David Fay recently resigned as the high mucky muck of the USGA (United States Golf Association) after 32 years in the organization. Fay had always pushed for the US Open to be played on municipal courses, a more liberal guy in a very conservative outfit, known as the long tailed cat in a room of rocking chairs. He was a risk taker and known for direct diplomacy, for instance: at the world team championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina last October the Iranians balked at being seated next to the Israelis during a meeting of the international Golf Association. An Iranian head delegate cornered Fay and asked, "Will our team be positioned alphabetically at tomorrow's flagraising ceremony. Fay said, "Yes." The delegate said this was unacceptable and asked about analternative. Fay said there was an alternative but he likely wouldn't like it. The delegate pressed on asking, "What is your alternative?" Fay said, "You can go back to your government and petition that the official name of your country revert to the name used before the 1930's, Persia. That way you will be seated between the People's Republic of China and Peru." The Iranian said, "I don't appreciate your attempt at humor." Fay replied, "Gee, it wasn't meant to be humorous." Only one representative from Iran appeared for the ceremony.
That's gutsy diplomacy.
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