PHILADELPHIA — It was an offer Saquon Barkley could not refuse.

During practice last week, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, through Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro, asked the running back if he’d be interested in playing a round of golf with the owner at prestigious Merion Golf Club in Montgomery County, Pa.

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Oh, yeah, and President Barack Obama was part of the foursome, too. Jalen Hurts also tagged along, but he did not play.

“I don’t know who would say no to that,” Barkley said after practice Wednesday.

Barkley admitted that he became nervous when he got to the range and saw the former president.

“In my head, I’m like, ‘How do I start this conversation, what do I say,’ ” Barkley said.

Obama immediately eased his nerves.

“He’s like, ‘Saquon’ and he came right up to me,” Barkley said. “He made it so much easier on me. It was a cool experience. Probably one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in my life. He’s awesome, to be honest.”

Barkley meant President Obama, but he pretty much feels the same way about Lurie these days, too.

“I got to spend about four or five hours with him and do something I love doing — play golf,” Barkley said. “He asked me a lot of great questions. I think it was cool that he definitely did his research. He asked me questions about my family and where I’m from.

“But the coolest thing I took away from my whole experience with him was just how he treats people. From the caddy to anybody that came up to him, he looked them in the eye and made sure that he had conversations with them and asked them what their name was. When you’re at that level and you can still take the time out to do that … it was genuine, too. It kind of inspired me. I try to do that already, but it shows you should always try to do that.”

Barkley said he asked the former president about being a leader.

“I made sure I stayed away from politics and just kept it casual,” Barkley said. “The only political question I asked was, ‘How did you get into that? What sparked that interest?’ He gave me well thought out answers on everything and he also talked a little crap, too. And he backed it up on the golf course.”

For example?

“There was one point where they were winning the match — he and Mr. Lurie — they had the lead and I said something like, ‘Can he finish, though?’ I forget the exact number he said, but I guess he was the first president to do something two times with how he finished the race off and he said he showed he’s a finisher already. He was kind of quick on his feet, too, with that answer.”

Both Barkley and Hurts said Obama was among the people they always wanted to meet.

“All-time leader,” Hurts called the former president. “A great presence. I guess the word is down to earth. I can only imagine that lifestyle and the different things that come with that, but you just see him out there enjoying himself, talking a little trash. That was cool.”

Hurts, despite not playing, also talked some trash.

“I told him, ‘You don’t want these problems right now,’ ” Hurts said. “With my contract, I can’t golf.”

Hurts called it a “blessing” to be able to meet Obama and to spend that much time with him.

“It’s a blessing in my young time to be able to meet the handful of individuals I’d love to meet and to kind of be complete after that,” he said. “I’ve met some and we’ve lost some to Father Time.”

Among the list of people Hurts admired as a kid who he has had a chance to meet is Frankie Beverly, a Philadelphia native and the quarterback’s favorite musician. Beverly died last month and Hurts paid tribute to him on social media and in interviews.

“The only one left (for Hurts to meet) is Denzel Washington,” the quarterback said. “I got a lot of respect for those guys and every time I’ve been able to speak with them and be in their presence, it has always been a fruitful conversation.”

For the record, the Lurie-Obama team did indeed win (Barkley was paired with Obama’s normal playing partner Mike) and Hurts praised the way his owner plays the game.

“He’s the guy you should be talking to,” Hurts said.

Barkley noted that he’s more focused on football right now in explaining his defeat.

“I’m in season right now,” he said. “But he’s pretty good, though. He’s an athlete, a lefty and Merion is not an easy place either. If you’re not focused on golf right now when your first round (in a while) is there, it’s a tough place. But it was a fun time.”

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Bob Brookover can be reached at rbrookover@njadvancemedia.com