Obama vs. Trump: Who Is The Better Golf Player?

Donald Trump, who a year ago criticized President Barack Obama for playing “more golf than Tiger Woods,” returned to the golf course Saturday, ditching the press pool tailing the president-elect.

Trump actually joined golfing great Woods last week on the course, interrupting his schedule of transition meetings while at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. And, despite his upcoming inauguration next month, Trump was back swinging his clubs on Saturday at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter, situated near his resort, ditching his press pool in the process, reported the Associated Press.

But a year ago, Trump, then on the campaign trail, used Obama’s affection for golf to direct one of his many criticisms toward the current president.

“He played more golf last year than Tiger Woods,” Trump said in December 2015. “We don’t have time for this. We have to work. I love golf, I think it’s one of the greats, but I don’t have time.”

Obama was also golfing this week, hitting the course in West Oahu on Wednesday during his family’s annual vacation in Hawaii. And the president has been a frequent golfer during his eight-year tenure in the White House. Indeed, in August he racked up his 300th round as president.

While that is still some way short of Dwight Eisenhower, who is believed to have played 800 rounds while in office, it is thought to have been sufficient to significantly reduce his handicap. Reported to have been a 17-handicap when he took office in 2009, Obama revealed in August that he was an “honest 13.”

"I think my irons are good, my drive is straight but unimpressive in length, and my putting's decent, chipping is OK," Obama told the Golf Channel’s David Feherty. "My sand game is terrible.”

But while Obama may be a big fan, he has nothing on Trump’s links to golf. Trump’s company owns 16 golf properties and 22 courses around the world, while he is also a regular player himself. On the campaign trail, he even boasted about winning numerous club championships

“I know how to win,” he said in March. “I’ve won . . . these people will tell you. Have I won many club championships? Does Trump know how to close? Winning is winning. It’s not easy to win club championships, believe me. And I’m not talking about with strokes. I’m talking with no strokes.”

Those claims appear to be accurate, which is not surprising given his handicap is reported by Golf Digest magazine to be an impressive 2.8. However, Trump’s methods of getting around the course have been called into question by numerous people. Both actor Samuel L. Jackson and boxing great Oscar De La Hoya have accused the Republican of bending the rules.

Asked in January whether he was a better golfer than Trump, Jackson replied simply, "Oh, I am, for sure — I don't cheat."