Obama plays 300th round of golf as president
President Barack Obama began his annual summer vacation with a familiar activity: golf.
The president hit the links at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Sunday afternoon with a foursome that included Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and two of his frequent golf partners: Washington lawyer Cy Walker and White House aide Joe Paulsen. By CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller’s count, it was Obama’s 300th round of golf as commander in chief.
According to the traveling press pool, Obama barely missed a 30-foot putt on the first hole before gesturing toward the cameras.
“I hope you saw that,” the president said.
In an interview with the Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive,” Obama, who has a 13 handicap, opened up about his golf game, saying his drives are generally straight but otherwise unimpressive, his iron play is “good,” and his putting is “decent.”
“I’m not a hack,” the president said. “But I’m not quitting my day job.”
The president is expected to play several more rounds of golf over the next two weeks. The White House does not release the names of Obama’s golfing buddies in advance, but don’t be surprised if one of them is Larry David.
Obama has played golf with the “Seinfeld” co-creator and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star several times, including on Martha’s Vineyard last summer.
Celebrity friends aside, one reason Obama enjoys golf so much is the freedom it gives him.
“It is the only time for six hours, first of all, that I’m outside,” Obama said in an interview with CBS’ “Early Show” in 2009. “You almost feel normal, in the sense that you’re not in the bubble.”
Slideshow: The first family’s summer vacation at Martha’s Vineyard >>>
