Iran's international sporting success is in wrestling, football, volleyball and basketball. As such, golf is considered a tough sell.
Saeedi admits he's no great shakes as a player but for 15 minutes he talks passionately about what his wish list would include.
More courses, more driving ranges, more education and publicity about the game in schools and then-and only then - could more players ultimately be accommodated.
Only 3,500 people, around 500 of them women, from a population of 78 million, pick up a club, Saeedi says, so there would be little point in a sudden uptick in numbers unless more facilities are built.
The paucity of the sport is reflected in the federation's annual budget of US$200,000 and the game in Iran has a history that probably doesn't lend itself to expansion.
It arrived with the British early in the 20th century - when their oil executives weren't busy trying to take control of Iran's southern fields they liked to tee it up.
This elitism was magnified by Iran's former royal rulers. The last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, played golf and built the Tehran course in the grounds of what was then the Imperial Country Club.
Beyond the solitary grass course there are four sand courses across Iran.
As to talent there are few shining hopes for Iranian glory but Hassan Karimian is the country's best.
Pages
Click here to see the published article.
