President Donald Trump is the 16th of the past 19 American presidents to play golf. And immediately upon entering office he became the best player of the group, thanks to his current 2.8 Handicap Index and his 19 club championship victories. According to our Jaime Diaz, who twice played golf with Trump in recent years, the best part of his game is his ball-striking, although Trump himself says it's his putting.
Trump knocked John F. Kennedy from the No. 1 spot in our previous ranking of the best golf presidents. Here's how our ranking shakes out, with an assist from Don Van Natta Jr., author of the book, First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers, and Cheaters from Taft to Bush.
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Known for his bombastic statements, his boast of winning 19 club championships isn't one of them
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Despite chronic back pain, averaged 80
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Installed a green outside the Oval Office; member at Augusta National
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Despite a clumsy image, a legitimate 80s-shooter
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At 39, polio robbed him of a powerful golf swing
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His handicap dipped under 10, post-presidency
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Once got his handicap down to 11
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Can break 90, especially using his "Billigans"
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The lefty plays hoops and golf, more than 330 rounds during his two terms.
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Didn't play often or well (best was low 90s)
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Struggled to break 95
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As hapless a golfer as he was a chief executive
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Played more than Ike but almost never broke 100
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He shot 79 once and quit the game
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Played with senators to secure votes for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
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When he vacated the White House, he left his clubs behind
RELATED: Ike & The Game: Eisenhower and his time at Augusta National