Big DC Golf Weekend

The 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club is not the only golf item on the schedule in the Washington, D.C. region this weekend, as President Obama will tee it up with Vice President Biden, Speaker John Boehner and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio on Saturday.

Politicians playing golf together is nothing new, but it will be the first time that Messrs. Obama and Boehner will have played together.

Mr. Obama has shown his love for the game since coming into office, as he has played more than 70 rounds in his two and a half years in the White House.

I always chuckle when I hear people complain about the Obama golf schedule - I'm a golfer, and 70 rounds in over two years sounds to me like he's not playing very much.

As for the Speaker, he is one of a group of members of Congress who love to play golf. In his earlier days as a back bencher, Boehner would scoot away from Capitol Hill at times to get in a round with other lawamkers.

One of his closest friends is Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), who is also an avid player. Others who really like the game include Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA), Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) and many, many more.

"He feels that it is a very useful thing to do," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said of his boss' passion for golf, saying it promotes "normal human interactions you have with people that you might disagree with on policy."

In other words, you get to know the other guy who you are trying to push off a political cliff during business hours - and in the process - you might even become better acquainted and find ways to cut some deals.

"It ought to be a wonderful day," Boehner said in a recent speech in his district, a comment which drew skeptical laughter from the audience.

"I'm not kidding," Boehner protested.

"It's golf!"

For some reason, the White House is keeping the location of this golf outing a secret. Usually, President Obama plays at Andrews Air Force Base, but maybe there will be a different setting this weekend.

Will there be any work done on the links about the budget and debt limit?

"I think I can say with great confidence that they will not wrap up the 18th hole and come out and say that we have a deal," said White House spokesman Carney.

"But I think that for the broader purpose of the work that needs to be done in a bipartisan way in Washington, this social occasion is a good thing," he added.

So while the top golfers in the world are doing battle with Congressional Country Club, the President, Vice President, Speaker and Ohio's Governor might be playing a few $5 Nassaus not far away.

Wouldn't you love to know how many strokes one side is giving the other?

"Mr. President, you can have all the strokes you want," Speaker Boehner said recently.

"It will just cost you a trillion dollars a stroke."

Now that should make for some interesting side bets.