"Mr. Obama’s love of golf has been on display during his winter vacation"

Ashley Parker summarizes President Barack Obama's Hawaii golf this winter and while it's nice to know he doesn't have the tendency to fudge the numbers like predecessors Nixon and Clinton, he lacks the uh, on-course urgency that predecessors Bush and Bush demonstrated.

Parker, writing in the New York Times:

According to Don Van Natta Jr., author of “First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers, and Cheaters From Taft to Bush,” Dwight D. Eisenhower, famous for his vacations and delegating White House business to aides, played 36 holes a week. Richard M. Nixon was awkward on the course, and a cheat. Bill Clinton was famous for his mulligans, or do-overs. The two George Bushes were quick to take action.

Mr. Obama is known for his slow, deliberative play.

On the 18th hole at the Mid Pacific Country Club on Oahu last week, Mr. Obama crouched to survey his final shot, took several practice swings and then putted, with the ball stopping just short of the hole. By the time he had finished, roughly five hours had elapsed since his arrival. (The P.G.A. frowns on slow play, threatening penalties.)

Key word, threatening.

“Six hours is an especially long round of golf, and five is on the long side, too,” said Mr. Van Natta, a former New York Times correspondent.

There is a short video showing the Presidents pre-shot routine, which includes too many practice swings, including the divot taking variety.