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Is Donald Trump playing more golf as President than Barack Obama?

Trump often accused his predecessor of neglecting duties when he was seen playing golf - but he's no stranger to a birdie himself.

Both men are keen golfers - but don't count on them pairing up anytime soon
Image: Both Trump and Obama are keen golfers - but don't count on them pairing up anytime soon
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Donald Trump's golfing hobby is perhaps no surprise given his company runs 12 courses in the US - but how does he compare with another keen golfer, former president Barack Obama?

One site which claims to log the President's time on the greens is trumpgolfcount.com.

It currently puts his golfing visits at 77 and says it registers every time "there are pictures of Trump playing golf or wearing golf attire such as cleats or a golf glove, or whenever the White House confirms that the President 'might have hit a few balls'".

Donald Trump visits his Scottish golf course in 2015
Image: Donald Trump at his Turnberry course in Scotland 2015
Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe in a golf cart after a round at the Kasumigaseki club in Kawagoe
Image: The President and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe played near Tokyo in November 2017

The site says that could be a conservative estimate because Mr Trump sometimes stays overnight at his house on the 600-acre Bedminster, New Jersey course, and journalists are not allowed access.

The White House also rarely confirms if the President has played while visiting one of his courses. He may just be holding meetings.

Mr Trump playing at his course in Balmedie, Scotland in July 2012
Image: Mr Trump pictured at his course in Balmedie, Scotland, in July 2012

Press Secretary Sarah Hucakabee Sanders told reporters that her boss's time golfing with "a number of senators" had helped him push through his tax cut agenda.

Mr Trump has visited one of his golf clubs 92 times since he started the job, according to another count by CNN at the start of January.

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The President is particularly partial to a round at his West Palm Beach course in Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago retreat, and at the Trump National in Washington DC.

- but the Northern Irish golfer was criticised on social media for taking up the offer.

So how does Barack Obama stack up in this inexact science of logging time on the greens?

Bear in mind that before he was President, Mr Trump accused Mr Obama on many occasions of spending too much time with a club in his hand and neglecting his duties.

Barack Obama pictured enjoying a round with Bill Clinton in September 2011
Image: Barack Obama enjoyed a round with Bill Clinton in September 2011
Mr Obama played with David Cameron at The Grove course in Hertfordshire in April 2016
Image: Mr Obama played with David Cameron at The Grove course in Hertfordshire in April 2016

In October 2014, he posted: "Can you believe that,with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf. Worse than Carter."

During his eight years in office, Mr Obama is said to have played more than 300 times and was less shy about being pictured on the course than Mr Trump.

He was pictured buzzing around the course at Andrews Air Force Base with Bill Clinton in September 2011.

His 333rd and final round as leader of the free world was apparently in Hawaii at the end of 2016, according to a tally by CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller.

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The former president is said to have played 333 times while in office
Image: The former president is said to have played 333 times while in office

The Washington Post's Philip Bump is also on the case, monitoring how much time Mr Trump spends away from the White House at properties owned by his company.

Running until New Year's Eve 2017, he estimated the President had played golf on average once every 4.7 days, with Obama having played once every 8.8 days (over eight years).

It appears therefore that Mr Trump is on course to surpass his predecessor's tally of games - if he stays in the job long enough.