Here comes Florida: The president takes another golf weekend

[mystery-ak]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/25/inside-the-beltway-obama-takes-another-golf-weeken/print/

Here comes Florida: The president takes another golf weekend
By Jennifer Harper - The Washington Times - Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Just a brief bulletin, then we'll move right along. Time to fire up Air Force, because President Obama is off to the Treasure Coast of Florida this weekend, specifically Palm City. The local press is attentive, reporting that Mr. Obama will play a few rounds at the Floridian National Golf Club. Yeah, well. Rather than prattle on about the cost of operating Air Force One ($206,000 an hour), here's the description of the course, just for the heck of it.

"This stunning, yet formidable Par 71 will certainly impress. At 7,114 yards, the 18-hole course offers perfectly manicured rolling fairways and greens, demanding hazards, breathtaking views of the St. Lucie River, and is surrounded by natural preserve and native wildlife."

Yeah, well. Mr. Obama was at the course two years ago, golfing with Tiger Woods. For those keeping count, this is approximately the 220th round of golf the president has played since taking office, this based on calculations from the ObamaGolfCounter.com, which tracks such things.

[rangerrebew]

Middle East Imploding . . . Obama Heads To South Florida For Golf Vacation…

 


PALM CITY, Fla. —President Obama will be vacationing in South Florida this weekend, sources have confirmed for WPBF 25 News.

The president is expected to stay at the Florida National Golf Club, which is in Palm City and Port St. Lucie. Obama made a similar trip to the area in February of 2013.

Like last time, he’s expected to spend much of his time playing golf.

“That’s fantastic,” said Johanna Morphew of Port St. Lucie. “It’ll be nice to have him in town.”

“It’s good,” said Raphael Martinez of Port St. Lucie. “Get some attention. Get Port St. Lucie in the news.”

The White House has not confirmed the trip, but the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction for the Palm City area for Saturday and Sunday.

A TFR restricts who can fly over the area and when. The TFR is for at least a 10-mile radius, a size usually reserved for only the president.

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ZIP | March 26, 2015 12:58 pm

http://weaselzippers.us/218589-middle-east-imploding-obama-heads-to-south-florida-for-golf-vacation/

[mystery-ak]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/reporters-refuse-obamas-dismissal-from-golf-course-are-sent-to-the-shed/article/2562204?utm_content=buffera5f08&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Reporters refuse Obama's dismissal from golf course, are sent to the 'shed'
By Paul Bedard | March 28, 2015 | 4:45 pm

In its latest attempt to shut down media coverage, the White House Saturday dismissed reporters to their Florida hotel by declaring a news "lid" even though President Obama was just beginning his golf game — but the press pool voted to stay.

After a two hour flight, Obama motorcaded to the posh Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City to play a round and also stay.

At that point, the pool reporter, Byron Tau of the Wall Street Journal, wrote in his report to other correspondents, "The White House has called a lid. Pool does not anticipate news or POTUS sightings until tomorrow's departure of Air Force One."


President Barack Obama walks toward his SUV after being greeting on the tarmac by Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla. third from right,, and Ft. Pierce, Fla., Mayor Linda Hudson, center, upon his arrival on Air Force One at St. Lucie International Airport, Saturday, March 28, 2015, in Fort Pierce, Fla. Obama kicked off the spring season on Saturday with a weekend getaway in Florida, golfing with buddies the upscale resort where he once caused a stir by hitting the links with Tiger Woods.

With a lid, the reporters in the "travel pool" would typically return to their hotel. But with Obama still in public golfing, though at a very exclusive club, something could happen. So the pool voted to stay in the area just in case.

"However, the pool will hold on the grounds of the golf course until the early evening. This was the a result of a democratic vote by the pool to hold as close as possible to POTUS. (The other option was a hotel about 15 miles away.) Despite the lid, pool voted to stay on site.

"Pool is holding in a maintenance shed," Tau reported.

Obama's golf pools are regularly frustrated by never even seeing him. Some previous presidents, notably George H.W. Bush, would allow reporters to watch his play on one or two greens. Sometimes he answered questions.

Obama has golfed at the club before, with Tiger Woods.

The trip will cost taxpayers $843,508 in airfare alone.

[rangerrebew]

Fore! Obama golfs with Alonzo Mourning on Florida getaway
 

March 28, 2015 - 3:06 PM
 
By JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
 
 

PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) — President Barack Obama kicked off the spring season on Saturday with a weekend golf getaway in Florida, teeing off with former NBA star Alonzo Mourning and former sportscaster Ahmad Rashad.

During his stay at the Floridian National Golf Club, less than 50 miles up the coast from Palm Beach, Obama planned to be out of public view, with no official events scheduled. After arriving midday Saturday, he immediately hit the links with Mourning, Rashad and Cyrus Walker, a cousin of Obama's senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, the White House said.

Two years ago, Obama caused a stir at this lush, coastal golf resort when he played 18 holes with golf legend Tiger Woods and practiced with Woods' former swing coach. Word that Obama was teeing up with Woods initially came from a professional sports journalist who was on the course and tweeted about it, even though the White House had prohibited the traveling press corps from observing Obama while golfing.

This time, the president's foursome included pro athletes that Obama has gotten to know well over the past few years and has golfed with frequently before. Obama last year headlined a Democratic fundraiser at Mourning's home, and the former Miami Heat player has also pitched in to boost first lady Michelle Obama's childhood nutrition campaign. Rashad and Jarrett dated earlier during the president's term, and he's been an Obama dinner guest.

Mrs. Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha were not on the trip. As in 2013, the White House arranged for the reporters covering the president to wait at a separate location nearby where Obama won't be visible.

Previous administrations have allowed brief news media coverage during presidential rounds of golf. Obama's policy generally is not to allow reporters to observe him. He has made a few exceptions when he's golfed with prominent figures, including House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, former President Bill Clinton and the leaders of New Zealand and Malaysia.

Obama planned to return to the White House on Sunday evening.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/fore-obama-golfs-alonzo-mourning-florida-getaway