On his Christmas vacation President Obama showed-off his sharp short game when he chipped in from 40 feet for a birdie on the 18th hole at the Mid Pacific Country Club in Lanikai.
Enjoying his third day of a two-week-plus Hawaiian vacation, Obama demonstrated on Monday that playing about 250 rounds of golf since taking office in 2009 really improved his short game. In August CNN estimated the commander-in-chief played over 1100 hours of golf during those rounds.
Obama raised his hands in self-approval after the ball rolled in the cup. He pointed to all those around signaling that they take notice that I got it going on.
Although the 44th president of the United States gets to tee it up way more than most Americans, his scores are a well-kept secret. Yahoo Sports reports that Obama routinely shoots in the mid- to high-80s.
In August Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump criticized the president for playing golf after the death of American ISIS hostage James Foley was announced. The billionaire made his statement while Obama enjoyed his 17-day vacation on Martha Vineyard, where he played golf nine times.
Obama admitted his teeing it up at that time was a mistake, saying, “I should have anticipated the optics.”
Yet, Monday when learning six American military personnel were killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, Obama still headed to the golf course.
Breitbart News reported White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest released a statement while Obama was yucking it up with friends and secret service agents. “We express our deepest condolences to the families of the six U.S. service members killed and to all of those injured in today’s Taliban attack near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan,” the press secretary said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and their loved ones.” Earnest added that the U.S. condemned the act as a “cowardly attack.”