Harper Lin
Golf is one of the most popular presidential pastimes, with nearly every US president in the last 75 years playing the game. While it can be challenging to estimate the number of rounds played by each president, especially before it was closely monitored, Woodrow Wilson holds the record for most rounds played by a sitting US president, with over 1,200 rounds during his tenure. Other notable golfing presidents include Dwight Eisenhower, who played approximately 800 rounds, Harding, Gerald Ford, JFK, FDR, and Trump.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Presidents who played golf | Jimmy Carter, JFK, Barack Obama, Dwight Eisenhower, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Harding, LBJ, Nixon, Gerald Ford, Bush Sr., Bill Clinton |
| Presidents who did not play golf | N/A |
| Presidents who owned golf courses | Donald Trump |
| Presidents who were members of golf clubs | Joe Biden, Gerald Ford, Bush Sr. |
| Presidents who were members of Augusta National Golf Club | Dwight Eisenhower, Donald Trump |
| Presidents who were inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame | Dwight Eisenhower, Bush Sr. |
| Presidents who were criticised for playing too much golf | Barack Obama, Donald Trump |
| Presidents who were criticised for their comments related to golf | Donald Trump |
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What You'll Learn
Presidents who played golf before their presidency
Golfing has been associated with the presidency for over a century, with 17 of the last 20 presidents playing the sport. The last president who did not play golf was Jimmy Carter, and since then, every president has played at least one round in office.
Several presidents played golf before their presidency, including John F. Kennedy, who was an avid golfer and a member of the Harvard Golf Team. Kennedy played most of his golf at the Burning Tree Club in Washington, DC, but he avoided the sport during his presidency to avoid appearing as a rich man. Similarly, Barack Obama played golf before becoming president, starting in 1997, and played about 333 times in two years during his presidency. Obama had a golf simulator installed in the White House and was criticised by Donald Trump for playing too much golf.
Dwight Eisenhower was also a prominent golfer before and during his presidency, being named Golfweek's Golfer of the Century in 2000 and a member of the Augusta National Golf Club. Eisenhower set up a putting green at the White House and played approximately 800 rounds during his tenure.
Other presidents who played golf before their presidency include George W. Bush, who gave up the sport after the Iraq War began, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had to give up the game after contracting polio at the age of 39.
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Presidents who played golf during their presidency
Golf has long been a popular pastime for presidents, with nearly every U.S. president in the last 75 years playing the sport during their time in office. The game offers a blend of strategy, relaxation, and diplomacy, allowing presidents to forge political alliances and unwind from the pressures of their demanding roles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
President Dwight D. Eisenhower played a significant role in intertwining golf with the presidency. He played more than 800 rounds of golf during his eight years in office, averaging around 100 rounds per year. Eisenhower was named Golfweek's Golfer of the Century in 2000 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame for revolutionizing the sport and making it accessible to the average citizen. He was a prominent member of the Augusta National Golf Club and frequently played with golf legends such as Arnold Palmer.
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama was also an avid golfer, playing left-handed. He logged over 300 rounds during his presidency, with some sources placing the number at around 333 times in two years. Obama's love for golf became a target of criticism, with his successor, Donald Trump, frequently commenting on it. Obama often played at courses in Hawaii, Martha's Vineyard, and Andrews Air Force Base.
Donald Trump
Before becoming president, Donald Trump was a well-known golf enthusiast and businessman, owning multiple golf resorts and courses worldwide. During his presidency, Trump frequently visited his golf properties, with estimates placing the number of rounds played at around 261 during his first term. Trump's love for golf influenced American diplomacy, as seen in his relationship with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, who played golf with him five times.
Other Presidents
Other presidents who played golf during their time in office include John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden. Kennedy, despite chronic back pain, had one of the best golf swings among presidents. Ford was known for his wild shots, Reagan for his athletic ability, and George H. W. Bush for his fast-paced play. Clinton was a passionate golfer who often played charity rounds, while George W. Bush gave up the sport during his presidency after 9/11 but returned to it later. Biden, an avid golfer, has played several rounds during his presidency, including at his home club in Delaware.
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Presidents who played golf for political negotiations
Golf has long been a favourite pastime of US presidents, with 17 out of the last 20 holding office known to have played the game. The sport offers a blend of competition, relaxation, and diplomacy, making it an ideal setting for political negotiations and relationship-building with world leaders, corporate executives, and political allies.
Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969, is known to have used golf as a tool for political negotiations. Johnson, who played with an unusual swing and little regard for the rules, is believed to have secured the votes needed to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the golf course.
Richard Nixon, who served as vice president under Eisenhower, also took up golf during his tenure and became a skilled player. While Nixon gave up the game during his troubled second term, he had a three-hole course built at his home in San Clemente, California, demonstrating his interest in the sport.
Other presidents who played golf include John F. Kennedy, who kept his golf outings discreet due to the sport's association with privilege, and Dwight Eisenhower, who played over 800 rounds during his presidency and had a putting green installed on the White House lawn. More recent presidents who have played include George Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, the latter of whom owns golf courses and resorts worldwide.
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Presidents who owned golf courses
There is a long history of golfing in the Oval Office, with nearly every US president in the last 75 years playing golf at some point during their presidency. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama notably avoided the sport during their respective terms, with Kennedy wishing to cultivate an image as the "people's president" and Obama facing criticism for playing golf while in office.
Donald Trump is the first US president to own golf courses and resorts. During his career as a businessman and politician, Trump acquired and constructed golf courses through his holding company, the Trump Organization. By 2016, he owned 17 golf courses worldwide, including four resorts: Turnberry and Trump International in Scotland, Doonbeg in Ireland, and Trump Doral in Miami. Trump's love of golf has also influenced American diplomacy, with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, playing golf with him five times, helping the two leaders to become personally close.
While Richard Nixon had a three-hole golf course built at his home in San Clemente, California, he gave up the sport during his troubled second term.
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Presidents who played golf with foreign leaders
Golf has long been a favoured pastime of US presidents, offering a blend of strategy, relaxation, and diplomacy. Nearly every US president in the last 75 years has played golf, with the sport influencing both personal and public perceptions of presidents.
Woodrow Wilson holds the record for playing the most golf as president, with over 1,200 rounds during his presidency from 1913 to 1921. Dwight Eisenhower, named Golfweek's Golfer of the Century in 2000, was also a prominent golfer who played approximately 800 rounds during his tenure. Eisenhower set up a putting green at the White House and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame for revolutionizing golf and making it accessible to the average citizen. Kennedy, despite chronic back pain, was also a skilled golfer with one of the best swings of any president.
Donald Trump is also known for his love of golf, frequently spending time at golf courses throughout his presidency and owning several high-end golf resorts worldwide. Trump played more rounds than most modern presidents and often used his courses for meetings with business and political leaders. He played with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe five times, helping the two leaders to become personally close. Trump has also played with close political allies, such as South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, and Republicans with whom he sought to forge new connections, like 2016 presidential rival Rand Paul.
Barack Obama and George W. Bush also used golf to build relationships with members of Congress, fostering teamwork and communication. Obama played 306 rounds of golf over his two terms, generating both positive and negative media coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
Woodrow Wilson holds the record for playing the most golf while in office, with over 1,200 rounds during his presidency.
LBJ played golf with other politicians, reportedly realising that golf was the perfect activity for political negotiations.
Harding, the 29th US president, played golf twice a week, although he was a stranger to under-par rounds.
JFK was an avid golfer before becoming president, having been a member of his Harvard Golf team.
