Golfing Presidents – Where does Barack Obama rank?

Golfing Presidents – Where does Barack Obama rank?

Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional.  I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website.  The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time!  Please post your comments below.  Keep it clean and tasteful.  We are here to learn from one another!

Has Barack Obama played more golf than any other President outside of Dwight Eisenhower? 

The answer might surprise you!  I’ve done some research using both Golf Digest and Links Magazine and have come up with a distinguished list.  

15 of the last 18 Presidents have played golf, and Barack Obama ranks in the middle at best of that group as far as the number of rounds played while serving in office.

* See which President played the most rounds.

* See who is rated as the best in ability on the course and who is second best.  (the latter was a surprise to me!)

Check it out!

President Barack Obama is the 15th of the past 18 American presidents who has played golf. He doesn’t play often, but he did during a vacation in Hawaii in August. Vice President Joe Biden, who discovered golf less than 10 years ago, has a Handicap Index of 8.2. Here’s our ranking of the golfing presidents, with an assist from Don Van Natta Jr., author of the book, First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers, and Cheaters from Taft to Bush.

1 John F. Kennedy.

Despite chronic back pain, averaged 80.

2 Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Had a green outside the Oval Office.

3 Gerald R. Ford.

Clumsy, but was a legitimate 80s-shooter.

4 Franklin D. Roosevelt.

At 39, polio robbed him of a powerful golf swing.

5 George H.W. Bush.

Once got his handicap down to 11.

6 George W. Bush.

Outgoing prez is a capable 15-handicapper.

7 Bill Clinton.

Can break 90, especially using his “Billigans.”

8 Barack Obama.

The lefty plays more hoops than golf.

9 Ronald Reagan.

Didn’t play often or well (best was low 90s).

10 Warren G. Harding.

Struggled to break 95.

11 William Howard Taft.

As hapless a golfer as he was a chief executive.

12 Woodrow Wilson.

Played more than Ike but almost never broke 100.

13 Richard M. Nixon.

He shot 79 once and quit the game.

14 Lyndon B. Johnson.

Played with senators to secure votes for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

15 Calvin Coolidge.

When he vacated the White House, he left his clubs behind.

Best Presidents by ability:

1. John F. Kennedy
2. Gerald Ford
3. Dwight D. Eisenhower (pictured)
4. Franklin D. Roosevelt
5. Bill Clinton
6. George H.W. Bush/George W. Bush
7. Barack Obama
8. Ronald Reagan
9. Richard Nixon
10. Woodrow Wilson

Sources: Golf Digest  Links Magazine

Pictures: Boston Public Library   Don Graham

Thanks for reading – Golfing Presidents – Where does Barack Obama rank?

Related Posts.

The Best of USA’s Golfing Presidents.

8 pictures you must see as Obama and Clinton tee off – I love #2

Obama’s Favorite TV Show – Never Saw That Coming!

Top 10 Longest Hitters of All Time on the PGA Tour!

Transition Exercises – Let’s do it correctly with Joey D!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL, LIKE THIS VIDEO, SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND, LEAVE A COMMENT!