Golf isn’t just popular because it’s a challenging sport. Millions play each day to relax, get some fresh air, connect with friends, or get a break from life’s major stressors.
Presidents are no exception. Nearly every single president for the past 100 years loved the game and made finding time to play now and then (or very often, depending on the president) a priority.
Here are the presidents who reportedly never dreamed of a hole-in-one on the golf course.
Which Presidents Did Not Play Golf?
- Herbert Hoover
- Harry Truman
- Jimmy Carter
Presidents Who Did Not Golf
The best source to determine non-golfing presidents is the book “First Off the Tee,” by investigative reporter Don Van Natta Jr. According to Natta, just three presidents within the past century did not golf.
Herbert Hoover, the 31st president, reportedly did not play golf during his entire term from 1929 to 1933.
He was the first president since William Howard Taft was the president who 20 years earlier became the first to admit that he played golf, though William McKinley is considered by some to be the first president to golf, but not publicly, in 1987.
Natta says that just 12 years later, Harry Truman joined Hoover as a non-golfing president. The tradition roared back with his successor, Dwight D. Eisenhower, but when Jimmy Carter was elected in 1976, the non-golfing-presidents group became a trio.
Some claim that Theodore Roosevelt, Taft’s predecessor, also did not play golf, even though he was an avid sportsman.
Why Did They Not Play Golf?
Hoover reportedly said that playing golf was “inappropriate” as the nation plunged into the Great Depression. Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter both said they just didn’t care for the sport.
Truman, however, defended Eisenhower’s choice to often head out for 18 holes, calling criticism of Eisenhower picayunish and unfair and saying he had a right to play a relaxing game when he wanted.
What Did the Non-Golfers Do Instead?
In his defense, Hoover did have a lot going on since the economy was flailing. He also probably didn’t have much time to play during his pre-presidency career as a mining engineer. Truman had a lot on his plate, too, since the world was recovering from World War II.
Carter’s schedule was pretty stressful as well. His presidency was marked by raising spirits post-Watergate scandal and dealing with such issues as high unemployment, hostages from the U.S. embassy held in Iran for 14 months, and deregulating the airline and trucking industries.