Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts spent time last week golfing with former United States President Barack Obama during a private outing in Southern California, according to sources with direct knowledge of the event. The rare crossover between a current professional sports star and a former president quickly drew attention.
The round took place last Tuesday at the exclusive Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank, California. Betts and Obama played all 18 holes at the members-only course, which operated under heightened security throughout the private outing.
Inside The High-Security Golf Outing Between Mookie Betts And Barack Obama
Sources say Betts and Obama teed off together at Lakeside Golf Club, one of the most exclusive courses in the Los Angeles area. The private round was conducted under heavy security, with multiple Secret Service agents stationed throughout the property and police officers on motorcycles positioned nearby to ensure safety during the outing.
An Instagram post shared by TMZ Sports showed the two smiling against a golf course backdrop and identified the meeting as an exclusive. The post confirmed the round took place at a Los Angeles country club, though no details were released regarding the final score or who won the match. Neither Betts nor Obama issued public statements following the outing.
The caption of the post read: “EXCLUSIVE: Mookie Betts spent some quality time with a former Commander in Chief last week … ’cause TMZ has learned the Dodgers superstar teed it up with Barack Obama for a full round of golf in Southern California.”
Text written over the image stated, “MOOKIE BETTS PLAYS GOLF WITH BARACK OBAMA AT SWANKY LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB.”
Related: Livvy Dunne And Paul Skenes Soak In Holiday Magic At Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
After completing the round, Betts reportedly left the course and headed directly to nearby Disney Studios, where he taped an episode of the ABC comedy series Shifting Gears later that day, according to sources familiar with his schedule.
Before becoming a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, Betts spent the early years of his Major League Baseball career with the Boston Red Sox. Drafted by the franchise in 2011, he made his MLB debut in 2014 and quickly emerged as one of the organization’s most impactful players.
Mookie Betts Revisits The Trade That Took Him From The Red Sox To The Dodgers
During his six seasons at Fenway Park, Betts established himself as one of baseball’s premier talents. He earned four All-Star selections, captured the American League Most Valuable Player award, won three Silver Slugger Awards, and collected four Gold Gloves. He was also a central figure on the Red Sox team that captured the 2018 World Series title.
Betts’ time in Boston came to a stunning end in 2020, when the Red Sox traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster deal that also sent pitcher David Price and $48 million in cash to Los Angeles.
In return, Boston received Alex Verdugo, Connor Wong, and Jeter Downs. With Betts approaching free agency, the Red Sox declined to meet his contract demands and chose to move him rather than risk losing him without compensation.
In the years since, the trade has been heavily criticized by fans and analysts alike, many labeling it one of the most damaging decisions in franchise history, given Betts’ continued dominance and status as one of the game’s elite players.
Betts recently revisited the moment during a conversation with streamer Adin Ross on Friday, revealing that the move was not one he wanted and that it left a lasting impact on him.
In Case You Missed: Charles Barkley Details 2012 Phone Call That Ended His Friendship With Michael Jordan
“I knew (I had been traded), they told me,” Betts said. “But it was weird, man. I was like, ‘Why?’ I didn’t wanna leave. But I understand the business side of it. It all worked out.”
Since then, Betts has gone on to win a World Series with the Dodgers and firmly establish himself as a cornerstone of the franchise. Meanwhile, the trade continues to stand as a defining and often-debated moment for both organizations, symbolizing a turning point that reshaped their respective futures.
