Obama's vacation: Links, books, security

SEE A PHOTO GALLERY OF PRESIDENTIAL VACATIONS

By Christi Parsons and updated at 1 pm EDT

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. -- It's just your average vacation schedule - a little reading, a little tennis and golf, a little briefing from the National Security Council.

But even though he has advisors in tow at the island resort of Martha's Vineyard this week, President Barack Obama insists he is planning more relaxation than work. And his schedule so far suggests he is serious about holing up with his family.

On Monday, for instance, the president worked out, played tennis with the first lady and then hit the links with some friends. Today, he is golfing again, at the Mink Meadows Golf Club -- after this morning taking the briefest of work-breaks to announce the re-nomination of the Federal Reserve chairman.

And then there are the books which the president brought with him on Air Force One, for possible reading on a hammock on the 28-acre Blue Heron Farm where he's staying.
He has five books - including David McCullough's "John Adams" and Tom Friedman's "Hot, Flat and Crowded" - more than a lot of people read in a month when they aren't also trying to redesign American health care.

Still, it seems like a light schedule for the president, helping to fuel excitement about the possibility of First Family sightings around the island.

Sporting khakis and a white polo shirt, the president stopped on his way out to the course to shake hands with golfers on the clubhouse porch.

"I hope I didn't mess anyone's day up," Obama said, according to Ronnie Lytle, a local retiree who had arrived for an 8:20 a.m. tee time but didn't get to play because so many carts were being reserved for the president's party.

"You did," Lytle told the president, "but I don't care."

The first foursome played nine holes. According to a resident who saw the president play from the second fairway to the second hole, Obama yelled "Fore!" shortly before his ball hit a tree.

Still, the ball landed not far from the green, said Sally Fitzgerald, who lives next to the hole. Obama chipped it up with "a pretty good chip,'' and then, by her count, took three putts to sink it.

"But that's a tough green," Fitzgerald said. "It's a par four.''

(Photos of the first golfer at Mink Meadows above: Steven Senne / AP / above, and Alex Brandon / AP , below.)

White House staffers came to this resort spot hoping for a light week, too, but spent at least part of their time knocking down reports about all the things that Obama might do.

Golf with Tiger Woods? Tiger is "fun to play with," says one aide, but that's not in the works.

A big dinner with political supporters, or perhaps a society wedding? Also not in the cards.

How about a trip to visit Sen. Ted Kennedy at his place in nearby Hyannis Port on the Cape Cod mainland? Locals say a presidential security team was there looking things over recently.

"I think that if Secret Service agents were there," says deputy press secretary Bill Burton, "they probably heard . . . They have great lobster rolls out there and they were probably just checking them out."

Forgive local residents if they're expecting a little more action from the Obama visit.
After all, they used to host President Bill Clinton, who was known for popping up around town and shaking hands on his way to dinner or after an ice cream cone on Circuit Avenue. Clinton rekindled the memories by showing up for a golf outing there the other day.

Still, "most islanders want him to be able to just relax and enjoy himself," said Elaine Allen, manager of the Laughing Bear boutique, a ladies' dress shop in Oak Bluffs. "I think he really needs some downtime. When we take that downtime and center
ourselves, we have more energy to put into our work."

There's no shortage of invitations for the Obamas.

Just about every other shop has a sign in the window welcoming their patronage, including Laughing Bear, displaying a suggested island wardrobe for Michelle Obama in its window. (Notes pinned to two of the outfits says, "Do not sell, save for Michelle.'')

Elsewhere, posters and T-shirts feature a special presidential seal emblazoned with "Martha's Vineyard," or declaring the creation of a "Summer White House" on the island.

There is also a line of T-shirt wear devoted to the Obama's Portuguese water dog, Bo - or "Bobama," as one shirt calls him.

The White House took a pass on any kind of welcoming ceremony when the president arrived on Sunday, which aides attributed to the threatening weather in the wake of Hurricane Bill. Obama may be out and about later in the week, but he's on a "loose" vacation schedule and hasn't planned it.

Burton made it sound like the president was planning to lie low most of the week.

"His desire in Martha's Vineyard is to get a little break," Burton said. "He certainly appreciates the hospitality of the folks who are here. But his desire here is to relax and spend time with the family."