President George W. Bush Gets First Hole-in-One (Video)

It took former President George W. Bush more than 40 years, but a member of one of golf’s most influential families finally got a hole-in-one. The 43^rd President of the United States defied 12,500 to one odds and made the ace at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.

The 72-year-old did not divulge which tee box he accomplished the feat from, but being a 10 handicap, it was probably from the 164-yard white tees. The blue tees are 205 yards and the tips, known at Trinity Forest as the “Plate” is 250 yards away.

The course is home to the PGA Tour’s AT&T Byron Nelson and Bush’s Warrior Open, which is a tournament for members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were wounded overseas.

Bush took to Instagram to share the news, which received 40,000 likes in the first hour after posting.

“With coaching from @thebushcenter CEO Ken Hersh and board members Mike Meece and Bill Hickey, I scored my first hole-in-one at the home of our Warrior Open and the @attbyronnelson,” said the former president. “Next golf goal: live to 100 so I can shoot my age.”

Long Line of Presidential Golfers

Bush was one of many presidents that played the sport, while in office. At one point during his presidency, though, he was criticized for a moment on the golf course. He was playing with his father and former president, when reporters asked him at a tee box about suicide bombings in Israel.

After condemning the attacks, Bush uttered the infamous line, “Now watch this drive.” The clip made it into filmmaker Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911.

 

During the Iraq war in 2003, Bush did make the decision to stop playing golf saying, “playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signals.”

He is not the only president to be condemned for hitting the links. President Barack Obama was chided for playing golf, and Bush actually came to his defense in a Golf Channel interview.

“I think he ought to play golf,” Bush said. “I know the pressure of the job, and to be able to get outside and play golf with some of your pals is important for the president. It does give you an outlet.”

One of Obama’s biggest critics was President Trump, who said in 27 separate Twitter posts that he played too much golf.

As president, Trump has played golf 161 times, according to the website trumpgolfcount.com. That is 124 more times than Obama played in eight years in office.

Family’s Deep Ties to Sport

The Bush family has long been associated with golf. Bush’s maternal grandfather, George Herbert Walker was president of the United States Golf Association. The Walker Cup, an amateur competition held every two years with teams from the US against a squad from Great Britain and Ireland is named in his honor.

The 41st president was a frequent visitor to the Ryder Cup competitions, and was awarded the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in 2008. He is also in the World Golf Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game.

“Golf has meant a lot to me. It means friendship, integrity and character,” George H.W. Bush once said. “I grew up in a family that was lucky enough to have golf at the heart of it for a while. My father was a scratch player and my mother also was a good golfer. It’s a very special game.”