The difference between golf and politics: In golf you can’t improve your lie
As astute readers of the Complete Las Vegan will know, I have a theory about why President Barack Obama plays so much golf.
The topic comes up because after the eruption of Mt. Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland, the volcanic ash forced the cancellation of Obama’s planned flight to Poland for President Lech Kaczynski’s funeral.
So, what did the president do with his new-found time. Head right over to the National Cathedral to light a candle and say a prayer? No, he hustled out to the links for 18 holes of golf.
That makes 32 rounds of golf in his first 14 months. (W played 24 rounds in eight years.)
Anyway, what’s my theory? I think he heads to the links so that he can smoke without having to sneak around. On the course, it’s just him, the game and the cart’s ashtray. It’s just a theory, of course. You can accept it or reject it and, as always, I invite you to do so.
It also gives me the opportunity to draw your attention to a fun column by Stephen G. Smith in the Washington Examiner on golfing and the presidency. It’s worth a few minutes of your time this morning.
It includes this marvelous quote from former California Gov. George Deukmejian who observed, "The difference between golf and government is that in golf you can’t improve your lie."
Associated Press photo
