Administration

Obama heading for Florida golf vacation

President Obama is fleeing the chilly, damp nation’s capital this weekend for the warmer climes of South Florida. 

Obama will travel to Palm City, Fla., on Saturday and return to Washington on Sunday. The White House has not revealed details of his trip, but local news reports say the president is expected to stay at the Floridian National Golf Club where he will hit the links. 

The president played a round of golf with Tiger Woods at the course in February 2013. The club’s owner is Jim Crane, a Democratic donor and owner of Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros. 

{mosads}In 2010, Crane purchased the club, which it bills itself as one of the nation’s “premier golf clubs.” It has an 18-hole, par 71 course with views of the St. Lucie River and a 4,500-square foot instructional facility backed by Woods’s former swing coach, Butch Harmon

Harmon accompanied Obama’s foursome, which included Crane and then-U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, during their 2013 round and offered advice. 

Obama’s trip comes just days before a March 31 deadline for negotiators from the U.S. and five other world powers to reach a nuclear deal with Iran.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Friday the president receives updates on the talks at least once daily and could speak with world leaders in the coming days. 

“It’s certainly possible that the president could telephone other world leaders, either over the course of today or even over the course of the weekend,” he said.