Obama reveals his passion for golf

Just three weeks away from being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama (pictured) has already got his retirement plans sorted. According to a member of his campaign staff, he wants to devote himself to golf, playing at top courses such as St Andrews, Pebble Beach and Bethpage Black "when he becomes an ex-president".

The revelation that he is a fan of the game has taken many by surprise. It had been thought basketball was his game of his choice. However, footage of the President-elect on the driving range during his Christmas break in Hawaii reveals that he is every bit as keen on the game as the present incumbent of the White House, George W Bush, and is actually an avid golfer, the 15th of the last 18 presidents to be smitten with the game.

According to an article in the January issue of Golf Digest, Obama took up the game 12 years ago and "usually shoots in the mid-90s, sometimes in the low-90s." Marvin Nicholson, who was the national trip director for Obama's campaign, told the magazine: "He'd be better if he could play more."

Obama will certainly need to get in a lot more practice if he's to match President Bush, whose fluid swing was recorded in a scene made famous by the Michael Moore documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11. After calling on all nations "to do all they can to help stop the terrorist killers", the president coolly tees up his shot with the line, "Now watch this drive", delivering a near perfect shot.