KAILUA — President-elect Barack Obama played golf today for the third time on his Hawai'i vacation.

Obama teed off this afternoon at the Mid-Pacific Country Club, his second visit to the private club in the exclusive Lanikai neighborhood of Kailua. He has also played at Olomana golf course on this vacation.

At 12:05 p.m., Obama's motorcade left the rental home on Kailuana Place in Kailua where he and his family are staying.

After arriving at the course, Obama greeted Punahou classmate Greg Orme with a hearty handshake and hug. Obama is golfing with Chicago friends Eric Whitaker and Martin Nesbitt, aide Eugene Kang, and Punahou classmates Bobby Titcomb and Greg Orme.

Obama wore sunglasses, a white shirt, khaki shorts, white and brown golf shoes, and a red baseball cap emblazoned with the City and County of Honolulu's Ocean Safety logo.

After loading his clubs onto a cart, he drove down from the clubhouse to the driving range. Standing next to Whitaker, Obama, with a white glove on his right hand, spread range balls on the grass before putting an iron behind his back and stretching.

He took three practice swings. His first shot was a ground ball straight ahead. His second went airborne but created a divet that Obama walked out to pick up and replace. After several more shots, Obama pointed at the press photographers and reporters with his iron and they were moved into the clubhouse, where Obama was no longer visible.

Earlier, at about 11 a.m., five people approached the security checkpoint setup by the U.S. Secret Service and Honolulu police carrying a box wrapped with a gold ribbon.

The group, led by Fred and Pat Shepherd from Greenbrae, Calif., and Robert Steiver of Honolulu, asked the Secret Service if they could deliver the box and a letter to Obama. The Secret Service declined.

Speaking to a reporter, Fred Shepherd said they wanted to deliver the box, which contained informational DVDs about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

"I don't think he's taking a vacation, he's preparing to be the next president," said Steiver. "I'm deathly afraid he'll continue the failed policies of the Bush administration. I've been suffering with the Palestinians for years."

At 7:32 a.m., Obama's motorcade left Kailuana Place for the 1.4-mile drive to the Semper Fit Ultimate Health and Fitness Club at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

At 7:42 a.m., Obama, dressed in a gray T-shirt, a Chicago White Sox baseball cap and black sweat pants with two gray pinstripes down each pant leg, got out of his black SUV and turned to wave to a crowd of about 30 that had gathered to greet him outside the gym.

Obama was accompanied by his wife, Michelle, who was dressed in a purple workout top, and by Eric Whitaker.

At 8:37 a.m., Obama came out of the gym alone and walked down to the line of about 35 servicemen and family members who had gathered in the middle of the parking lot in front of the gym's entrance.

"How are you guys?" Obama asked as he approached the crowd.

Obama shook hands and exchanged greetings as onlookers snapped pictures.

As he was preparing to leave, Obama allowed a man seeking a picture to walk away from the crowd and stand next to him. Obama then posed for a picture with the man, who was wearing a yellow, Louisiana State University, BCS national championship T-shirt.

Obama then got into his SUV for the drive back to his Kailuana Place rental property. The motorcade arrived back at the property at 8:52 a.m.