I could write about George W Bush's family and their long relationship with the game of golf beginning when his great grandfather, George Herbert Walker, became president of the USGA in 1920 and created the Walker Cup tournament, or when Dubya's grandfather Prescott Bush became president of the USGA in 1935… But most people know that already.

I could write about Former US President George H W Bush playing 18 holes in under two hours at Cape Arundel and his complaint that his son (the current Prez) plays "too fast", but that too is common knowledge if you're a loyal reader of Golf Digest magazine.

While I would never presume to tell the President of the US how to handle his foreign policy, I would be happy to give him some "golf" tips and share my personal views of Viet Nam which I developed over many years here.

I would probably start by telling him that during my 15 years in Viet Nam I have never heard one anti-American sentiment from the highest Government official to the lowest cyclo driver, nor have I ever been made to feel unwelcome. These are good people with a remarkably positive attitude and they don't waste time looking back over their shoulders. They're always looking ahead towards a better day and remain focused on the future.

I would tell him that the Vietnamese highly appreciate constructive advice from friends and are very loyal to people who stick by them in bad times as well as good. I've witnessed some amazing changes during my time here. The country is firmly on the right track and needs all the support it can get.

I would also tell him that the golf industry, while not "booming" in a classical sense, is achieving a steady and continuous growth, and is an accurate economic barometer with 10 more courses on the drawing board. Also, Vietnamese take to golf like ducks to water. Its only a matter of time before you see a Vietnamese name on the PGA Tour leader boards.

You can tell a lot about a person by playing golf with them and I've played with some of the biggest names in Viet Nam. As a golfer, I'm sure you understand when I say that I would happily tee it up with them again. They're good people who always try their best and don't make excuses for a bad round.

One thing I would recommend to the President is a change in policy so diplomats can accept honorary memberships on behalf of the embassy. Most golf clubs in Viet Nam extend automatic honorary memberships to ambassadors as a courtesy. This is a good thing as it facilitates better relations and gives the ambassadors a place to unwind.

Even the government of Viet Nam has embraced golf as a vital business tool and recreational activity.

Sadly, while almost all other ambassadors accept this with a "thank you", the US Embassy isn't allowed due to State Department regs. This needs to be changed, otherwise golden opportunities for informal meetings are lost. Honorary memberships are offered to the Embassy, not as a personal gift to anyone but as a way to build relations. America's Golfer-in-Chief should understand the benefits of this without a second's hesitation. — VNS