The presidential vacation got off to a late start Sunday. At approximately 1:10 pm, under blue skies and with barely a breeze wafting across the up-Island fields, President Obama’s motorcade left his Chilmark vacation home and took a circuitous route to Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs, arriving at 1:33 pm.
The drive across the Island was an uneventful ride past wooded hills, cedar-shingled homes and a farm stand, pool reporter Kathleen Hennessey of the LA Times reported. A woman on a scooter honked enthusiastically as the presidential motorcade rode by. One man, a beach towel hanging around his neck, thrust his fist in the air.
According to pool reports filed by MV Times reporter Steve Myrick, the President’s playing partners today are Cyrus Walker, the cousin of White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett; sportscaster Ahmad Rashad, and friend Robert Wolf. This is the second consecutive day the president has played Farm Neck.
Yesterday, Mr. Obama was joined by Mr. Walker, Mr. Rashad, and NBA shooting guard Ray Allen. Allen most recently played for the Miami Heat, but was a Boston Celtic for years before that.
At 6:31 p.m., the motorcade rolled out of Farm Neck Golf Club, heading back up-Island. A small group gathered at the entrance to the course, many taking pictures of the motorcade with phone cameras. The road show returned to the Chilmark vacation rental at 7 p.m. and the press pool was dismissed for the night.
Farm Neck Golf Club has an 18-hole championship course that many consider of championship caliber, with beautiful views of Nantucket Sound.
A fisherman waiting to meet up with friends at Tashmoo landing Sunday told Times editor and fishing columnist Nelson Sigelman that they went in search of bonito by boat off the brickyard Saturday but never got close. The Coast Guard shooed them away. The brickyard, on the Island’s north shore, is just east of the Obama’s vacation house. A Coast Guard cutter appears to be anchored in Vineyard Sound just off the beach, apparently to provide marine security.
Times staff reporter Steve Myrick has written about how the pool works, here. The press vans are from MV Transportation LLC.
The next few days look to be much of the same gorgeous weather, with no prospect of rain until Wednesday, August 13. The Island at this time of year is full of things to do: Book signings (Hillary Clinton at Bunch of Grapes Bookstore on Wednesday, August 13), the Islanders Write Event on Monday the 11th at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury, Farmers Markets, Artisans Fairs, The Moth Event…There’s even a lot of opportunity to do nothing, or barely: Great Island Walks (Islanders’ favorite walks, here), bike rides (Local favorites here), fishing, golf and reading (Local Writers favorite books, and their latest published books).
For Island Arts events, go to mvartsandideas.com/events.
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Yesterday’s Obama Vacation Beat is here.
