In my golf-soaked Impromptus today, I mention a leftist strongman and his open hostility to golf: That strongman is Hugo Chávez. But a reader reminds me that Kim Jong Il, the sweetheart of North Korea, is fond of golf. Indeed, he is the greatest golfer in history. Do you remember? According to the North Korean state media — the only kind of media to be found in North Korea — Kim shot a score of 34 the very first time he played golf. He shot 34 over 18 holes on a championship golf course, par 72. His round included eleven holes in one. Presumably, he got even better after that debut round.

Question: Is Kim a better golfer than Elena Ceausescu was a chemist? The boasts of dictators makes a very interesting topic.