July 13th, 2010

As a gifted golfer that could play to a handicap of around 10, John F. Kennedy’s passion for the sport was not always considered a positive in his political career. Throughout his 1960 run for President, J.F.K was cautious not to make the same mistake as his predecessor President Dwight Eisenhower, also a huge fan of the game, who had been criticised for playing golf when he should have been working to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.

In a bid not to be seen as a privileged Presidential candidate, J.F.K and his advisors were conscious that the up market game of golf would only serve to highlight his pedigree, so his notable results on the course were kept private.

His golfing secret was almost exposed when, on a glorious July day in 1960 just before the Democratic National Convention, J.F.K hit a perfect ball on the 15^th hole with an accurately-swung five-iron. As the ball looked like a potential hole-in-one, Kennedy knew that his political career could be resting on it staying out. He later told his golfing partner Paul ‘Red’ Fay, “If that ball had gone into that hole, in less than an hour the word would be out to the nation that another golfer was trying to get into the White House.”

Keeping his golfing skills private would continue to be beneficial to J.F.K and his reputation as a committed President until rumours of his extra-marital affairs began to surface. By this point, the fact that he was often to be found on the golf course, rather than philandering, was a welcome disclosure. His press secretary Pierre Salinger commented, “Only after Kennedy’s afternoon disappearances became the subject of wild rumours was the story officially confirmed: Yes, Kennedy was a pretty good golfer.”