What U.S. Presidents Have Had the Lowest Golf Handicaps?

You'll find Donald Trump topping the list with a claimed 2.8 handicap, though golf pros debate its accuracy. Joe Biden reached a peak of 6.7 during his younger years, while JFK maintained a solid 7 despite suffering from chronic back pain. FDR impressed with an 8 handicap and even won club championships! Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon both shot around 12, with Obama close behind at 13. Here's what makes these presidential golf scores even crazier.

Only five U.S. presidents have achieved golf handicaps under 10, placing them in the elite category of recreational golfers, and you might be surprised by who tops the list. Donald Trump leads with a 2.8 handicap, although some question its accuracy given his ownership of 19 golf courses worldwide, where championships have been won. Joe Biden reached a peak of 6.7 during his younger years, earning him second place. John F. Kennedy maintained a handicap of 7 despite dealing with chronic back problems that could have limited his swing. Franklin D. Roosevelt managed an impressive 8, despite his time's limited golf technology; he even won a club championship! George W. Bush dropped below 10 after leaving office, ultimately having time to perfect his game. His father, George H.W. Bush, stayed just outside at 11 but played lightning-fast rounds in 80 minutes. The fact is: these handicaps mean they'd consistently shoot in the 70s and low 80s on standard courses.

While the elite golfers grabbed headlines with their single-digit handicaps, there's actually a larger group of presidents who played seriously impressive golf with handicaps between 10 and 15. You're looking at Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon at 12, Obama at 13, and Bush at 15 – these guys could really play!

Here's what made them special: Ford actually outdrove Arnold Palmer once, which is no joke. Obama played 333 rounds during his presidency, favoring military courses near D.C. He'll tell you his irons were solid, but don't ask about his sand game. Bush played fast – really fast – matching his no-nonsense style. Clinton improved from 16 to 12, although his frequent mulligans raised some eyebrows about the accuracy of that number. Nixon built a three-hole course at his own home, demonstrating his dedication to practicing the game. Despite being the least athletic president-golfer, Nixon developed a decent short game that helped him achieve his respectable handicap.

How many mulligans does it take before your handicap becomes more fiction than fact? Just ask Bill Clinton, who claimed he'd improved from 16 to 12 during his presidency. The reality is his famous "Billigans" told a different story! Clinton wasn't alone in the weekend warrior category. Richard Nixon reached a 12 handicap before Watergate, then quit golf entirely and actually destroyed the White House putting green.

You've got presidents like Lyndon Johnson swinging away with a 36 handicap, the highest among commanders-in-chief. Calvin Coolidge posted a 30, while Harding and Wilson scored 29 and 28. Warren G. Harding struggled to break 95, matching his high handicap with consistently mediocre performance on the course. Even Barack Obama, despite his enthusiasm, usually played in the 20s. Gerald Ford maintained a 12 handicap but became notorious for accidentally hitting spectators with his errant shots. These presidents treated golf as relaxation, not competition and their scores showed it.

These commanders-in-chief found stress relief on the fairways, whether they shot 75 or 95. Their handicaps tell stories about personality, competitiveness, and how they balanced the world's toughest job with the best game in the world. Next time you're struggling on the course, remember, even presidents hit bad shots!