In birthday weekend ritual, Obama plays golf with pals before heading to Camp David

8/2/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is starting his birthday weekend with a round of golf before escaping to the Maryland mountains.

Obama turns 53 on Monday. In what’s become an annual birthday tradition, he’s joining friends on the green for an early morning round at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland. He’ll board Marine One later Saturday for the short helicopter flight to Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains.

The White House says presidential pals Mike Ramos, Bobby Titcomb and Greg Orme round out Obama’s foursome. All three are longtime friends dating back to Obama’s childhood in Hawaii.

They’re teeing off against eight other golfers under gray skies and a cool breeze.

The president plans to return to the White House on Sunday afternoon.