Feb 09, 2026

Fore! The Founding Fathers: Presidents, Golf & A Little Oy Vey

by Justin Bush

With Presidents' Day next week, I thought it would be fun to write about the relationship between golfing and our Commanders in Chief.

Presidents’ Day usually means mattress sales, long weekends, and the annual realization that winter is still very much here.

But here’s something you may not know:

The White House has always had a soft spot for golf.

From secret swings to full-on golf obsessions, the most powerful office in the world has produced its fair share of golfers. And honestly? It makes perfect sense.

Because if anyone understands stress relief, bad weather, and yelling at small objects…

It’s a President.

Welcome to the most presidential round you’ll ever play.

The Presidential Golf Tradition

Golf and the presidency go together like:

Coffee and early tee times
Rain gloves and denial
Winter golf and questionable life choices

Over the last century, golf has become one of the most consistent hobbies of U.S. Presidents. Not for luxury. Not for status.

For sanity.

Running a country is stressful.
Golf is also stressful.

Somehow, the two cancel each other out.

The First Presidential Golfer

William Howard Taft — Golf’s White House Debut

The first president to truly embrace golf was William Howard Taft.

Taft started playing in 1908 and quickly became hooked. So hooked, in fact, that the press began reporting on his rounds regularly.

Imagine being the first president roasted by the media for slow play.

A true pioneer.

Eisenhower: The Golf Addict

If there were a Presidential Golf Hall of Fame, Dwight D. Eisenhower would have a statue out front.

He played over 800 rounds of golf during his presidency.

Eight. Hundred. Rounds.

He loved golf so much that Augusta National installed a tree he kept hitting — eventually named The Eisenhower Tree.

Imagine being powerful enough to have a tree named after your slice.

Iconic.

JFK: Style, Swagger, and a Smooth Swing

John F. Kennedy brought a little cool factor to presidential golf.

Young, athletic, and competitive, JFK helped turn the image of presidential golfers from leisurely to stylish.

He proved golf could look good in sunglasses.

The Modern Presidential Golf Era

From Reagan to Obama and continuing with Trump, presidents have continued the tradition of teeing it up.

Because some things never change:

Stressful jobs
Competitive spirits
The eternal search for a perfect swing

No matter your politics, we can all agree on one thing:

Golf is bipartisan.

Golf: The Great Equalizer

On the golf course, titles disappear.

Commander-in-Chief?
Weekend warrior?
Four-putter?

Out here, everyone is just trying to find the fairway.

Golf humbles everyone equally.

Presidents included.

The Oy Vey Golf Presidential Take

Let’s be honest.

If Presidents’ Day had a dress code, it would include:

A quarter zip
A beanie
Possibly yelling “OY VEY” after a sliced drive

Because golf is frustrating.
Life is frustrating.
Running a country? Probably very frustrating.

Sometimes all you can do is laugh, swing again, and blame the wind.

A President’s Day Toast

This Presidents’ Day, we salute the leaders who understood the importance of stepping away from the desk and onto the tee box.

Here’s to:

The early tee times
The stress relief swings
The presidential mulligans

And the timeless truth that golf has always been part of the American story.

From the White House lawn to your local muni.

L’chaim to presidential golf.