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President Barack Obama and Vice-President Biden working on their games. Are they practicing for the Olympics or just clearing their head and getting refreshed?

Regardless of your political views or affiliation, if you are a golfer or love the game, it is painful to see the attacks on President Obama simply for the fact that he plays golf.  Everyone needs recreation, especially someone in the super pressure-cooked environment that is the Presidency.  When Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele lambasted the President for playing golf, it hurt me as a golfer.  Democrats have done the same previously.  To me it’s partisan sniping as usual.

George H.W. Bush practicing on the White House putting green.

While the damage and anger of the BP oil spill is spreading, President Obama was seen playing golf at Andrews Air Force Base.  Maybe his timing is bad, but everyone has to rest sometime, and heck, he’s much busier fundraising, so how can a couple of rounds of golf be so bad – even if you are a Republican?  Mr. Obama’s interest in golf has been criticized as reflecting an elitist, Ivy-League pastime and he should be more in charge of the oil spill.   Likewise, the Democrats roundly criticized President Eisenhower for his frequent golf during the Korean War when he would travel to the Augusta National Golf Club where he had a home.  The Democrats even made a public issue of saving the White House squirrels who were damaging Eisenhower’s putting green.

Dwight Eisenhower really propelled golf into the public's attention.

For us who know the value of decompressing and getting some exercise on the golf course, can we complain too loudly that President Obama has played a reported 39 times since he was sworn into Office.  Actually his golf games have outnumbered his basketball ones though he is not yet nearly as good as he is at basketball, playing golf at an estimated mid-twenty handicap index.  Eisenhower played far, far more.  In fact, it was Ike who, along with Arnold Palmer and television, really exploded the growth of the game.  At a time when minorities really have yet to be attracted to golf in any meaningful way, perhaps Mr. Obama’s example that can help get golf growing again.

William Taft was the first of many American golfing Presidents.

A 1975 shot of Gerald Ford getting in some practice.

Presidents have enjoyed the game since William Howard Taft who was surprisingly good despite his girth.  Woodrow Wilson was playing when news of his nomination for the New Jersey governor’s race came, but he waived off the messenger so as to complete his round first before hearing the news.  Mrs. Wilson was the first First Lady to play and would rise at 6 a.m. to join her husband for an early game.  Warren Harding played, was a heavy bettor and was criticized for his drinking on the course.  Calvin Coolidge was probably the worst player of the Presidents, but did say, “I think it is a fine method of relaxation for men in business life.”   And yes, Franklin Roosevelt played and was known as one of the longest hitters among the amateurs in the Washington DC area during World War I when others were at war.  Contrary to popular belief, it was not William Clinton who popularized the use of the “Presidential Mulligan,” but Lyndon Johnson would drop another shot anytime he didn’t like his first attempt.  He thoroughly enjoyed the game and was relaxed good-natured company.  Richard Nixon picked up the game no doubt having witnessed the joy of Dwight Eisenhower playing.  He played with a clumsy though intensely dedicated approach to the game scoring in the high 80s at his best and was said to be more elated with his first hole-in-one than any political victory .  Gerald Ford was probably the most publicly followed golfer of the Presidents and also one of the strongest and best athletes.  Ronald Reagan was a solid “12” handicap in his earlier years and did enjoy practicing his putting while on Air Force One.  More recently, George H.W. Bush and William Clinton certainly have been active and strong proponents of the game.  In fact, Bush’s father and grandfather presided over the United States Golf Association and the maternal grandfather, Herbert Walker, was the namesake for the Walker Cup.

"Don't tell anyone!" ???

William Clinton on the White House putting green, 1997.

Two Presidents, John Kennedy and George W. Bush, on the other hand, were extremely sensitive to and self-conscious about the image of playing golf.  Kennedy was actually a fairly accomplished player who in spite of bad back problems carried a high single-digit handicap, likely the best player among all the Presidents.  Making fun of his predecessor’s penchant for golf, Kennedy and his aids did all they could to hide the fact that he played.  He also, in fact, hit shots in the fog on the White House lawn; a few off the property!  As for George W. Bush, once the Iraq War began he all but quit the game indicating that it would be sending “the wrong signal” to play when our soldiers were fighting and dying.  This was no doubt in part because of the stinging criticism received by his Father for playing during the Gulf War. Now as a private citizen, he’s been seen again playing at some of the elite Dallas clubs.

John Kennedy was the most skilled golfer of the Presidents.

Since Taft, only Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, and Jimmy Carter did not play golf – all one-term Presidents.  In fact, Truman, while he graciously accepted an Honorary Membership to The Burning Tree Club, was actually offended when a newspaper article reported that he did play golf and had struck a bystander with one of his shots.  Then again, Truman never participated in anything physical other than brisk power walks and horseshoes.

William Clinton and George W. Bush enjoying golf together.

One footnote:  By far the best of those elected to national office was Vice-President Dan Quayle.  He would putt with and play against one of my friends (who was a college student at the time), wagering for quarters for hours on end at the exclusive male-only Burning Tree Club on weekday afternoons while the government was at work.  As VP, he cut his four rounds per week as a member of Congress in half and his four-handicap quickly doubled until out of office.  Quayle played with golf commentator Mark Rolfing for the DePaul University golf team and according to his wife, Marilyn, “would rather play golf than have sex any day!”  (There’s a lot less pressure a the Vice-President!)

Former Bush Vice-President Dan Quayle was the best of the highest elected officials.

Liberal or conservative, I have no problem if the Presidents want to clear their head and refresh themselves on the golf course.  Then, just maybe, they will make better decisions.  And look for Mr. Obama to gradually get his index into the teens.

George H.W Bush, George W. Bush, and Jeb Bush all enjoy a rich family tradition of golf and speedy golf at that!