Obama golfs: Swine flu no threat yet

by Mark Silva

Timing is everything: Forrrrrrrre!

President Barack Obama headed for the links this morning at Andrews Air Force Base, a favorite 18-holer frequented by past golfing presidents because of its proximity, and security, inside the gates of the base where Air Force One parks. He spent the better part of this sunny, dry and in the low-90s Spring day there.

Former President George W. Bush had sworn off golf during his time at the White House, saying that Americans didn't want to see their president teeing up as Americans were dying in Iraq. He took to mountain biking in the woods instead, and nobody ever saw him doing that during his Sunday morning outings -- except when the White House occasionally permitted a picture.

Obama set out for the The Courses at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland this morning, leaving the White House in a motorcade just after 9 am EDTwearing saddle golf shoes, sunglasses, a cream-colored baseball cap, short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts. He shook hands with a few other golfers and waved to onlookers before stepping into a golf cart driven by the course's general manager, Mike Thomas.

The press pool was held at the clubhouse -- receiving reports from the field: By 2 p.m., the president had reached the 14th tee. There was no readout on how he performed. The presidential motorcade left the course at 3:18 pm, arriving back at the White House at 3:52 pm.

Joining the Golfer-in-Chief were Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and presidential aide Marvin Nicholson.

Back in Washington, in the meantime, the Homeland Security secretary and director of the Centers for Disease Control had declared a public health emergency because of swine flu cases starting to show in the United States - 20 this day. But they also were advising people not to panic.

So golf would appear to fit that talking point.

(Photo by Kevin Deitsch / pool / via Bloomberg News)