President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and their two daughters did not go to church on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, according to press pool reports. The Obamas are in Kailua, Hawaii for a 17-day Christmas vacation.Although the Obamas did not go to church for Christmas, President Obama did play golf during the afternoon of Dec. 24 and Mrs. Obama spoke with children by telephone on Christmas Eve for about 30 minutes concerning Santa’s whereabouts as tracked by NORAD.
Please explain the sentence "Although the Obamas did not go to church for Christmas, [he] did play golf...." It makes it seem as if one is a substitute for the other. Now, if it had been surfing, I could understand.