Taking a Swing at Diplomacy on the Greens by Nickolas Theros Every good diplomat knows that the practice of international relations does not at end at five oíclock each afternoon at the office. Unlike other careers, diplomacy is more of a lifestyle than a job. However, rare is the diplomat who can successfully combine his love of sport with his official duties. In his 35 years in the foreign service, Ignacio Arcaya, Venezuelaís newly arrived ambassador to the United States, has been practicing his golf stroke while tending to the more delicate affairs of state. "Golf is the most challenging game you can play because you are really competing against yourself. It is also a great opportunity to do public relations for your country. I have always used it in my diplomatic activities," said the veteran diplomat, passionate golfer, and one-time acting president of Venezuela. "When I first came to Washington 30 years ago as first secretary, I made a lot of important contacts playing at Bretton Woods [Country Club]." Arcaya has carried his early Washington instruction in golf-diplomacy on a winding circumnavigation of the globe, playing at some of the most exclusive clubs in France, Switzerland, Scotland, Australia and beyond. Altogether, he estimated he has played the sport in more than 100 countries on six continents. He has played against prime ministers, presidents, foreign ministers, parliamentarians, and key business leaders, among others. And in this time, he has amassed some golfing stories that would humor politicians, diplomats and golfers alike. "When I was ambassador to Argentina [in the early 1990s] I used to play with [then-President Carlos] Menem every week. Every other week, I would play with the opposition leader, [current President Fernando] De La Rua. Of course, I could not tell one that I was playing with the other," Arcaya said. Among others, Arcaya played frequently with Australiaís then-Prime Minister Malcolm Frasier and the prime minister of Fiji. As much as Arcaya likes playing competitive golf with heads of state, he does admit that as a diplomat, he had to be careful not to beat his opponent too often or by too wide a margin. He said that he never intentionally threw a game, but "sometimes I would not make a big effort to win. But, I had to be careful not to show it. President Menem told me that [former President] George Bush told him ëthat you really donít feel like the president anymore once you start getting beaten [at golf].í" Arcayaís passion for golf was so well known in Argentina that President Menem held his formal farewell party for the outgoing Venezuelan at a golf course. Arcaya played a shotgun competition with the president, vice president, chief justice, five cabinet ministers and the president of the Senate. He also recalled making his departure calls in Fiji, to which he was accredited as non-resident ambassador (he was resident in Australia). After spending three days waiting for the protocol office to arrange his meetings with the leadership, he finally received a cryptic message from protocol instructing him to appear at one oíclock on the first tee at the Pacific Harbor Golf Club in the capital, Suva. He arrived to find the prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister and speaker of the house waiting patiently on the links. "The president used his executive privileges at the club to allow five people to play," Arcaya said and laughed. Arcayaís love of golf began soon after his father pushed a golf club into his hands at the age of 6. He has been playing ever since, and his home in Venezuela is on a golf course. He currently lists his handicap at 11 on his curriculum vitae, although he said that at his best he had a handicap of only five. "Over my career, I have made par several times and only broken par twice," he said. When asked what his favorite course was, he remarks that the two courses where he broke par, one in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and the other in Lima, Peru, gave him the greatest satisfaction. "I also got a hole-in-one at a public course in Buenos Aires. It was a par three with a blind hole," he said. "I hit the ball 150 yards with a seven iron. We walked up to the hole and found the ball resting between the flag and the hole. My friend picked up the stick and the ball fell inóhole-in-one." One of Arcayaís greatest honors happened, however, six years ago when the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland invited him to join the club. The club is considered the spiritual center of the golfing world, and after 600 years, it is the worldís oldest. "Being invited to join St. Andrews was a thrilling and rewarding experience," he said. "I try to make it there at least once a year." Now just settling into life in Washington, the ambassador is eager to begin playing again regularly although he is tight-lipped about what club he is planning to join. In addition to golf, Ambassador Arcaya is also an experienced polo player (with a handicap of one) and has even shipped his horses from Venezuela. He has been invited to join the Capital and Potomac polo clubs and also looks forward to playing at one of the frequent games on the National Mall. "I actually prefer polo to golf," said Arcaya, who has broken five bones playing the game. "It is more aggressive, with more contact. But I am nearing the end of my polo days.... The game of golf I will play until the end of my days." Nickolas Theros is the assistant editor for The Washington Diplomat.