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Barack Obama takes on Republicans... on the golf course

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

President Obama took politics to the golf course yesterday, playing an 18-hole round with Republican senators Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.) along with Democratic senator Mark Udall (Colo.), according to USA TODAY. The foursome played the 6,759-yard South Course at Andrews Air Force Base near Camp Springs, Md. Obama fittingly teamed with Udall, but lost the match to the Republican senators, who were aided by Chambliss' hole-in-one on the par-3 11th hole, which measures 190 yards from the back tees.

Obama's use of the golf course -- nicknamed the "schmooze offensive" by some media outlets -- as a place to discuss and hopefully come to terms on major issues facing our country has made plenty of headlines since he first took office in 2009. Mark Knoller of CBS News estimated that President Obama played golf 113 times during his first term, which averages to about 28 or 29 rounds per year. Whether you think that number is too high or too low, it's hard to deny that the golf course is great place for reflection and discussion.

(Photo by Getty Images)

The President also seems to enjoy playing with good golfers. According to our 2011 ranking of top golfers in Washington, Chambliss carries a 7.4 index, Corker a 2.1 and Udall a 2 (he was the top-ranked Congressman on the list). It's clear that Obama is looking to improve his game, especially in the wake of his lesson with Butch Harmon and round with Tiger Woods earlier this year.

Hopefully, Obama, a 17-handicap in 2011, hit a few good shots and was able to implement some of what he learned from Tiger and Butch. Let's hope this round was also a step towards unclogging the current gridlock in Washington centered on issues like gun control, immigration, taxes, and the economy. Play away, Mr. President.

Follow @BrendanMohlerGW

President Obama's $1,400 putter

John Strege — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:46:00 GMT

By John Strege The catalog of gifts that President Obama received from foreign dignitaries in 2011, released last week by the State Department, included a Kramski HPP 340 putter, courtesy of Chancellor Angela Merkel of...

A gift for Obama

Derek Evers — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:13:00 GMT

By Mike Stachura When japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to Washington for a summit meet- ing with President Obama last Friday, he came bearing a golf gift. Abe handed the First Golfer...

The Presidential Treatment

Tim Rosaforte — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

How Obama and Woods' much ballyhooed round happened -- and why it's good for golf.

Podcast: Paul Azinger on Riviera's 10th and Obama/Tiger's round

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:01:00 GMT

Listen to the podcast

By Ryan Herrington

With the drivable par-4 10th at Riviera CC again proving pivotal in the outcome of the Northern Trust Open, Paul Azinger recalls his approach to playing the risk/reward hole--and some of the trouble it caused him--in the latest edition of Zinger's Corner. Paul and Golf World editor Jaime Diaz also discuss the benefit of having a someone in the Oval Office who plays golf after President Obama's round yesterday with Tiger Woods at The Floridian (Exclusive: Details of Obama's round with Tiger) as well as Bernhard Langer's continued excellence on the Champions Tour and just what keeps him going.

Download and subscribe to the Zinger's Corner series in iTunes

The 10 Biggest Equipment Stories of 2012

Mike Stachura and Mike Johnson — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

From a miraculous wedge shot to the ban of the anchored style of putting, equipment was very much part of the conversation this year.

Trending: Bubba and Bam hit the links

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:42:00 GMT

By Derek Evers

President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton spent an unseasonably warm December afternoon the way many of us would like to -- on the golf course.

According to the Associated Press, President Obama and Mr. Clinton played with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Virginia gubernatorial candidate -- and longtime Clinton backer -- Terry McAuliffe at the Joint Air Base in Maryland. It was likely Bam was using this as an opportunity to thank the 42nd President for his campaign help, though with a fiscal cliff looming, the president might have been seeking advice from the last man to oversee a balanced budget while in office.

For those keeping count, this is the third time Obama has played golf since defeating Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in November. Although it should be noted President Obama has regularly used the golf course for high-profile meetings, most notably last June when he teed it up with Speaker of the House John Boehner during the debt ceiling crisis.

So if there's a lesson to be learned here, it's that golf might just be the solution to all of our fiscal issues.

Follow @DerekEvers

Did Obama and Clinton find common ground on the golf course?

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:29:00 GMT

By Sam Weinman

We have heard often during President Obama's tumultuous first term how he has sought refuge on the golf course, with his frequent rounds at Andrews Air Force Base a popular target of his Republican opponents. Imagine what those critics must think knowing Obama uses golf for political gain as well.

Obama beat Clinton "fair and square" when they played together last September. In the process, a partnership was forged. Photo by Getty Images.

First there was the well-documented "Golf Summit" between Obama and House Speaker John Boehner in June 2011. But even more intriguing is a round Obama played with former President Bill Clinton last September that has repercussions still felt today. In a story in the Sept. 10 issue of The New Yorker about the complicated partnership between Clinton and Obama, political correspondent Ryan Lizza describes the pivotal role a round at Andrews played in bringing the two Presidents together. This is particularly appropriate this week with Clinton set to give a major address on Obama's behalf at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night.

As Lizza writes, it took a golf invitation from Obama that helped the two men move past a bitter 2008 Democratic primary battle between Obama and Clinton's wife, Hillary, and turn their attention to winning the 2012 election:

"The reconciliation began in earnest late last summer. Patrick Gaspard, the former White House political director, who has moved to the Democratic National Committee, approached Douglas Band, Clinton's closest political adviser and longtime gatekeeper, with some suggestions about how the former President might help with Obama's 2012 reelection campaign. Band, who, by reputation, has an acute sense for moments of political advantage, tried to explain that you don't just call up Bill Clinton and tell him to raise money and campaign for you. Band recommended that the two Presidents begin by playing golf. The next day, Obama phoned Clinton and invited him out for a round. Several Clinton associates say that this was the moment they realized that Obama truly wanted to win in 2012. Why else would he spend hours on a golf course being lectured by Clinton?

"The Presidential round was played at Andrews Air Force Base on September 24, 2011, and since then Clinton has become a visible and vigorous champion of Obama's reelection."

Related: Washington's Top 150 Golfers

As part of an interview with Thomas L. Friedman for last February's Golf Digest, Clinton discussed the round with the President, saying that though he should be a few strokes better than Obama (Clinton is believed to about a 15-handicap), "he beat me fair and square that day."

It appears now that wasn't the only victory Obama had in mind.

Follow @SamWeinman

Trending: Mr. McIlroy goes to Washington

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:15:00 GMT

(Rory McIlroy and Conor Ridge arrive at the White House. Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlory had dinner at the White House last night, but it wasn't because of his new No. 1 golf ranking--though his celebrity status probably helped. The occasion wasn't even a sports-related event. Turns out it was a British thing, which was reason enough for the Obama administration to invite the Northern Ireland native back to town.

Related: The reasons Rory romped

The last time McIlroy was in the D.C.-area he was on his way to winning the U.S. Open at Congressional, or as he put it, "drinking champagne from the trophy." Less than one year later, McIlroy was one of many celebrities on hand for a black-tie state dinner hosted by President Obama to honor British Prime Minister David Cameron. Others in attendance included British actor Damian Lewis, Sir Richard Branson, George Clooney and Hilary Clinton, while the band Mumford and Sons provided the entertainment. The gathering was the largest yet for an Obama state dinner.

Just Tuesday McIlroy made his invitation known, tweeting: "Going to have dinner in the White House tomorrow! Got a little help with my suit from Alexander Nash in NY." Which he recapped this morning, again on Twitter. "Unbelievable experience at the White House last night! Big thanks to @BarackObama for the invite! We'll get that golf swing sorted soon!"

Looks like Rory is filling out those No. 1 shoes quite alright.

-- Derek Evers
Follow @DerekEvers

The 10 Biggest Equipment Stories of 2011

Mike Stachura and Mike Johnson — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

From the sale of an iconic company to the debut of white clubs, equipment was very much part of the conversation this year.