President Obama Mixes Business, Pleasure to End Visit in the Coachella Valley

President Barack Obama is scheduled to leave the Coachella Valley Monday afternoon, ending a four-day visit to the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage that included a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and two rounds of golf.

On Sunday, just as he had done Saturday, Obama golfed with friends Bobby Titcomb, Greg Orem and Michael Ramos on the private course in Rancho Mirage owned by Larry Ellison, the billionaire founder of the Oracle Corp. information technology firm.

The White House national press pool reported that the motorcade moved from Sunnylands to the nearby Ellison retreat at about 9 a.m. 

The temperature at the nearby Palm Springs International Airport was 69 degrees under hazy high clouds, as the presidential foursome began play. By midday, it had climbed to 78.

Ellison, the billionaire founder of Oracle Computers, purchased the 249- acre golf course and its 18,400-square-foot mansion for $45 million in 2011. He also owns a quarter billion dollars worth of prime Malibu beachfront, and the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

On Saturday, Obama reportedly signed a few pieces of legislation and binge-watched his favorite TV programs. His signature went on bills raising the national debt ceiling and restoring benefits which had been cut for younger military retirees.   Obama was also expected to binge watch the HBO dramas "True Detective" and "Game of Thrones" while at the estate in Rancho Mirage, according to The New York Times.

Obama approached HBO's chief executive Richard Plepler at Tuesday's state dinner for French President Francois Hollande, asking him "Where is my 'True Detective' and 'Game of Thrones'?" The New York Times reported.

Obama waved over an aide to make certain Plepler knew where to send the DVDs to ensure they would make it through White House security to reach Obama, according to The Times.

First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters were skiing in Colorado this weekend.

– City News Service.