Former Pres. Barack Obama hits the gym, golfs in Rancho Mirage for President's Day weekend

It's official: President Barack Obama once again spent President's Day Weekend in Rancho Mirage, hitting the gym and golfing.

The Desert Sun confirmed through sources on Saturday that Obama was in town. And by Monday, photos of the president were making the rounds on Facebook.

Caitlin Young, of La Quinta, said she received two photos from her friend, who spotted Obama at the gym at Thunderbird Country Club on Sunday morning. One of the photos showed Obama on the treadmill, the other photo was of the president standing on the Thunderbird golf course.

“My friend was working out in the gym and Obama was right there," Young said. "My friend said ‘hello’ to him and Obama said, ‘Hi.’ I guess he is not a very big guy but he's in great shape.”

Young quickly posted the photos to her Facebook page, but she said she didn’t expect the snapshots to cause such a political stir among her friends, who wanted to debate Obama's presidency. “I didn’t think I’d get such backlash,” she said.

Every Presidents' Day weekend since 2013, Obama has made a trip to the desert, often to play golf with three longtime friends from prep school in Honolulu – Greg Orme, Mike Ramos and Bobby Titcomb. It's not clear who Obama's golfing buddies are this weekend, however.

This at least his eighth visit to the valley. There were six visits during his presidency -- three of them for summits with world leaders at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage. The Coachella Valley was also the Obamas' first vacation stop after the end of his presidency. When not staying at Sunnylands, the Obamas have been known to stay at the Thunderbird Estates home of friends James Costos, former U.S. ambassador to Spain, and his partner, Michael Smith, an interior designer who decorated the White House residential quarters for the Obamas in 2009.

WHERE DID HE GOLF BEFORE?: Visits in 2014, 2015 and 2016

Obama played golf at a few courses over the holiday weekend during each of the past three visits, but each year included a round at Sunnylands. When asked if the former president was expected at the estate this weekend, Sunnylands spokesman Ken Chavez said: “We have no comment.”

According to Smith's and Costos' Instagram accounts, the couple was with the Obamas earlier in the week at the unveiling of the Obamas' portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, but as of Saturday they were back in Rancho Mirage.

At about 7:30 a.m. Saturday, two black SUVs were seen leaving Thunderbird Estates, heading west on Highway 111 – toward the direction of Sunnylands, a past favorite golf spot.

On Saturday morning, the Sunnylands Center and Gardens was open as usual, with tai chi classes being held on the garden lawn.

READ MORE: Desert is unplugged getaway for Obama

It is unknown if Michelle Obama and either of their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, are with him. Former first lady Michelle Obama accompanied the president on at least two visits but also made three solo visits to the desert, two were weekend getaways and in 2011 she attended the funeral of former first lady Betty Ford.

With every visit come rumors that the Obamas are buying a home in Rancho Mirage – where former President and first lady Gerald and Betty Ford lived part-time. However, there have been no known property purchases by the former first couple.

Desert Sun reporter Nicole Hayden covers the cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can be reached at Nicole.Hayden@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4623. Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig.