by Mark Silva
Has Barack Obama got game on the golf course?
It's hard to tell, standing back as far as the "protective pool'' does. But the reporters assigned to the president-elect's Hawaiian vacation have reported seeing the Illinoisan on the links. The report on at least one of Obama's putts was not so promising.
President Bush gave up golf - despite the fact that President Clinton planted one champion designer-green on the South Lawn of the White House (it's a hole in one from the Truman Balcony) - with the outgoing president suggesting that Americans didn't want to see their president teeing off while American men and women are at war.
President-elect Obama vows to end the war - at least the one in Iraq. So in the weeks before inauguration, he appears to be working on his game.
Obama "chafes under the constant gaze of the so-called 'protective pool,' the gaggle of media representatives allowed to follow his every move almost everywhere just in case, well, you can guess,'' as our colleague Andrew Malcolm at the Top of the Ticket notes. "It's, frankly, not the greatest duty for media folks either. You can spend seven hours waiting outside a house party sitting in a hot van and never see anything the officeholder is doing. Nothing to show for a day's 'work.'"
Here's a sampler from Monday's protective pool report of Obama's third round of vacation golf:
"At 5:37 p.m. the pool could see Obama get out of his golf cart and approach his ball located in the middle of the fairway on the 414 yard, par 4, 18th hole. He took three practice swings before centering the ball and hitting a shot that flew low and straight for about 75 yards before landing at the front, center-edge of the green.
"More than 100 people sitting on a rock wall along the fairway applauded as Obama approached and he put his gloved right hand to his mouth to signal for quiet, pointing to another member of his group who was getting ready to shoot. As he got close to his ball, (Obama) turned to the crowd and said 'Hey guys. That was pretty good right? That almost made up for my 20 yard drive.'
"That drew applause and laughter and prompted one member of the crowd to shout, 'Better than your bowling.'
"Obama replied, 'That's right,' and smiled and laughed before turning back to walk toward the green to size up his putt. Obama lined up his putt then tapped the ball about a dozen feet before it stopped within a foot of the cup. The crowd applauded and Obama turned to them, put his hand above the bill of his baseball cap, and bowed.
"He then approached the crowd, flanked by Secret Service agents and started to shake hands and exchange greetings at the end of the wall farthest from the cup. As he reached the middle of the rock wall, a young girl wearing a white t-shirt took his right hand. "Hey there, how are you?," Obama asked.
"As he turned to keep moving, the little girl refused to let go of his right hand, prompting the President-elect to pick her up and give her a hug while her mother snapped a picture. "Thank you so much," the girl's mother said.
"One couple mentioned they were from Michigan. 'You guys from Michigan?' Obama asked.
"As he worked the line, shaking hands and smiling, one woman said, 'We're so glad you won, now we don't have too move to Canada. We love you.'
"'Thanks so much guys,' said Obama.
"As he got to the last batch of fans sitting on the end of the rock wall closest to the cup, a man handed Obama a copy of his book, 'Dreams of my Father' and asked for an autograph. Obama took the book and glanced down the line of people and said, 'You see all these people? If they see me signing, I'll be late for my wife and then I'll be in trouble.'
"Obama signed the book and handed it back to the man.
"Obama gave the crowd one final wave and then walked off the green toward his black SUV.''
-- The pool 'work' of Peter Boylan, The Honolulu Advertiser. Photo by Hawaii/Panorama.
Comments
George Carlin said golf is an evil game.
Posted by: Keep obama to his promises, implied and explicit | December 30, 2008 8:19 AM
It's a good thing he hid the golf game until after the election. The conservatives would have slammed him as "out of touch" for playing such an ""elitist" game. Right?
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 30, 2008 8:21 AM
Is this really news? Is this really important? Does anyone really care about this corrupt Illinois politician? He has divided the country more than Lincoln did when he was elected and has far less honorable intentions.
Posted by: Paul | December 30, 2008 8:46 AM
I'm an Obama supporter from day one, however, its funny that he plays LEFTY!!!
Posted by: Markimal | December 30, 2008 10:05 AM
I'm an Obama supporter from day one, however, its funny that he plays LEFTY!!!
Posted by: Markimal | December 30, 2008 10:05 AM
Obama is turning lefty for sure..
Posted by: Inky | December 30, 2008 10:21 AM
A corrupt divider with dishonorable intentions.
You're talking about W right?
Posted by: Earth To Paul | December 30, 2008 10:23 AM
Wow! I now have something I can respect our President Elect for... he golfs left-handed like me!
Other than that, he's still the great duper!
Posted by: Rob | December 30, 2008 11:22 AM
British newspapers are wondering why the president elect golfs instead of making his Middle East position clear. See this article (at www.dailymail.co.uk/news) from the Daily Mail, once again doing the job US newspapers (too busy reporting his smoking habits and golfing score) refuse to do.
"Shhhh! As the world waits for Obama to voice his opinion on Gaza, America's president-in-waiting hits the golf course".
Posted by: Bruce | December 30, 2008 11:26 AM
Again, more Obama worship and fluff pieces from the media. When are you going to start demanding substance from this guy?
Posted by: Bob | December 30, 2008 11:37 AM
Paul- Why don't you enlighten us as to how Obama has divided this country. Cite some examples. Sounds like you've been overdosing on Limp-baugh. I doubt you even know when Lincoln was President or what party he belonged to.
Posted by: Doug R. | December 30, 2008 12:05 PM
Let's help out paul and bob... how about a story showing Bush clearing brush on the ranch in Texas where he's vacationing right now.
Posted by: mort | December 30, 2008 12:14 PM
He has divided the country more than Lincoln did when he was elected and has far less honorable intentions.
Posted by: Paul | December 30, 2008 8:46 AM
Really? How many states have left the union since his election?
Posted by: Liz | December 30, 2008 12:25 PM
If Obama can just transfer his 37 bowling score to golf, he could play on the circuit. Obama's bowling problem was simple: He just didn't have them put up the kiddie bumpers. My 6-year-old daughter bowled in downtown Chicago last week and scored a 94. Obama could probably hit that, at least, with the bumpers. How proud we are to have an athlete soon to be in the White House.
Posted by: Palmer | December 30, 2008 12:46 PM
Bruce, remind the Brits that Bush is still running foreign policy. Not well, but he's still the decider I'm afraid.
Posted by: Flo | December 30, 2008 12:56 PM
Again, more Obama worship and fluff pieces from the media. When are you going to start demanding substance from this guy?
Posted by: Bob | December 30, 2008 11:37 AM
Again, more Obama worship and fluff pieces from the media. When are you going to start demanding substance from this guy?
Posted by: Bob | December 30, 2008 11:37 AM
Again, more Obama worship and fluff pieces from the media. When are you going to start demanding substance from this guy?
Posted by: Bob | December 30, 2008 11:37 AM
Substance is not in Obama's dictionary, the word change is the replacement.
Posted by: Inky | December 30, 2008 12:59 PM
I never get it when public figures chafe under the constant gaze. It goes with the territory. If you don't like it, find a different way to make a living.
Posted by: MJ | December 30, 2008 1:01 PM
To erstwhile Bush Lover/Obama haters, for ten points please identify the author of this phrase and the setting in which he said it:
"Watch this drive."
Posted by: a blinkin | December 30, 2008 1:11 PM
Judging from that picture looks like this guy even golfs lefty.
Posted by: Dave | December 30, 2008 1:26 PM
WOW!!! Nobody Cares!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Dan | December 30, 2008 1:39 PM
I love how tons of people have said he is the "great duper" or he has no substance, etc. BEFORE he even takes office. Give the guy a chance to fail first and if he shows that he fails then say all you want. Right now you just sound like a sore loser because you guy didn't win.
Posted by: Kent | December 30, 2008 1:40 PM
For those who are surprised he golfs lefty, remember Obama is left-handed. In fact, being a lefty is an advantage for running for president. Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton were all left-handed. The only presidents who were right-handed since Nixon were Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, and we saw the job these guys did as President.
P.S. John McCain is left-handed too, so we lefties had it covered going into the general election.
Posted by: Fred | December 30, 2008 2:36 PM
How does he divide the country? Try the class warfare him and his VP spout most everyday. He is the president of all the people. There is no place for class warfare in a successful society.
Posted by: Mark | December 30, 2008 3:42 PM
Posted by: Mark | December 30, 2008 3:42 PM
If you want to talk about "class warfare" then look no further than the Republicans and their attacks on the poor and working class. Look no further than the rhetoric aimed at union workers. That's class warfare.
Posted by: Liz | December 30, 2008 5:40 PM