Bill Clinton took so many mulligan's the author called
them "Billigans." He scored himself in the low 80s, similar to his idol JFK, but he literally took over 200 swings. Clinton played loosely with the rules, at times bending them to conform to his ends. Can the phenomena of how a person plays golf be taken and applied to political and administrative behaviour? Psycho-social analysis? Perhaps a dissertation has started somewhere regarding this.

One President drank booze while golfing during prohibition. He also gambled on a every game.

John F. Kennedy was an avid golpher, and fairly decent one at that,
getting scores in the low 80s. But he did keep the fact that he
played the game secret from the public.

Gerald Ford played amateur tourneys and pinged the
bystanders in the crowd from time to time.

The author played with the likes of Clinton and George W.
Bush. G. W. Bush could play through 18 holes in an hour

and a half, while Clinton took six hours. (He liked
to talk a lot more.)

In the past, Presidents didnt' want to be
photographed on the greens. Today it's acceptable, and
perhaps even expected.

14 mini-biographies highlighting the lighter side of the Execs as men and the sport of golf. Very interesting.


the real deal   May 30, 2003
 25 out of 25 found this review helpful

This book is superb and here's why: Because no matter what the form -- novel, poetry, essays, history -- a successful piece of writing must tell you something new. As an avid reader of history and presidential biography, I subconsciously felt I had the 20th century's presidents nailed: Wilson was a tragically lofty prig, FDR a crippled Machiavelli, Nixon a man woefully uncomfortable in his own skin. But what Van Natta does, through golf of all things (and I'm no golf nut) is revitalize these men, bring them back alive through their comical passion for the little white ball. Wilson played EVERY day, rain, snow or shine? FDR designed dozens of golf courses? Taft blew off diplomatic appointments for his putter? Powered by Van Natta's adrenalized prose and exhaustive research, this finely-woven narrative gives an entirely fresh look at these men. And then it does more.
The book's most publicized gotcha! is Van Natta's round with a cheatin' Bill Clinton, which, naturally, serves the purpose of right-wingers everywhere. Less noticed, though, is the insight Van Natta provides in the most revealing portrayal of Clinton yet. By showing Clinton's loosey-goose attitude toward the rules -- and the way he charms those around him into helping out with the bending -- Van Natta offers not only a subtle metaphor for Slick Willie's mindset during the Lewinsky mess. He also shows us why Clinton's approval ratings remained high throughout that mess, why as he puts it, "it's impossible to dislike the guy" even as Clinton is cheating you to your face, why the American public liked him in spite of -- or maybe even because of -- his peccadillos. It's a rare thing to get all this out of a sports book, but then again, we are a differnt nation now, a place where only a fool pays his rightful share of taxes -- and Billigans rule.


a bore   May 20, 2003
 9 out of 24 found this review helpful

This book is not only poorly written and boring..it also contains much of the same information that was in a much-better earlier book; "Presidential Lies: The Illustrated History of White House Golf" by Shep Campbell and Peter Landau. This book by Van Natta doesn't offer anything new or noteworthy and is not as exciting or amusing to read. Plus the author brags that he played with Clinton. So what? Clinton will play with just about any journalist who asks. For the real deal, definitely check out "Presidential Lies."


Who says you can't investigate and entertain   May 19, 2003
 15 out of 15 found this review helpful

For years I have reached for the New York Times whenever I saw Don Van Natta's byline. As one of the nation's top investigative reporters, his stories were always incrediblly well written and chock full of insider information that most of the times his subjects would rather not reveal. He found out and reported facts but never forgot the importance of color and detail and good old fashioned story telling. First off the Tee combines these traits into a highly entertaining book that brings these Presidents and the pasttime they share with millions of Americans to life. I gave it to my husband for his birthday and he read it in a weekend but not until I had finished it. I work in politics and he loves golf and we both loved the book. You can't do better than that.


Light History For Everyone   May 14, 2003
 15 out of 17 found this review helpful

Dick Van Natta Jr. offers 14 mini-biographies of our Presidents in his work, "First Off The Tee", that are all engaging and fun to read. His book is well researched, documented, and could provide a catalyst for further study of these holders of the Oval Office. He does not suggest this is a serious study of political science or even character profiling of the men he writes about. Golf has played an interesting role with many of our chief executives since its introduction to the US. One president, Ulysses S. Grant, happily swung a club only outside of his country. Were this chief executive to have played on a regular basis at home, he easily would have taken the top spot as the most miserable golfer to ever occupy The White House.

The author traces the game from its start when it was a little known activity, to its growing stages when it became a political liability to play, to when a President on a golf course is no longer a negative but expected, as the game has grown in popularity. The author credits players like Tiger Woods for dramatically expanding the games audience. He also documents one President who built hundreds of courses and likely would have been the finest Presidential player before disease took away his ability to even walk. The historical record is also corrected with the President who outplayed everyone including Eisenhower, and other Presidents who would play in the fog before they would risk a photograph being taken. One other President courted and played the game with the woman who would become his wife, and is believed to have assumed many presidential responsibilities when his health failed.

This is not a heavy-handed weight of a book to be lugged around and plowed through. It is readable, accessible, and has moments of laughter. All History need not be written with such ponderous prose so as to be a chore for many to read. I think many will pursue more traditional biographies of these Presidents after being introduced to them by Mr. Van Natta Jr.