CHIPPING AT CLINTON'S GOLFING : DOLE TRIES TO POKE HOLES IN PRESIDENT'S 83 AT NEW MEXICO COURSE.

Byline: Steven Thomma Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

After days of accusing President Clinton of everything from money laundering to White House ``sleaze,'' Bob Dole raised his attack to a new level Friday: He accused the president of cheating at golf.

Dole and New Mexico's Republican governor, Gary Johnson, both challenged Clinton's claim that he shot an 83 during an 18-hole round here this week.

``I don't know whether he shot an 83 or 283 or 483. You'll never really know,'' Dole told a morning rally here.

``He said he shot an 83,'' Johnson said. ``I've asked 50 people . . . and nobody believes he shot an 83 while he was here.''

Their comments, made half-jokingly, nonetheless were meant to underscore Dole's message that the president can't be trusted.

While Dole has had a hard time getting voters to focus on the ethics controversies he's been highlighting, cheating at golf is something people can understand. And, sadly for Dole, something millions also do and thus may well be willing to forgive in their president.

An avid golfer, Clinton likes to get in a round as often as possible. He played when he came here to prepare for Wednesday's debate with Dole, and played in Chautauqua, N.Y., when he went there to prepare for their first debate.

While he boasts about his scores, it is an open secret that the president likes to take a shot over if he doesn't like the first - without counting the extra shot.

The practice of a free second shot is called a ``mulligan,'' and untold millions of weekend hackers allow themselves one mulligan for every nine or 18 holes.

Clinton, however, is arguably more liberal than the rest of the country.

In a book titled, ``Presidential Lies: The Illustrated History of White House Golf,'' authors Shepherd Campbell and Peter Landau wrote about the game that has captivated many presidents. Campbell is the former editor of Tennis Magazine and Landau the historian of the St. Andrews Golf Club in New York.

``Clinton admits to one mulligan per round,'' they wrote, ``but others put the number higher.''

Informed of Dole's golf allegations, Clinton's campaign spokesman, Joe Lockhart, replied:

``It's official: He's become unhinged. Staring down a 15-point deficit over nine months would affect most adults. And sometimes when it gets bad for adults, they revert to acting like children.''

Lockhart added, ``I think it's safe to assume that the president follows both the spirit and the letter of each and every rule and regulation as set forth . . . by the United States Golf Association.''