By this stage of his presidency, one suspects that George W Bush has become aware of quite a few promises made in his name, especially from within his broader family. And he is about to discover another one, made to former Irish international Rupert de Lacy Staunton, over dinner in Nairn almost two years ago.
In his capacity as a Royal and Ancient selector, Staunton was at the Walker Cup with his wife, Margaret, when they broke bread with a sprightly American by the name of Louis Walker. As a son of one-time US Golf Association president George Herbert Walker, the donor of the Walker Cup, he would also be an uncle of former US president George Bush. And a grand-uncle of George W.
"Over dinner, he promised that if George W became president, we would be invited to the White House prior to the next Walker Cup," said Staunton. "We already have plans to visit Washington, where Margaret has relations, and it would be nice to take in the White House while we're there. So, I intend to find out if the invitation stands."
Matters relating to the Walker Cup, which takes place at Sea Island, Georgia next month, came up during a chat I had with Rupert in Mullingar GC earlier this week. The occasion was to promote the Friends First Scratch Trophy , which fills its usual slot over the August bank holiday weekend.
Twice winner of the South of Ireland and runner-up to Joe Carr in the "West", Staunton reckoned he played in the Mullingar Scratch Trophy about 15 times and his best performance was to finish third. "I always liked the course but I couldn't play it," he said. Which was difficult to credit, given the sort of golf he played there this week.
In wild conditions, he started par, birdie, par, birdie, and went on to eagle the long 14th, en route to a gross 76 - admirable scoring, especially off a three handicap.
It would be outrageous, of course, to suggest that the westerner might have fallen victim to the renowned hospitality of the Scratch Trophy committee, especially during the early years.
As in 1970, when Peter Benka, current chairman of the Walker Cup selectors, and Bruce Critchley, now a golf analyst with BSkyB, Television, were picked up at Dublin Airport by the redoubtable Joe Healy.
"They were among the late arrivals, which left them a lot of leeway to make up, so my instructions were not to get them to Mullingar until they were well-nourished," recalled Healy. "Naturally, I did what I was told and we visited every pub along the way."
When I discussed the matter with Benka this week, he smiled a knowing smile before opting for selective amnesia. "We had some great times in Mullingar," he enthused.
"I would have to say that the tournament was unlike any comparable event in which I would have played in Britain." He went on: "If I remember correctly, I made two visits and despite Mr Healy's efforts, I can't have done too much damage to myself in 1970." Why so? "Because I won it that year." Which he did."
"Not too many fish ask you for your autograph." - Tiger Woods, who was reported to be actively involved with rod and line during this week's stay in our fair land.
