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For Obama, Golfing Is a Very Leisurely Pursuit
New York Times ^ | 8/28/09 | HELENE COOPER

Posted on 08/28/2009 6:11:50 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Bill Clinton was famous for the creative way he kept score. Both George Bushes would speed-golf through 18 holes as if they had to beat the clock, not the course.

And President Obama?

Long, slow rounds. A lot of time hunting for balls in the woods. All dished up with a dollop of trash-talking.

The First Golfer brought his duffer’s game to Martha’s Vineyard this week. By Thursday, Mr. Obama had logged three golf games in four days, appearing at one island course after another. He spent five hours on Monday afternoon playing 18 holes at the Farm Neck Golf Club here, two and a half hours on Tuesday playing nine holes at Mink Meadows Golf Club in Vineyard Haven, and several hours playing Thursday afternoon at the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown.

While Mr. Obama has indulged in other vacation activities — he took his family bike riding Thursday morning, went to the beach on Wednesday and took his wife to dinner Tuesday night — golf has been the only recurring one.

So, clearly, the president likes to hit the links. But is he any good at it, especially compared with his predecessors?

“His golf games are long because he’s not very good,” said Don Van Natta Jr., a reporter for The New York Times who wrote “First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers and Cheaters From Taft to Bush” (PublicAffairs, 2003).

Unlike Mr. Clinton, who had a reputation for shaving strokes off his score, Mr. Obama “doesn’t fudge his scores,” Mr. Van Natta said, adding: “If he shoots an 11 on a hole, he will write down 11."

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: bhovacation; golf; marthasvineyard; marxistvineyard; obama; presidents; pufflist
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1 posted on 08/28/2009 6:11:51 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Bill Clinton was famous for the creative way he kept score.

LOL. Not a bad line.

2 posted on 08/28/2009 6:13:29 AM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: nickcarraway

Not the one you want to be behind.


3 posted on 08/28/2009 6:13:53 AM PDT by Genoa
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To: nickcarraway

Obama always wins anyway. Otherwise he throws a tantrum and his caretakers get real frustrated like.


4 posted on 08/28/2009 6:13:54 AM PDT by Soothesayer (The United States of America Rest in Peace November 4 2008)
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To: nickcarraway

The more time he spends golfing, the less time he has to destroy America.


5 posted on 08/28/2009 6:14:41 AM PDT by bgill (The evidence simply does not support the official position of the Obama administration)
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To: Genoa

“Not the one you want to be behind.”

Talking about BHO, not Clinton.


6 posted on 08/28/2009 6:14:48 AM PDT by Genoa
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To: nickcarraway
All dished up with a dollop of trash-talking.

..he brought TOTUS along?

7 posted on 08/28/2009 6:15:58 AM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: nickcarraway

Nice of him to spend so much of his vacation w/his family. What a jerk, they sit at home while he spends 6-7 hrs playing by himself. What’s there for kids to do at Marxist Vineyard?

Pray for America and Our Troops


8 posted on 08/28/2009 6:16:02 AM PDT by bray (He's a Divider not a Uniter)
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To: bgill

Good point.
Anybody know how many hundreds of Sec Serv agents it takes to secure an 18 hole golf course?


9 posted on 08/28/2009 6:17:07 AM PDT by nascarnation
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To: bgill

Agreed. I’d be thrilled for him to play two rounds a day for the next 3 1/2 years.


10 posted on 08/28/2009 6:19:35 AM PDT by all the best
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To: nickcarraway

I didn’t read this past the beginning paragraphs because I dislike O and find golf boring.

Trash talking? Do they explain that line? I’m afraid to look and don’t have time to read a lengthy NYT article. Can someone with more patience than I just post the answer?


11 posted on 08/28/2009 6:20:21 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: bray

I’ve thought that too. Must be bored to pieces.


12 posted on 08/28/2009 6:21:09 AM PDT by PghBaldy (http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/06/president-obama-visits-wounded-troops.html)
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To: nickcarraway

Golf is his leisure pursuit. Destroying this country is his active pursuit.


13 posted on 08/28/2009 6:23:24 AM PDT by Sig Sauer P220 ("Peace" is that brief, glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading - Anonymous)
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To: nickcarraway

W. gave up golf while our troops were fighting.


14 posted on 08/28/2009 6:26:38 AM PDT by Selmore (Except for ending Slavery, Facism, Communism, and Nazism, War never has accomplished anything)
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To: bray
What’s there for kids to do at Marxist Vineyard?

They'll fly a circus in on Air Force 1.

15 posted on 08/28/2009 6:26:56 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Soothesayer
"Mr. Obama “doesn’t fudge his scores,” Mr. Van Natta said, adding: “If he shoots an 11 on a hole, he will write down 11."

Might be the ONLY time he doesn't lie!

16 posted on 08/28/2009 6:34:53 AM PDT by Vasilli22
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To: Vasilli22

Somebody posted this yesterday:

A foursome you wouldn’t want to be behind.

OJ-A slicer
Monica Lewinsky-A hooker
Ted Kennedy-Can drive over water
Bill Clinton-Can’t find the right hole


17 posted on 08/28/2009 6:39:12 AM PDT by nikos1121 (Is it a coincidence that Obama's vacation of relaxation and meditation coincides with Ramadan?)
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To: nickcarraway
A lot of time hunting for balls in the woods.

Smoke breaks.

18 posted on 08/28/2009 6:40:01 AM PDT by LikeLight (http://www.believersguidetolegalissues.com)
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To: Vasilli22

Somebody posted this yesterday:

A foursome you wouldn’t want to be behind.

OJ-A slicer
Monica Lewinsky-A hooker
Ted Kennedy-Can’t drive over water
Bill Clinton-Can’t find the right hole


19 posted on 08/28/2009 6:40:07 AM PDT by nikos1121 (Is it a coincidence that Obama's vacation of relaxation and meditation coincides with Ramadan?)
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To: nickcarraway

The Press Core calls him the Duffer in Chief when he “golfs” (I would say hack, but he IS a hack).


20 posted on 08/28/2009 6:42:08 AM PDT by downwdims (It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority)
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