelled at Trump for neglecting his presidential duties in favor of his golf hobby.
In his first 100 days as president, Biden golfed just once. This was in contrast to Trump, who visited golf courses 19 times in the same period. Biden played at the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware on April 17, 2021, his 87th day in office. He was joined by White House advisor Steve Ricchetti and Ron Olivere, the father-in-law of his late son, Beau.
Biden's golf outing was his first since taking office in January 2021. He had not logged a round since 2018, according to the United States Golf Association. Biden is a member of the Wilmington Country Club and played golf frequently as vice president. He grew up caddying at the club and has used his passion for golf as a tool for diplomacy.
Biden's predecessor, Trump, was known for his love of golf and his competitive spirit. He played over 300 rounds during his four years in office, including at his own golf clubs in Florida, Virginia, and New Jersey. Trump has publicly challenged Biden to a game of golf, a challenge that has sparked media coverage and public interest.
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Trump golfed 19 times in his first 100 days as president
While golf has been a favourite pastime of many US presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, the sport has been a particularly notable aspect of Donald Trump's presidency. Trump golfed 19 times in his first 100 days as president, visiting golf courses in Northern Virginia and Florida. This frequency of golfing outings sparked criticism from those who accused him of neglecting his presidential duties, with some estimating that his golfing trips cost taxpayers $142 million. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, was often criticised by Trump for his golf outings during his presidency. However, Trump's golfing frequency far outpaced Obama's, with 298 golfing trips in one term compared to Obama's 333 visits over eight years.
In contrast, President Joe Biden has taken a more reserved approach to golfing during his presidency. Biden played golf once in his first 100 days in office, visiting the Wilmington Country Club in his home state of Delaware. Unlike Trump, Biden does not publicly report his golf outings, making it challenging to determine the exact number of times he has played. However, various sources indicate that Biden has played at least six times since taking office in January 2021. Biden's relationship with golf dates back to his youth, as he grew up caddying at the Wilmington Country Club and played frequently during his time as Vice President.
The differing golfing habits of Trump and Biden highlight a contrast in leisure activities and approaches to the public perception of presidential duties. While Trump faced criticism for his frequent golfing outings, Biden has been mocked by figures like former Ohio Gov. John Kasich for his golfing ability rather than the frequency of his outings. This dynamic underscores the ongoing scrutiny and speculation surrounding how US presidents spend their time while in office and the potential political implications of their leisure activities.
Trump's golfing habits during his presidency have been a topic of interest and controversy. His frequent golfing trips, often to golf clubs he owned in Florida, Virginia, and New Jersey, generated criticism for their financial cost to taxpayers and the perception of neglected presidential duties. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, also faced criticism from Trump for his golf outings, with Trump stating that he would not have time to play golf as president. However, Trump's golfing frequency exceeded that of his predecessors, contributing to his legacy as one of the most frequent golfing presidents in recent history.
In summary, Trump golfed 19 times in his first 100 days as president, sparking criticism for the frequency of his outings and their financial implications. Biden, in contrast, golfed once in his first 100 days in office, maintaining a lower profile in terms of his golfing habits and facing scrutiny for his golfing ability rather than the frequency of his outings. These contrasting approaches to the sport during their presidencies have contributed to the ongoing dialogue surrounding presidential leisure activities and their potential political implications.
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Trump challenges Biden to a game of golf
While it is unclear if Trump ever directly challenged Biden to a game of golf, the two have been rivals on the golf course, with Trump claiming he had the superior game. The rivalry was so heated that their discussion of their golf skills came up in their only debate in June 2024. Biden claimed that his handicap when he was vice president was a six, but Trump was skeptical, saying, "I've seen your swing. I know your swing."
Trump played a lot of golf during his presidency, totaling over 300 rounds in his four years in office, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He would only play at country clubs he owned in Florida, Virginia, and New Jersey. In his first term, he even had a golf simulator installed in the White House. By contrast, Biden has played golf much less frequently as president, with a handicap index of just over 6, according to the United States Golf Association. He played his first round as president at the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware in April 2021, his only round in his first 100 days in office.
Biden has a long history with the sport, growing up caddying at the Wilmington Country Club and playing frequently as vice president. However, he has not logged a round since 2018 and has only played a few times as president. While Biden has not been as vocal about his golf habits as Trump, he has reportedly used his passion for golf as a tool for diplomacy.
Trump's frequent golf outings generated controversy among his political opponents, who accused him of neglecting his duties as president. This may explain why Biden has played less golf as president, prioritizing his other responsibilities as leader of the country. Despite the differences in their golfing habits, both Trump and Biden have mixed the sport with their White House duties, showing how golf has been used by US presidents as both an escape and an extension of the Oval Office.
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Biden's golfing ability mocked by former Ohio Gov. John Kasich
While golf has been a favourite pastime of many US presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, Biden's golfing ability has been mocked by former Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Biden, who played golf frequently as vice president, is a member of the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware, where he grew up caddying. He played his first round of golf as president on April 17, 2021, at the same club, along with White House advisor Steve Ricchetti and Ron Olivere, the father-in-law of his late son, Beau. This was his only round of golf in his first 100 days as president, a stark contrast to Trump, who visited golf courses 19 times during the same period in his presidency.
Despite Biden's long history with the sport, his ability has been called into question by Kasich, who made a public dig at Biden's golfing skills. At the GOP convention, Kasich recounted that "Joe Biden told me that he was a good golfer," but followed up with, "And I've played golf with Joe Biden. I can tell you that's not true." This comment by Kasich, made after playing with Biden, then-House Speaker John Boehner, and Obama in 2011, sparked confusion among the District's golfers, as Biden has long been known for his golfing prowess, with a single-digit handicap and a ranking of 68th in Golf Digest's 2016 list of top players in DC.
While Biden's golfing frequency as president may be surprising to some, it is clear that he is prioritising his responsibilities as the leader of the country. Biden has also been criticised for his golfing habits, with some speculating about the amount of time he spends on leisure activities versus governing. However, golf has also been a tool for diplomacy, providing an opportunity for relaxation away from the public eye.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, President Biden does play golf. He played his first round as president on April 17, 2021, at the Wilmington Country Club in his home state of Delaware.
President Biden has played golf infrequently during his time in office. He played once in his first 100 days as president, a stark contrast to his predecessor, Donald Trump, who played 19 times during the same period.
President Biden is a decent golfer. He has a handicap index of just over 6, according to the United States Golf Association. However, his ability has been mocked by some, including former Ohio Governor John Kasich.
