3:15 p.m. update: Activity is picking up at St. Lucie International Airport in advance of President Barack Obama’s arrival.
Several people in black suits — presumably Secret Service agents or other security personnel — are milling around. Numerous Air Force guys are persent as well — and quite a few black helicopters are circling the skies.
President Barack Obama, accompanied by Col. John C. Millard, Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing, walks toward Air Force One, Saturday, March 28, 2015, before his departure from Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Obama is traveling to Fort Pierce, Florida and staying at the Floridian National Golf Club where he will hit the links and is scheduled to return to Washington on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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The president is expected to arrive at the airport, west of Dixie Highway and south of Indrio Road, within the hour to return to Washington.
Obama on Saturday became the first president to have a jet land at the airport and the second to use it while in office. President George W. Bush landed a helicopter there in 2004 while inspecting hurricane damage.
2:45 p.m. update: The Associated Press reports that President Barack Obama was joined for a round of golf Sunday by his round of golf Sunday by Floridian National Golf Club owner Jim Crane, Halliburton director Milton Carroll and Glenn Hutchins, a private equity investor who is part owner of the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
Crane is a major Democratic donor who also owns Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros. He golfed with Obama and Tiger Woods during the president’s visit in 2013.
2:40 p.m. update: People who have parked their cars along Becker Road hoping to see President Barack Obama are being told to stay back 20 feet from the road surface.
The president’s motorcade is expected to head west from Floridian National Golf Club on Becker and then turn north onto Florida’s Turnpike on its way to St. Lucie International Airport.
Obama took the same route to the club when he arrived Saturday.
The president’s plane is expected to leave the airport for Washington just before 5 p.m.
1:45 p.m. update: President Barack Obama is preparing to leave the Treasure Coast and return to Washington.
Traffic has begun to back up near Florida National Golf Club as people jockey for position in hopes of catching a glimpse of the president departing.
Obama arrived at the club, owned by Jim Crane, a major Democratic Party contributor and the owner of Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros, on Saturday afternoon. He played a round of golf with Miami Heat great Alonzo Mourning, broadcaster and former NFL wide receiver Ahmad Rashad and Cy Walker, a lawyer and a frequent golfing partner of the president.
Obama also was expected to play golf Sunday morning before departing for Washington. His plane is due to leave from St. Lucie International Airport just before 5 p.m.
12 p.m. update: Drivers in the Treasure Coast can expect traffic delays today until President Barack Obama leaves the Floridian National Golf Club to return to Washington.
The president’s route to St. Lucie International Airport, where his plane landed at about noon Saturday, is not known. He arrived at the club Saturday in a motorcade that traveled south on Florida’s Turnpike and east on Becker Road to the club, which is at Becker and Gilson roads along the St. Lucie River.
The president’s plane is due to depart at about 4:45 p.m., so delays after 3 p.m. are likely.
Original post: A clear, cool, breezy morning greeted President Barack Obama and his golfing companions on Sunday at Floridian National Golf Club.
The president was expected to play at least one round on the club’s secluded course, which straddles the border between Martin and St. Lucie counties along the St. Lucie River, before returning to Washington late Sunday afternoon.
A daytime high temperature of about 70 degrees is expected, with winds out of the north at 5 to 15 mph. Gusts as high as 20 mph could create problems for a few shots on the par-71 course.
Obama flew into St. Lucie County Airport at about noon Saturday for his second visit to the club, which is owned by Jim Crane, a major Democratic Party contributor and the owner of Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros. His first visit came during Presidents Day weekend in 2013.
It was not known whether Obama would have different golfing partners than he did Saturday, when he played with Miami Heat great Alonzo Mourning, broadcaster and former NFL wide receiver Ahmad Rashad and Cy Walker, a lawyer and a frequent golfing partner of the president.
During his 2013 visit, Obama’s Sunday foursome included Tiger Woods, whose primary residence is nearby in Hobe Sound. Injuries often have kept Woods from playing during the last several months.
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