By Brian Reeder, AGC Government Affairs Coordinator
On April 26, 2009, President Obama played his first of more than 245 (and counting) rounds of golf during his time in the Oval Office. If you’re like me, that is a few more (like 240 more) than you've played in the same time period. Not for lack of desire, but for lack of time.
The average working stiff finds it tough to hit the links. It’s a long game – it takes half the day and it’s a game best played in summer, which happens to be when work is firing on all cylinders. So how does the 44th leader of the free world do it? Who knows – but he’s not alone. He follows a long list of golf-obsessed presidents.
The average working stiff finds it tough to hit the links. It’s a long game – it takes half the day and it’s a game best played in summer, which happens to be when work is firing on all cylinders. So how does the 44th leader of the free world do it? Who knows – but he’s not alone. He follows a long list of golf-obsessed presidents.
According to Golf Advisor, Dwight D. Eisenhower played almost 800 rounds in his eight-year presidency. Woodrow Wilson played more than 1,000 rounds. Warren Harding played twice a week. Nixon had whittled his handicap down to 12 but quit because of the infamous controversy that plagued his second term. The Bushes were born into a pedigree of golfers. George H.W.’s dad and grandpa both served as president of the USGA. George W. Bush only golfed 24 times, however, due to image control once the U.S. entered the Iraq war.
You’re probably seething as you sit in your chair reading this. You arrived at the office this morning at 5:00 a.m. (but if anyone asks it was a quarter til) with a pile of work waiting for you. Men who should be busy signing stuff and pardoning turkeys should have no time for so much golf. Do yourself a favor. Treat yourself to a round. The AGC Fall Classic is Friday, September 11, 2015 at Wolf Run Golf Club.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the fact that just two presidents have the golfing prestige of AGC’s John Madole. The illusive hole-in-one has only been enjoyed by Ike and Bill Clinton. The tale of Madole’s legendary “ace” will live on long after he retires at the end of 2015. He will, however, be golfing in our fall tournament – his final tournament as AGC Executive Director. Please join us. If John hits another hole-in-one, drinks are on Craig.
I, on the other hand, will challenge any woman or child to a long-drive contest.
Sources:
Golf Advisor
http://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/us-presidents-golf-14906.htm
ESPN
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/040726
You’re probably seething as you sit in your chair reading this. You arrived at the office this morning at 5:00 a.m. (but if anyone asks it was a quarter til) with a pile of work waiting for you. Men who should be busy signing stuff and pardoning turkeys should have no time for so much golf. Do yourself a favor. Treat yourself to a round. The AGC Fall Classic is Friday, September 11, 2015 at Wolf Run Golf Club.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the fact that just two presidents have the golfing prestige of AGC’s John Madole. The illusive hole-in-one has only been enjoyed by Ike and Bill Clinton. The tale of Madole’s legendary “ace” will live on long after he retires at the end of 2015. He will, however, be golfing in our fall tournament – his final tournament as AGC Executive Director. Please join us. If John hits another hole-in-one, drinks are on Craig.
I, on the other hand, will challenge any woman or child to a long-drive contest.
Sources:
Golf Advisor
http://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/us-presidents-golf-14906.htm
ESPN
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/040726