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Obama kicks off birthday weekend golfing with pals

President Barack Obama smiles as he nears the conclusion of a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. The president spoke on various topics including the economy, immigration, Ukraine and the Middle East.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Barack Obama smiles as he nears the conclusion of a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. The president spoke on various topics including the economy, immigration, Ukraine and the Middle East. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President Barack Obama smiles as he nears the conclusion of a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. The president spoke on various topics including the economy, immigration, Ukraine and the Middle East. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is starting his birthday weekend with a round of golf before escaping to the Maryland mountains.

Obama turns 53 on Monday. In what’s become an annual birthday tradition, he’s joining friends on the green for an early morning round at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland. He’ll board Marine One later Saturday for the short helicopter flight to Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains.

The White House says presidential pals Mike Ramos, Bobby Titcomb and Greg Orme are rounding out Obama’s foursome. All three are longtime friends dating back to Obama’s childhood in Hawaii.

They’re teeing off against eight other golfers under gray skies and a cool breeze.

The president plans to return to the White House on Sunday afternoon.