Obama Golfing At Andrews Air Force Base Courses

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. — President Barack Obama took advantage of the summer weather in Washington on Sunday to play a round of golf.

Before he left for the course, Obama received an update on the swine flu virus, said White House spokesman Reid Cherlin.

Obama played for about five hours in nearly 90-degree temperatures on the rolling lawns of a course at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

He arrived at the course wearing sunglasses, a cream-colored baseball cap, a short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts, with his Blackberry clipped to his side. He shook hands with a few other golfers and waved to other onlookers before stepping into a golf cart driven by the course's general manager, Mike Thomas.

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

The Courses at Andrews Air Force Base is a popular destination for presidents because of its proximity to the White House and the security it offers on a military base. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush have all played there.

Its three 18-hole courses are a part of the base's recreation program for military personnel and Defense Department employees.

The president's golf excursion comes about a week after he chatted with golf star Tiger Woods at the White House. Woods got a tour of the White House from Nicholson, who once caddied at the Augusta golf course, where Woods tied for sixth place in this year's Masters tournament.

Comments

[CrazedSurfer]

Golf? I bet he would have rather gone surfing.

[Uchenna Oguekwe]

Oh Boy. Who do you think will be the next right wing sheep to lead the cry, " Why is the president golfing when there is a crisis?" I predict Scarborough will be the first to spin this.

[handyallen1]

the obamabots are well and alive here

[franksters]

That's right, dude. You seem to be very interested in our wonderful, fantastic, brilliant leader, otherwise, what are you doing here, dude?

[Jaladeno]

You sound disappointed. I'm glad you are apparently alive and well.

[booboo111]

As opposed to the illiterate monkey boy of the last eight years.

[jkpcguru]

Play nice kids, the opposition is just mad that our president is more popular then they are...

[neuron]

The Prez seems to have something a lot of whiners sorely need.

A life.

[ToniaB]

Yes and we only wish that the rushbutts would go play elsewhere!!!

[noahark]

well if the GOP (mo) had let Sebelius nomination not be delayed we would have a leader at the HHS during this time
Obstructionism is not helpful

[SMDHP]

This little emergency ought to nudge things along.

[ProudlyConservative42]

Sure. We'll just sweep her tax baggage under the rug, since she's the ONLY one who can do the job (other than, er, Tom Daschle).

[Crissy Patters]

I personally believe the president should have a three day weekend with all the problems he has on his plate. He needs more time off, just reading about one day of the president, I got tired. The enormity of the position is unreal, especially when you have a president who actually works and is trying to solve catastrophic problems.

[LucyBelle97]

Why? President Bush took weeks off at a time and look at the good job he did for us. Only kidding, sorry.

[greg32]

You all never shut up with your complaints when Bush went on vacation.

[franksters]

Let's face it....Bush has been on a lifelong intellectual vacation. :)

[Jaladeno]

We all never shut up? All of us? Never? Haven't I told you a million times not to exaggerate?!?!?

[cornelison]

You gave me the best laugh of the day with that line!

[LiberTLover]

Wow, must suck to be you if five hours is a 'vacation'! To most normal folk, its the weekend and a time to rest and recoup for the week ahead.

[GolfingDevil05]

President George W. Bush vacation numbers:

487 days at Camp David.
490 days at Crawford Ranch.
43 days at Kennebunkport Family Compound.
1,020 total days on vacation out of 2,922 days as President = 35% of total time spent on vacation.

I think in light of those numbers, we can allow President Obama take five hours off to play golf.

[bikerdude]

Come on. He's working all the time. He has a home office and is totally connected, even on the golf course. No chief executive who is doing his job can take off 3 days a week. Unless of course you are the President in that failed Bush regime, then you are so not relevant that it doesn't matter if you are there or not....

[kwinter]

How will Fox Noise spin this?
He was golfing when he should have been at his desk, in a suit?
... or ...
He was golfing on a Sunday, when he should have been in church?

[SMDHP]

They will use all of the above!

[Mabo]

How about this one...He was golfing while troops are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oh, wait...tha­t only applied to Bush...not THIS president.­..he can do whatever he wants, I guess.

[kwinter]

If memory serves me, Bush CLAIMED that he had given up golf, while troops, that were at war because of his mistakes, were dying. One of his many lies.

[Solja]

What a jackazz you are.

[LucyBelle97]

OR that with the budget deficit Obama is out playing golf on the taxpayers dime.

[franksters]

You're darn right this President can do whatever he wants during his free time, which is scarce. He has more intelligence in his little toenail than the entire Bush administration combined. So phooey on youey.

[Theo67]

Well, since Bush started the war in Iraq for no good reason, and then left 150,000 soldiers in place while he escaped to his $2million place in Texas, he deserves to lose his right to golf. President Obama is cleaning up someone else's mess - he deserves to golf when he wants to. You can rest assured that he's not forgetting the problems on his plate while he's out there - he's still on the job because there are way too many problems to fix.

[rob2007]

They will say he should be working on all the things they accused him of working on too much.

[snoopkittycat]

i have made many important decisions about my life and work while golfing. a golf course is one of the few remaining places that you can hear yourself think. i don't think chaining him to his desk is the answer. give the man a break

[SuburbanMalcontent]

I agree. Even though the game can be mind-blowingly frustrating at times, there is an overall peace and friendliness to a golf course that helps clear the mind. It's not just golf though. I find any activity where you can enjoy the outdoors and focus only on that activity for a few hours does wonders for one's health.

[Pie7]

I would love to play or even get to see Tiger Wood hits golf balls in person. Anyway, way to go Mr. President.

[RepublicansReelected]

The Mexican Flu is an emergency, now watch this drive.

[Privatepractice]

NO you are wrong. Bush said the attack is an emergency.­...no watch this drive. Your try will not work especially when they are from the mouth of Bush!!!

[ckfan]

Bin Laden planned the 9/11 attack, now watch the invasion of Iraq.

[franksters]

Comment of the year!

[cjk002]

You're absolutely right, Obama should be in the lab trying to find an effective vaccine or personally leading a detachment of the national guard to keep order, not taking a few hours off after spending the last 100 days accomplishing more than any other president since Roosevelt.

[ProudlyConservative42]

Really? You mean spending more than any president since Washington.

[Trogenhorse]

Unfortunately for you the president has proven time and again he chew gum, walk, manage the ecconomy, foreign affairs, health care bill, appointments, and now the swine flu epi/pandemic. And.. play basketball with the troops or golf with the cabinet

[franksters]

Dear Mr/Ms Republicans Reelected (NOT). Why don't you try to come up with something original, eh?

[BarackstarObama]

I'm really curious what President Obama shot for 18 holes. Wouldn't it be cool if he shot 97 on his 97th day in office? That would be really cool.

[SPQR1052]

This is the president of the United States of America - he is working even while relaxing . See that Blackberry on his hip, all he has to do is place a call and take care of business. If he needs anything there are hundreds of aides at his every beckoning( and millions of volunteers worldwide. )

[Bam-Bam]

I agree...Th­at is why I when all the left wing libs gave Bush a rash of crap for "Being on vacation all the time" I just laughed. The president is at work 24/7, whether it is Bush or Obama, whether on the golf course, in the oval office, or at a ranch. I just wish people would be fair about it.

[Solja]

The difference is that Bush didn't actually work while on vacation OR in the White House. He had his pinheads do all the damage for him and he was too stupid to know when they were doing the wrong thing.

Any way you look at it, Bush still took too many vacation days. Obama has said that he takes the weekends off from his normal schedule, but he still does work early in the mornings, including his briefings. He got an extra briefing today because of the swine flu germ flying around.

[franksters]

To be fair.....B­ush is a lightweight who is incapable of thinking anything through. Besides, we all know that Cheney was calling most of the shots during the entire 8 years of the administration. The only thing that he didn't get to decide was the Libby nonpardon.

[Theo67]

Maybe if President Bush hadn't been working while on vacation, then we wouldn't have the mess we have now...

[Privatepractice]

But where is the lie? The first year in office Bush was on vacation how many times? Do you know he was on vacation 250 days as of August 2003? So do the math and tell us how many vacation days he took for 8 years. President Obama takes off a few hours on a Sunday to play gulf down the road from his office and this is a problem for you?

[harriscrl3]

I dont know what people see in golf but if it gets him to relax and have fun I'm all for it.

Carol

[OneLiberalLady]

It's surprisingly fun. I just wish I didn't stink at it!

[RepublicansReelected]

Golf is lots of fun

[golferman]

Carol Golf is a game that you can play a lifetime. If you fall in love with the game you will play it the rest of your life.

[bikerdude]

Its funny, I never got to play enough to be good at it, so it was always a frustrating experience for me. I do love the quiet, serenity and beauty of a golf course. I used to caddy at the Allegheny Country Club near Sewickley, PA. The back 9 was probably one of the prettiest places on earth...

[cd789]

If I was Obama, my response to those who are upset that he's playing golf instead of working would be, "Don't worry, I skipped church so I could do this." Probably explains why I'm not president.

[LucyBelle97]

Man is nearer to God when he's deep in a sandtrap or a water hazard than many times he is in a Church. How often I've heard men call his name after a slice.

[Theo67]

I don't think President Obama really pays attention to the little people who would complain about him playing golf on a Sunday... Which is good.

[NJmikeV]

Golf. A study in patience and humility. Especially humility.

[petphotos]

Well deserved Mr. President.