A woman joined the male-only golf outings U.S. President Barack Obama has with his staff, and was seen traveling with the president during a round Sunday.

Melody Barnes, Obama's chief domestic policy adviser, played with a group on the links at the U.S. Army's Fort Belvoir course in Virginia, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday.

Barnes' invitation to golf with the president came as Obama has come under criticism for playing sports only with other men.

After Barnes was spotted at the White House with her golf clubs, White House Deputy Press Secretary William Burton was asked if Barnes was the first woman to hit the links with the president since he took office.

"Not true," Burton told the Sun-Times via e-mail.

Burton revised his comment later, saying, "I was wrong about this -- all apologies. He golfed with women on the campaign trail but not until Melody this year."

Obama, who also enjoys shooting hoops, was on defense earlier this month when he hosted a basketball game at the White House with just male players from the House of Representatives, his staff and cabinet members.