THE SIDELINES : Hacker or No, Bush Is Honored

President Bush has become the ninth honorary member of the Royal and Ancient golf club, the club announced today.

Bush, a high handicap player who has said he likes to “hack” at the game when he has time, joins three illustrious American golfers--Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gene Sarazen--as honorary members of the home of golf.

The President’s golfing feats made the front pages this summer when he refused to allow Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait keep him off the course during a vacation in Kennebunkport, Me.

The five other honorary members are Britain’s Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent, and British Open winners Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson of Australia and Roberto de Vicenzo of Argentina.