KAILUA — Barack Obama's skills as an orator and his rapid rise to the presidency have drawn comparisons with John F. Kennedy.

Those comparisons do not, however, carry over to the golf course.

Obama is clearly not as adept on the links as he is at the speaker's podium or on the basketball court.

Obama played golf three times during his 12-day vacation here over the holidays — once at Olomana Golf Links and twice at Mid-Pacific Country Club — and each time looked less than impressive.

But Obama is hardly a hacker, according to local professionals.

Norman-Ganin S. Asao, head pro at Olomana, where Obama learned the game as a teenager and where he often plays during trips to O'ahu, estimated that Obama has "maybe a 20-something handicap," based on the swings he's seen.

"He's not a bad golfer at all. I've definitely seen a lot worse. I've seen him hit a few balls and hit a few shots. He looks like he shoots in the 90s to the low hundreds," Asao said.

"Obviously, he'll hit those bad shots here and there, but it always seems once the round gets going he starts to play a little better."

Mark Sousa, head pro at Mid-Pac, said Obama's strength is his short game and that he is very consistent from about 50 yards from the hole.

The president-elect has a handle on golf's fundamentals but needs more practice to polish his repertoire, Sousa said.

Sousa said he joked with Obama about building a par 3 at the White House and Obama just smiled.

"If he can get out and hit some balls and work on a few fundamentals, I think he'll be pretty good," Sousa said. "He's a good putter, he has a good feel on the green.

"His long game needs a lot more work. He aims right down the middle and tries to play how the hole is laid out."

PLAYING TO GALLERY

On Monday, Obama joined Chicago friends Eric Whitaker and Martin Nesbitt, aide Eugene Kang and Punahou classmates Bobby Titcomb and Greg Orme for a round at the Mid-Pac course in Lanikai.

After loading his clubs on a cart, Obama — in 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 — drove to the driving range.

Obama, with a white glove on his right hand, took three practice swings. His first shot was a ground ball straight ahead. His next shot went airborne but created a divot that he replaced.

But it did get better for him.

From the middle of the fairway on the par 4, 414-yard 18th hole, Obama hit a shot that flew low and straight for about 75 yards before landing at the front center edge of the green.

More than 100 people sitting on a rock wall along the fairway applauded as Obama approached, and he put his gloved hand to his lips to signal for quiet while pointing to a member of his group who was about to shoot.

As he got close to his ball, he turned to the crowd and said, "Hey, guys. That was pretty good right? That almost made up for my 20-yard drive."

That drew laughter and more applause, and prompted one spectator to shout, "Better than your bowling," in reference to Obama's 33 score during a Pennsylvania campaign stop last year.

Obama replied, "That's right," and laughed before walking to the green to size up his putt. He tapped the ball about a dozen feet before it stopped within a foot of the cup.

The crowd applauded and Obama turned to them, put his hand above the bill of his baseball cap and bowed.

OUTRANKED BY CLINTON

Punahou School, from which Obama graduated, has produced some fine golfers, including PGA Tour member Parker McLachlin and LPGA Tour member Michelle Wie.

According to Golf Digest, Obama ranks eighth among golfing presidents, behind Bill Clinton.

Unlike JFK, who ranks No. 1 on the Golf Digest list, Obama does not shoot consistently in the 80s nor does he play 100 rounds a year like Dwight Eisenhower, who ranks No. 2.

In June, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs told MSNBC that Obama's game was not up to par.

"I don't know if he would tell you they played golf," said Gibbs, responding to a query from an MSNBC anchor. "They went to a golf course and they swung clubs, but I don't think it was real pretty."