Top-ten golfing Presidents of the United States Part-1
10. Richard Nixon
It was the 40’s when Richard Nixon discovered the game of golf, serving as President Eisenhower’s Vice President.
Always the competitor, Nixon was probably the least athletic of all the top ten golfing presidents.
An awkward swing hampered his ball striking distance with an average of not more 170-200 yards but he was said to be a good putter and had a decent short game.
With plenty of practice, the 37th President shot in the low 90’s and high 80’s, once achieving a 12 handicap and eventually breaking 80.
During Nixon’s second term, his main focus was the issues of the time, leaving him little opportunity to play, and ultimately, giving up the game altogether.
9. William Howard Taft
The first President who enthusiastically embraced the game was William Howard Taft, who promoted the sport more than any other President.
As hapless a golfer as he was a chief executive, Taft was regular player at exhibition matches. Whether good or bad, the 27th President encouraged the media to report on how he played.
Former President Bill Clinton, speaking about Taft said, “I knew that Taft liked to play golf although it didn’t seem to improve his waist line very much”.
Despite being a large man, Taft was a decent golfer sporting a 20 Handicap and insisted on recording every stroke on a hole even if it was a 27.
8. Barack Obama
President Barack Obama continued the tradition of golf in the White House. As the 15th of the last 18 sitting Presidents to play the game, Obama’s first love was Basketball.
However, when the First lady became concerned about his on-going injuries, the 44th President traded the hardwood with a flat stick.
With a homemade swing, President Obama is very much an everyday golfer, who tees it up primarily on public courses dressed in plain golf shirts and cargo shorts.
As the eighth South Hall in the Oval Office, Obama is the first sitting President to play left-handed.
7. Bill Clinton
The 42nd President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton is an avid golf fan. When he took office in 1993, Clinton reaped the benefits of his membership at the Army-Navy Country Club.
“In the warmer months when it was light later I particularly enjoyed later because I could work until 5 or 5:30 and go out there and still play 18-holes of golf and I actually improved my Handicap when I was in the Oval Office mostly because I got to play with most of the professional golfers and I asked them free tips. I was probably at 16 when I was in the White House and was at 12 when I left”.
Clinton broke a personal goal of 80 in the year 1997. In 2012 he became the first President to attach his name to a PGA Tour event, the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation and continues to grow the game with an optimistic attitude.
Clinton added, “You know the best thing about this game is that even the bad days are wonderful”.
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