Former President Barack Obama headed straight to the golf course to celebrate his first day as a civilian.<\/p>\n
Obama’s motorcade headed to the ultra-exclusive Porcupine Creek Golf Club in Rancho Mirage, California about 11.30am on Saturday where the former president played 18 holes.<\/p>\n
He looked relaxed as he made his way around the golf club wearing light blue Under Armor golf jersey, Nike socks and shoes, grey trousers and a grey baseball cap, although at one point he was filmed missing a putt.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFormer President Barack Obama played 18 holes at the ultra-exclusive Porcupine Creek Golf Club in Rancho Mirage, California on Saturday\u00a0to celebrate his first day as a civilian<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nObama looked relaxed as he made his way around the golf club wearing light blue Under Armor golf jersey, Nike socks and shoes, grey trousers and a grey baseball cap<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirst day of the rest of his life: The former president was pictured in his armored Secret Service SUV as he left a country club gym where he had worked out before heading to the course<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
His entourage, including a handful of secret service agents, negotiated the stunning 18-hole private course in several golf carts.<\/p>\n
Obama was seen chatting and laughing with his golfing companions on the first day of his vacation and at one point fist bumped another golfer after watching a decent shot.<\/p>\n
The former president stopped for a break during the round and was seen eating a sandwich while sat in his cart on a sunny day in the Coachella Valley.<\/p>\n
Used to being in control, Obama chose to drive his own golf cart rather than have an aide ferry him between holes.<\/p>\n
Just a day after leaving the White House, Obama is in the Palm Springs area on vacation.<\/p>\n
He and Michelle are staying at the mansion of Spanish ambassador James Costos and his husband, interior designer Michael Smith, in Rancho Mirage.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe stunning 18-hole private course is owned by billionaire\u00a0Larry Ellison<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nObama stopped for a break during the round\u00a0on a sunny day in the Coachella Valley<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHe looked relaxed as he made his way around the golf club with his entourage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"He](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/01\/22\/02\/3C613DF800000578-4143660-image-a-120_1485050730847.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHe stopped for a break during the round and was seen eating a sandwich while sat in his cart<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Obama was earlier spotted heading to the Thunderbird Country Club for an hour long exercise session.<\/p>\n
The world-class private golf course in Rancho Mirage is one of the desert’s best-kept golfing secrets and rests against a mountain backdrop with a stunning rugged landscape.<\/p>\n
The course is owned by Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison and membership is by invitation only.<\/p>\n
Golf Digest once ranked it s one of the top 20 golf courses in California.<\/p>\n
About the only way to see the golf course is to hike Mountain Park or the Bump and Grind Trail in Rancho Mirage, which overlooks the private estate.<\/p>\n
Obama played at Porcupine Creek in February this year and back in 2014 he was spotted there during another visit to the desert to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nObama chose to drive his own golf cart (top left) rather than have an aide ferry him between holes. He was joined by an entourage of Secret Service agents<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nObama chose to drive his own golf cart rather than have an aide ferry him between holes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/01\/22\/02\/3C61165900000578-4143660-Former_President_Barack_Obama_played_18_holes_at_the_ultra_exclu-a-111_1485050429665.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe former president played 18 holes at the ultra-exclusive golf club<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nObama was seen chatting with his golfing companions on the first day of his vacation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFormer president’s (pictured in center) entourage included a handful of secret service agents<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The course is part of a huge $75million 249 acre estate owned by Ellison.<\/p>\n
The estate named Porcupine Creek Ranch boasts a huge 18,400 sq ft main residence, eight guest houses, a pool, spa, gym and an amphitheater.<\/p>\n
The property has played host to many benefits and charity events.<\/p>\n
The perimeter of the estate has a privacy row of trees that blocks the prying eyes of the outside world.<\/p>\n
It was the second outing of the day for the ex-president. At around 9am on Saturday his convoy of three SUVs and a lead car left the private gated community of Thunderbird Heights and headed across the road to the country club.<\/p>\n
Around an hour later Obama emerged from the posh club and was seen leaving in one of the SUVs sat next to his host James Costos.<\/p>\n
After President Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington on Friday Obama bade farewell to the White House and boarded a helicopter to travel to Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, Maryland.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHost: Former President Obama was joined by one of his hosts, James Costos, who was his ambassador to Spain<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTired: The former commander-in-chief wiped something from his eye as his SUV made its way from the country club<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEntourage: As a former president, Obama will receive Secret Service protection for the rest of his life<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nVenue: The ex-president headed to the Thunderbird Country Club, close to the gated community mansion where he and Michelle are vacationing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStunning views: Porcupine Creek in Rancho Mirage is on Larry Ellison’s private estate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBillionaire owner: Oracle CEO Larry Ellison owns that Porcupine Creek Ranch, on which the golf course is located<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nLast image of the golfing president: Obama was most recently seen playing golf on December 21 at Kapolei Golf Club in Kapolei, Hawaii, during his Christmas vacation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
From there he flew to California on the presidential jet, SAM 28000 (Special Air Mission) – which is not called Air Force One unless the serving President is on board.<\/p>\n
The plane circled Palm Springs International airport for more than 20 minutes and it’s believed the pilot made three attempts to land.<\/p>\n
But as heavy rain and low cloud swept across the airport visibility was poor.<\/p>\n
The former president was instead flown to March Air Force base some 44 miles away where his motorcade was diverted to meet him.<\/p>\n
Google Maps had appeared to update the address where Obama is vacationing to ‘Obama’s Palm Springs Hideaway’.<\/p>\n
The flight on the aircraft was the final time that the Obamas fly on it.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFog delay: The presidential flight could be seen trying to land and failing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHard rain: Palm Springs was hit by heavy rain on Friday, and the poor visibility stopped the landing of the presidential jet on which the Obamas had their final flight<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy are we waiting:\u00a0James Costos and his husband, interior designer Michael Smith posted a selfie from inside Air Force One while it circled<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPride: James Costos posted a picture of him and Obama in the Oval Office<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\n
Barack Obama joked ‘is this thing still on’ as he returned to his personal Twitter account just hours after handing his old @POTUS handle to Donald Trump<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The former president and first lady were transported to Andrews on a Marine One helicopter after departing the US Capitol for the final time on Friday<\/p>\n
Moments earlier, the Obamas watched as President Donald Trump took the oath of office<\/p>\n
With lawmakers looking on, the Obamas were escorted to the helicopter by Trump and his wife, Melania, shortly after the ceremony<\/p>\n
The Trumps, Vice President Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen Pence, waved goodbye as the chopper took off for Joint Base Andrews<\/p>\n
Just moments before boarding the airplane Obama told former staffers that their democracy doesn’t end with the beginning of the new administration – a final lecture as he left.<\/p>\n
Before they finally left, Obama said that he and Michelle had been ‘milking this goodbye thing.’<\/p>\n
‘So it behooves me to be very brief,’ he said. ‘NO!’ his audience shouted in response.<\/p>\n
Then in the air, he took to Twitter, where he will now use just one Twitter handle, @BarackObama, now that @POTUS has been taken over by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSwank digs: Barack and Michelle are staying at the mansion of his Spanish ambassador James Costos and his husband, interior designer Michael Smith, in Rancho Mirage; The couple’s 11,000-sq-ft home was featured in an issue of Architectural Digest back in 2015 (pool above)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGetaway: The\u00a0residence (above) was first purchased as a weekend retreat for the couple<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFlower power:\u00a0Bougainvillea flowers and vines cover the eight-car garage at the Palm Springs home (above)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nLocation, location: ‘We\u2019re situated perfectly in a notch in the mountain- rolling desert hills to the north, jagged peaks to the south- so it\u2019s totally private,’ said Costos of the home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n