晴高雨读(8) 美民众希望奥巴马少打高尔夫

美国奥巴马总统在夏威夷圣诞节休假12天,其中花了7天功夫在打高尔夫球上。

1月2日在夏威夷与新西兰总理约翰基打高尔夫。据悉，奥巴马在度假期间很少安排会见外国官员。至此他已经打了8场球。可以说是高尔夫球“狂”,高球“迷”,高尔夫球“疯子”。美国历代总统都喜欢打高尔夫球,克林顿,老少布什。最近的18位总统中有15人都嗜好打高尔夫。高尔夫是他们的生活的一部分。

然而奥巴马打球是出名的“漫打”者,18个球洞打完要花5至6个小时,有时已经日落西山了还没有打完。

这些总统的打球风格各不一样就和他们的生活习惯不一样。艾森豪威尔(Dwight D. Eisenhower)每个星期要打两场球。 (famous for his vacations and delegating White House business to aides, played 36 holes a week.) 理查德·尼克松(Richard M. Nixon)打球不好经常谎报成绩。 (was awkward on the course, and a cheat.)比尔·克林顿( Bill Clinton)经常是打“悔球”(重来以此的常習犯 was famous for his mulligans, or do-overs.) 布什父子打球都是不加思索早出手的快球 (The two George Bushes were quick to take action.)　他总是在3个小时之内打完一场球。奥巴马(Mr. Obama’s style is in contrast to the way both President Bushes approached the game. They were famous for their speed, routinely playing 18 holes in less than three hours, in what was sometimes called “aerobic golf” or “polo golf.”) 据说老头子打球最快的记录是1小时24分钟,有人便揶揄他的高尔夫是马球高尔夫。既便如此高尔夫不可能象马球那样不下球车就能打球的。

奥巴马(bogey-a-hole golfer)所以每打一杆都很慎重(Mr. Obama crouched to survey his final shot, took several practice swings and then putted, with the ball stopping just short of the hole.)。谁要是同组打球一定会很不耐烦的。