Alonzo Mourning details 'surreal' golf outing with President Obama in Davie, President Obama decided to go big with his golf plans in Davie, so he showed up Saturday at Grande Oaks Golf Club with former Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning as part of his foursome.
"I spent six hours in a golf cart with the most powerful man in America talking everything from basketball to life after his term," Mourning told the Sun Sentinel at Saturday night's Heat-Boston Celtics game at AmericanAirlines Arena. "It was very surreal and enlightening.
"It was a dream come true."
The President apparently left duly impressed, as well.
"When we left, he handed me the scorecard," Mourning said. "It read, 'Thanks for carrying us today.' "
Mourning smiled and said he agreed not to share their scores, but said they got in all 18 hole in amid the intermittent rain showers.
So why Davie and Grande Oaks?
Mourning, a longtime Democratic fundraiser, said the two initially planned to play this summer in Martha's Vineyard.
"But then it got late and I had to get my kids into school," Mourning said. "So he reached out to and asked me to choose where to play."
Mourning said he suggested his home course, at Turnberry Isle in Aventura.
"They said that wouldn't work, because there were too many high-rises," Mourning said. "The Secret Service asked for somewhere else."
Mourning, who currently serves as a Heat executive, previously had played basketball with Obama but this was the first time they golfed. Asked which was the President's better sport, Mourning smiled.
"Considering everything on his plate, he's a decent golfer," he said with a grin.
But this transcended sport.
"To know I have a friendship with the most powerful man in the world is something I will never take for granted," Mourning said.
Amid his move into political fundraising and an even stronger presence in various philanthropic efforts, Mourning rounded out a foursome that also included former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Cyrus Walker, the cousin of senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett.
That left Mourning alongside the President at the very course (since renamed) where the original Caddyshack was filmed.
The round completed two days in South Florida for Obama, who attended three fundraisers Friday, departing Saturday afternoon from Miami amid steady rain.
"I spent six hours in a golf cart with the most powerful man in America talking everything from basketball to life after his term," Mourning told the Sun Sentinel at Saturday night's Heat-Boston Celtics game at AmericanAirlines Arena. "It was very surreal and enlightening.
"It was a dream come true."
The President apparently left duly impressed, as well.
"When we left, he handed me the scorecard," Mourning said. "It read, 'Thanks for carrying us today.' "
Mourning smiled and said he agreed not to share their scores, but said they got in all 18 hole in amid the intermittent rain showers.
So why Davie and Grande Oaks?
Mourning, a longtime Democratic fundraiser, said the two initially planned to play this summer in Martha's Vineyard.
"But then it got late and I had to get my kids into school," Mourning said. "So he reached out to and asked me to choose where to play."
Mourning said he suggested his home course, at Turnberry Isle in Aventura.
"They said that wouldn't work, because there were too many high-rises," Mourning said. "The Secret Service asked for somewhere else."
Mourning, who currently serves as a Heat executive, previously had played basketball with Obama but this was the first time they golfed. Asked which was the President's better sport, Mourning smiled.
"Considering everything on his plate, he's a decent golfer," he said with a grin.
But this transcended sport.
"To know I have a friendship with the most powerful man in the world is something I will never take for granted," Mourning said.
Amid his move into political fundraising and an even stronger presence in various philanthropic efforts, Mourning rounded out a foursome that also included former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Cyrus Walker, the cousin of senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett.
That left Mourning alongside the President at the very course (since renamed) where the original Caddyshack was filmed.
The round completed two days in South Florida for Obama, who attended three fundraisers Friday, departing Saturday afternoon from Miami amid steady rain.
