Trevor Ng
Barack Obama's love for golf is well-known, with the former president reportedly playing around 306 rounds of golf during his two-term presidency. Obama's golfing habits became a political issue, with critics arguing that he played too much golf while in office. However, Obama's successor, Donald Trump, has reportedly played more golf than his predecessor, with Trump visiting golf courses during the daytime at least 154 times during his presidency. Obama's golfing habits, however, remain a notable aspect of his public image, with his passion for the sport extending beyond his time in office.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of rounds played during presidency | 306 |
| Number of rounds played since leaving presidency | 106 |
| Handicap | 13 |
| Number of times golfed during the first eight weeks in office | 0 |
| Average number of days between golf rounds | 12-13 |
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What You'll Learn
Obama's golf game became a political issue
Barack Obama's love for golf is well-known. He played around 306 rounds of golf during his two-term presidency, often using the game as a way to relax from the stress of his high-pressure job. Obama continued to play golf after leaving office, although not as frequently.
> "I don’t think that there’s a person in this country that doesn’t think that their president ought to have a little time to clear his mind."
Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Nebraska, called the criticism of Obama's golfing "a low blow". Obama's predecessor, Republican Dwight Eisenhower, was also criticised by Democrats for golfing too much, but historians point out that this was because they had little else to criticise him for.
Obama's successor, Donald Trump, also faced criticism for his frequent golfing, especially given that he had criticised Obama for the amount of time he spent on the golf course. Trump has been reported to have played golf at least 70 times during his presidency, and his trips to golf courses have generated revenue for his company and incurred significant costs for the Secret Service.
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Obama played 306 rounds during his presidency
Barack Obama was known for his love of golf during his presidency. Various sources estimate that Obama played around 300 to 333 rounds of golf during his two terms as president, averaging a game once every 8.77 days. Obama used golf as a way to unwind from the stress of his high-pressure job and to build relationships with foreign leaders. His passion for the sport led him to install a putting green on the White House South Lawn.
Obama's predecessor, GOP President Dwight Eisenhower, was also a golf enthusiast. Eisenhower made several trips to Augusta, Georgia, even owning a house on the course. However, he was criticized by Democrats for spending too much time on the golf course. Similarly, Obama faced scrutiny from some Republicans, such as Michael Steele, who called on the president to refrain from playing golf during the Gulf oil spill crisis.
Defenders of Obama argued that the president deserved downtime to clear his mind, especially given the demanding nature of the job. Obama's golfing frequency became a political issue, with some alleging that he played too much golf during his presidency. Despite the criticism, Obama continued to play golf, seeing it as a valuable outlet for relaxation and relationship-building.
In comparison to other presidents, Obama's golfing frequency falls within the norm. Golf has been a popular leisure activity for many US presidents, with 17 of the last 20 presidents playing the sport actively. Some presidents, like Obama, were avid golfers, while others played more casually or gave up the game during their terms.
Overall, Obama's golfing habit during his presidency sparked varying reactions, from criticism to understanding. While some saw it as an excessive indulgence, others recognized the importance of downtime for the commander-in-chief. Obama's love for golf continued even after his presidency, though he played with less frequency.
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Obama's golf habits compared to Trump's
Barack Obama was known for his love of golf during his presidency. He played around 306 rounds of golf during his two terms in office, often using the sport as a way to relax from the stress of the role. Obama continued to play golf after leaving office, although not as frequently. In 2020, it was reported that he had played 106 rounds of golf since the end of his presidency.
Obama's golf habit became a political issue, with some criticising him for playing during times of crisis. Despite this, Obama defended his hobby, stating that everyone needs some leisure activity outside of work. He even installed a putting green on the White House South Lawn.
Donald Trump also has a passion for golf and has owned several golf courses since 1999. During his presidency, Trump frequently visited his golf properties, staying for long periods. Trump had previously criticised Obama for playing golf as president, vowing that he wouldn't have time for it while in office. However, he ended up playing golf more often than Obama, with an average of around five days between rounds compared to Obama's 12-13 days. Trump has been estimated to have played 261 rounds of golf during his first term, one round every 5.6 days.
Trump's love of golf has also been a source of controversy, with some alleging that his frequent visits to his golf courses are a means of boosting publicity and selling more memberships. Despite this, Trump's defenders argue that his time on the course helps him develop relationships with members of Congress.
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Obama's handicap is 13
Barack Obama was an avid golfer and played around 300 to 306 rounds during his two-term presidency. Obama's love for the game was well-known, and he often used it to relax from the stress of his high-pressure position. His passion for the sport even led him to install a putting green on the White House South Lawn. Obama continued to play golf post-presidency, although not as frequently. In 2020, it was reported that he had played 106 rounds since leaving office.
Obama's golf handicap was a "classified" topic during his presidency. However, in an interview with NBC's David Feherty, Obama revealed that he considered himself "an honest 13". Obama also shared that his irons were solid, but his biggest weakness might be the sand game, speculating that it could be psychological.
Obama's predecessor, Donald Trump, also had a passion for golf and owned several golf courses. During his presidency, Trump made frequent trips to his golf properties on weekends and for extended periods. According to the tracking website Trump Golf Count, Trump visited golf courses during the daytime at least 154 times during his presidency and played golf on at least 70 of those visits.
Despite some criticism faced by Obama regarding his golfing during times of crisis, it is essential to recognize that presidents need downtime from their demanding roles. Obama's spokesperson, Bill Burton, defended the president's right to leisure time, stating that he deserved a little time to himself to clear his mind.
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Obama continued to play golf after his presidency
Barack Obama was known for his love of golf during his presidency, playing around 300 rounds during his two terms in office. He often used the game as a way to unwind and relax from the stress of his high-pressure position.
Obama's predecessor, Dwight Eisenhower, was also a keen golfer, and Obama continued this presidential tradition. Obama's passion for the sport led him to install a putting green on the White House South Lawn. He also hosted events like "The First Tee" initiative, which aimed to teach young people valuable life skills through golf.
Obama's golfing became a political issue at times, with critics arguing that he spent too much time on the golf course and should be focusing on more important issues. Despite this, Obama continued to play golf after his presidency, although not as frequently. In 2020, it was reported that he had played 106 rounds of golf since leaving office.
Golf has been a popular leisure activity for many US presidents, with 17 of the last 20 presidents playing the sport. It is a way for them to stay active and enjoy some leisure time while also providing an opportunity to build relationships with foreign leaders and members of Congress.
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Frequently asked questions
Barack Obama was an avid golfer during his presidency, playing around 306 rounds of golf during his two terms in office.
Yes, Obama continued to play golf after leaving office, although not as frequently. In 2020, it was reported that he had played 106 rounds of golf since the end of his presidency.
Donald Trump also played golf frequently during his presidency, often at the golf courses he owns. According to tracking by Trump Golf Count, Trump visited a golf course during the daytime at least 154 times during his presidency and played golf on at least 70 of those visits.
Yes, Trump faced controversy for the amount of time he spent golfing as president, especially since he had criticized Obama for playing golf during his presidency. Trump visited a Trump Organization property on 428 out of 1,461 days during his first presidency and is estimated to have played 261 rounds of golf, or one round every 5.6 days.
