George H.W. Bush and a legacy of golfing American Presidents

The death of president George H.W. Bush reminds us that for more than a century, American presidents have sought refuge from the cares of the office on golf courses

The death of former President George H.W. Bush provides an appropriate moment to review not only the 41st president’s lengthy connection to the game, but the even more extensive relationship between golf and the presidency generally.

Since the game took hold in the United States in the later part of the 19th Century, the majority of men elected to the presidency played at least casually…and most were avid participants.

Their influence has also been substantial. President Bush famously could trace his lineage back to the man who instituted the primary international golf competition, the Walker Cup. Other American chief executives have distinguished themselves as members – or in the case of the current president as owner — of prominent country clubs. Two are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Their primary influence on the game’s growth and development, however, was as an extremely prominent player. In that capacity several have served as active advertisements for the game at moments when golf was an ascendant, aspirational activity.

Probably most critically from the standpoint of the presidents, it also has provided a vehicle through which to escape – at least to the extent possible – the cares of holding the world’s most important office.

Those are probably all good reasons why literally every president for the past three decades has exercised his golfing skills to the extent time permitted. In fact, not since Ronald Reagan left office in 1989 – to be succeeded by Mr. Bush – has an American chief executive not been known as an avid player.

Let’s take a walk back through history to examine the recurring relationship between the nation’s highest office and its chief executive.