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Barack Obama's Date With Golf Bumps Army Couple's Wedding Spot



Honolulu: A military couple getting married near President Barack Obama's vacation spot in Hawaii learned the hard way that the big day rarely goes exactly as planned.


Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr. — both U.S. Army captains stationed in Hawaii — were scheduled to tie the knot on Sunday at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, a military course with ocean views near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua.


But after their rehearsal on Saturday, they were told they'd have to move their wedding away from the 16th hole because Obama and his friends planned to golf, Heimel's sister, Christie McConnell told The Associated Press.


"They're both pretty even-tempered and planners," McConnell said of the couple, who met in 2011 while stationed in Germany. "I'm sure it was a little bit of stress, but they seemed fine."


The ceremony relocated to another part of the course that offered better views than the 16th hole, she said, adding that some guests even caught a glimpse of Obama as he golfed.


After the ceremony was done and members of the bridal party were taking photos, Mallue got a call from the wedding planner asking permission to give the president his cellphone number, said McConnell, a bridesmaid. Then, Obama called and Mallue put the call on speakerphone.


"We all hovered around, all excited, listening," McConnell said. Obama asked how long they had been "going out," chatted about golf and apologized for disrupting their plans. "He was really funny and nice on the phone."


On Monday, Obama was back on the green, this time at a private course a few miles away. Putting on the 18th hole, Obama offered a few compliments to his golf partners before attempting a chip shot as the sun set behind him over the Koolau Mountains.


Typically, when Obama is involved in recreational activities like golf or hiking, the events are considered "unofficial" and not announced beforehand on his public schedule. Keeping the events a secret until they take place allows the Secret Service to minimize the costs and disruption involved in securing a location for Obama's arrival, but it also makes it harder for the public to anticipate when a presidential visit might throw a wrench in their plans.


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