Obama Attempt to Clear Private Golf Course During Labor Day Weekend Fails

President Barack Obama wanted to play his favorite sport on the greens of one of the private golf clubs recently, but clubs including:  Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., and Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison, N.Y., could not facilitate the president’s request.

According to NBC4 New York, Obama was turned away from playing golf at these clubs over Labor Day Weekend. Sources told NBC 4 that Obama’s advance team contacted a number of clubs in the area a few days earlier. However, the clubs turned down the president’s request, saying the presence of the president that requires presidential security necessities would  inconvenience their own members during one of the busiest weekends of the year. Other dignitaries, like the King of Morocco, were turned away by private golf clubs, NBC 4 says, for the same reason.

The president was at fund-raising events in the area and wanted to spend Friday, August 29, in Westchester, hoping to playing golf Saturday morning before going the wedding of Alex Wagner, an MSNBC host, and White House chef Sam Kass, NBC 4 noted.

Individuals at private golf clubs often pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in dues and fees to maintain their memberships. Additionally,  MTG.com, a golfing resource site,  discussed the results from a “major international hotel chain” who conducted an attitudinal study of global executives and their views on the sport of golf. According to MTG, 401 CEO’s from top-level global companies were interviewed for the study.  :

93% said, “Playing golf with a business associate is a good way to establish a closer relationship”.

80% agreed, “Playing golf is a good way to make new business contacts”

Over 1/3 said, “Some of my biggest business deals were made on the golf course”

Of the 60 percent of women who play golf with business clients, more than a third said that, “Playing golf resulted in additional business for them.”

It should be noted the Obama administration’s EPA is currently targeting golf courses. According to The Hill,the golf industry is facing down the agency over a proposal relating to the government’s jurisdiction over bodies of water.