1. MAY 6, 2016l surreycomet.co.uk l Established 1854
DANGEROUS DESIGNS
Pop star Ariana Grande
launches fashion range
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Girls get title defence off
to a flying start
Full story on page 16Full story on page 26
IF the leader of the free world asked
to play through you during a round
of golf, what would you do?
That was the dilemma facing Aar-
on Bell, from Thames Ditton, when
he and two colleagues bumped into
US President Barack Obama, along
with Prime Minister David Camer-
on, during a leisurely round at the
exclusive Grove club.
The group let the pair, and their
entourage, pass, but made sure to
ask who was winning and to grab a
photo opportunity.
The surprise request came as
Mr Obama relaxed at the Watford
course during the third day of his
UK tour – a day after he urged Brit-
ain to stay in the EU.
Mr Bell, 45, said: “At each tee
our group was closely followed by
a very amiable security detail of
bomb disposal, special forces, police
snipers and US agents in suits and
dark glasses.
“They asked us if we would let
them play through as they had to get
off quite quickly, as they were going
to the Queen’s birthday.
“Obama came over and thanked
us for letting them play through.
They stopped, had a little bit of ban-
ter.
“We were allowed to stand on the
tee and watch them tee off.
“Barack has a nice smooth swing
and David got away nicely with a
textbook swing.
“David Cameron was a little bit
politically correct, and went slight-
ly right on his drive.
“I said to David that I heard that
he three-putted the fourth and he
by Ellie Cambridge
ellie.cambridge@london.newsquest.co.uk
Barack had a nice
smooth swing and
David got away
nicely with a
textbook swing.
David Cameron
was a little bit
politically correct,
and went slightly
right on his drive.
All the President’s men politely urge trio to make way for the big hitters
said that he parred the first hole
and possibly should have given up
after that. Barack Obama had put
his arm around him and said he
was playing well, so I think Ba-
rack Obama won.”
Mr Bell, of Weston Green
Road, realised something un-
usual was happening on the
course when browsing in the
shop.
He said: “I saw this guy come
in and he asked if we sold sun-
glasses. He thought I worked there.
He said without sunglasses he
would find it difficult to do his job.
“I lent him my sunglasses.”
Mr Bell, who works for cre-
ative consultancy Radley
Yeldar and was on a day
trip, said the encoun-
ter was “completely
unexpected”.
The leaderboard
Kings of the swingers: Aaron Bell and his golfing
pals with Barack Obama and David Cameron