Harper Lin
Former US President Barack Obama is known for his love of golf, having played approximately 300 rounds during his two-term presidency. Obama's passion for the sport has sparked some controversy, with critics pointing to instances where his golfing caused negative optics, such as when he teed off minutes after announcing the murder of journalist James Foley by ISIS. Despite the criticism, Obama's golf outings served a strategic purpose, helping him unwind and build relationships with foreign leaders. While the exact number of his golf games is unknown, estimates range from 98 to 333 rounds, with some sources claiming he played once every 8.77 days during his presidency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of rounds of golf played by Obama during his presidency | 333 rounds (according to CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller) or 330 rounds |
| Number of rounds of golf played by Trump during his presidency | 285 rounds (according to TrumpGolfCount.com) or 285 rounds (according to other news sources) |
| Number of visits to golf clubs by Trump during his presidency | 300 (according to CNN Politics) or 248-266 days (according to Mark Knoller and CNN respectively) |
| Number of rounds of golf played by Obama through the same point in his presidency as Trump | 98 rounds (according to Mark Knoller) or 105 rounds |
| Number of visits to golf clubs by Trump through mid-August 2017 | 43 times |
| Number of rounds of golf played by Obama annually during his presidency | 41 rounds |
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What You'll Learn
Obama played around 330 rounds of golf during his presidency
Former US President Barack Obama played an estimated 330 rounds of golf during his two terms in office, from 2009 to 2017. This averages out to about 41 rounds per year or once every 8.77 days. Obama's golf habit was well-known, and he was often criticised for it, including by then-citizen Donald Trump, who would later become his successor in the White House.
Trump, himself a golf enthusiast, had tweeted in 2016, "I'm going to be working for you (as President)... I'm not going to have time to go play golf." However, according to various sources, Trump visited golf clubs approximately 300 times during his four-year term, from 2017 to 2021. While not all of these visits involved playing golf, he is estimated to have played around 285 rounds, nearly four times as much as Obama had at the same point in their respective presidencies.
Trump's golf outings also generated controversy, particularly when they coincided with significant events, such as when he played twice on a Memorial Day weekend as the US coronavirus death toll approached 100,000. Trump defended himself by drawing attention to Obama's golfing, including an instance in 2014 when Obama teed off minutes after announcing the murder of journalist James Foley by ISIS. Obama later conceded that golfing so soon after condemning Foley's murder was a mistake.
Despite the criticism both presidents faced, golf has been a popular leisure activity for many US leaders throughout history. Woodrow Wilson, for example, is believed to have played around 1200 rounds during his time in office.
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Trump criticised Obama for golfing too much
During his eight years in office, former President Barack Obama played approximately 333 rounds of golf, averaging around 41 rounds per year or just under once a week. Despite some criticism, Obama argued that he needed to stay active, and golf allowed him to conduct business while staying active.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, has been criticised for spending too much time on the golf course instead of attending to his presidential duties. Trump, who famously criticised Obama for golfing while in office, has been known to play golf at his own golf courses, with critics pointing out the cost of his trips. In 2017, he spent four out of the first seven weekends after his inauguration golfing in Florida. By 2025, US taxpayers had shelled out tens of millions of dollars for Trump's golf trips, with federal agencies spending an average of $13.6 million on each of the four trips to Mar-a-Lago that were audited during his first term.
Trump's criticism of Obama's golfing habits often came during times of crisis. In 2014, Trump tweeted: "President Obama has a major meeting on the NYC Ebola outbreak, with people flying in from all over the country, but he decided to play golf!" Similarly, during the coronavirus pandemic, Trump again shifted the focus to Obama's golfing, tweeting: "Barack was always playing golf. What did that do to the so-called Carbon Footprint?" However, despite his criticism of Obama, Trump was pictured playing golf twice over a memorial weekend in 2020 while the US spiralled towards 100,000 coronavirus cases.
While the exact number of times Trump has played golf is unclear, estimates suggest he has played over 300 rounds of golf in four years, averaging roughly 75 rounds per year or about twice a week. Trump's love for the sport has been well-documented, with the website TrumpGolfCount.com claiming he has made 285 daytime visits to golf clubs since becoming president, with evidence of him playing on at least 142 occasions as of November 2020.
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Trump has spent more time at golf clubs than Obama
Trump has been criticised for spending too much time at golf clubs during his presidency. During his first 167 days in office, he spent 38 days on the golf course, which is the equivalent of 22.5% to 22.75% of his time in charge. Trump has been known to frequent his own golf clubs, such as Trump International Golf Club, Bedminster, and Trump National Doral, Miami.
Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, played a total of 333 rounds of golf during his eight-year presidency, averaging about 41 rounds per year. In comparison, Trump is estimated to have accumulated 285 daytime visits to golf clubs since his inauguration, with evidence of him playing on at least 142 occasions as of November 2020. That is almost double the number of Obama's rounds during the same period.
Trump's love for golf has led to criticism, especially when it appears to distract him from addressing pressing issues. During the Texas floods that resulted in a death toll of 70 and 11 missing girls, Trump was slammed for ""hiding on the golf course" instead of visiting the affected areas. Similarly, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel targeted Trump's golf obsession during the weeks-long government shutdown sparked by the president's demand for funding for his border wall.
Despite these controversies, Trump's passion for golf has not waned. He has been reported to spend a significant amount of time at his golf clubs, with one instance noted where he played golf with key Republican allies just hours before the Senate voted on the "Big Beautiful Bill". Trump's official golf handicap is a 2.8 in the Golf Handicap Information Network, indicating his proficiency in the sport.
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Obama's golf trips were more expensive
While Donald Trump criticized Barack Obama for golfing while in office, it turns out that Trump's golf outings have cost American taxpayers significantly more than Obama's. Trump's golf trips have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, with one estimate placing the figure at $102 million during his first two and a half years in office. This amount is approximately $12.7 million less than the total travel expenses incurred by Obama and his family during his eight-year presidency.
Trump's frequent visits to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, which he refers to as his "winter White House," have been a particular source of concern. These trips have required additional security measures, such as helicopter patrols, extra manpower, and boats, resulting in significant costs for county resources. Furthermore, there have been concerns about Trump allegedly overcharging the Secret Service for their stays at his properties.
In contrast, Obama's golfing habits were less expensive, as they were mostly local and did not require extensive travel. During his eight years in office, Obama played approximately 333 rounds of golf, averaging about 41 rounds per year. This is notably less than Trump's golfing frequency, as Trump has been reported to play more golf than Obama on a month-to-month basis.
The discrepancy between Trump's criticisms of Obama's golfing habits and his own conduct while in office highlights a disconnect between his campaign statements and his actions as president. While Trump targeted Obama's golf outings during his presidential campaign and as a private citizen, his own golf outings have become a regular occurrence, often accompanied by high-profile guests.
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Obama used golf to unwind and build relationships
Former US President Barack Obama is known for his love of golf. While the exact number of rounds he played during his presidency is unclear, estimates range from 105 to over 330. This makes Obama one of the most frequently golfing presidents, especially in modern times.
Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, was also an avid golfer and often criticised Obama for playing too much golf. However, despite Trump's claims that he wouldn't have time to play golf as president, he visited golf clubs far more frequently than Obama. Trump's visits often included playing golf, as well as business meetings and social events with foreign dignitaries.
While some may criticise presidents for spending too much time on the golf course, Obama used golf as a tool to unwind after stressful workweeks and to build relationships with foreign leaders. Golf has been a popular leisure activity for many US presidents, and it is unlikely that Obama's or Trump's passion for the sport will go unnoticed by historians.
Obama's golf outings have decreased since leaving office in 2017 due to his involvement with organisations and initiatives like the Obama Foundation. However, his love for the game was evident during his presidency, and he was comfortable playing on any course around the world, even while travelling abroad. This comfort and familiarity with golf made it a useful tool for Obama to connect with others and conduct informal diplomacy on the course.
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Frequently asked questions
Barack Obama played golf approximately 306 times during his eight-year presidency, making him one of the most frequently golfing presidents.
Yes, Donald Trump played more golf than Barack Obama during their respective times in office. Trump played golf approximately 285 times during his four-year tenure.
Obama was an avid golfer and used the game to unwind after stressful workweeks and build relationships with foreign leaders. He also had a putting green installed on the South Lawn of the White House for practice.
