Barack Obama's golf swing reveals he's an athlete, a duffer and fun to play with

[DeepModem Mom]

Sports Illustrated/Golf.com: Barack Obama's golf swing reveals he's an athlete, a duffer and fun to play with
By Michael Bamberger
Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated
Published: December 24, 2008


Barack Obama spends his Christmas vacation golfing in Hawaii. (CNN)

Golf.com has performed an important service. It has posted five photographs, taken by AP photographer Gerald Herbert, that shows President-elect Barack Obama on vacation in Hawaii playing golf. This is invaluable as we all know that nothing, not even a CNN special called "Obama Revealed," reveals the soul as ruthlessly and efficiently as how one plays the old Scottish game....

Obama does not have to run from his golf. The guess here is that he's an athlete and a duffer and fun to play with.

In Photo No. 1, the first thing that strikes you is that Obama is a lefthanded golfer who plays golf wearing a watch, just like Phil Mickelson. Also like Lefty, the future president wears his watch on his left hand. One reason golfers will wear watches while playing is that it helps give them a visual for a hand position -- the hinging of the hand and wrist -- at the top of the swing. President-elect Obama, on the other hand, likely wants to know what time it is. Which is a good thing.

Photo No. 2 shows Obama with one of his staffers, Eugene Kang. Looks like a smart, young affable guy, maybe something like the character Charlie Young on "The West Wing," who always had President Martin Sheen's suit jacket ready. Whatever Kang's responsibilities may be, they evidently include being not just golf partner but caddie, as he appears to be carrying both a lefthanded putter and a righthanded one.

Photo No. 3 indicates that, as a golfer Obama is taking a page from 41. That is, he's warming up with a short iron. Sure, he could skip the 8-iron and go straight to the driver, let the big dog eat, give the crowd a thrill and while he's at it take out a little Rod Blago aggression. But it wouldn't be prudent. As Tiger likes to say, "Take baby steps." Superb knee flex, it should be noted. He looks like a basketball player.

In Photo No. 4, Obama's follow-through is not a thing of beauty, but there's much to admire here: the cargo shorts (nothing says regular-joe golfer like cargo shorts), the little baseball cap that brings to mind the little caps worn by touring everyman Joe Durant, the casual pushed-down socks. We might need golf fashion guru Woody Hochswender to explain the pushed-down sock look and who it works for and why, but in any event the president-elect is not looking like a man who is taking his vacation golf too seriously. Which is an accomplishment itself.

In Photo No. 5, Obama has gotten a ball airborne and is admiring its flight. Who can't relate to that?

Enjoy it while you can, sir.

Link to photos: http://www.golf.com/golf/gallery/article/0,28242,1868158,00.html

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1868703,00.html

[Faygo Kid]

1. How is he on Mideast peace initiatives?

As a golfer (bad) myself, I enjoyed this, but there are bigger fish to fry, and fast.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Latest I've seen: Obama calls Rice about Gaza strikes

CNN: President-elect Barack Obama spoke with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the violence in Gaza on Saturday, which has left at least 205 people dead, two transition aides told CNN.

“The president-elect appreciated the call and the information from Secretary Rice,” one aide said, adding that Obama initiated the eight-minute phone call. “He will continue to closely monitor these and other global events.”

Israeli airstrikes pounded targets in Hamas-ruled Gaza on Saturday, retaliating against Palestinian militants who have been escalating rocket attacks against southern Israel. The fighting sparked just one day after an Egypt-brokered cease-fire between Hamas and Israel expired.

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/27/obama-calls-rice-about-gaza-strikes/

[firedupdem]

2. Thanks for those....my hubby is a golf person lately and he gets

a kick out of the fact that Obama is probably just as bad as he is! Good articles.

[tularetom]

4. What is it with all these left handed presidents lately?

IIRC Clinton at least wrote with his left hand as did daddy boosh. Not sure about the golf.

I've never seen the boy king write, but I think he peels his bananas with his right hand.

Anyway as a proud left hander it's a pleasure to see the PE embrace his sinistrality.