Golf: The Life Game

Perhaps 10-12 times per year I play in golf tournaments. I love to play golf. Golf is a game that can teach valuable life skills and points to the gospel in so many ways. So, even though I'm not very good (12 handicap) it is a joy to play and learn. We have a "team" at Cindy Rowe Auto Glass. I love these guys. Kelly Ditto is my son-in-law. He is competitive but fun, always making funny comments and keeping us loose. Kirk Reed is Director of Operations at Cindy Rowe, a fine man, committed to family, always appropriate and very comfortable to be with. Brian Clayton is the assistant Dir. of Ops. He is the best golfer among us. A good person. Humble. Prone to a bit of sarcasm and ribbing. Never crosses any "line." A good athlete. They are always fun to be around. There was a tournament on Friday the 4th of October, 2007, at a course called Manada, just off I-83 and Rt. 743. Emily had no school so she came along. She was a great help and lots of fun and helped us do well. although we finished 12 under par, it was not enough to win (we came in third). It was a beautiful fall morning. There was light fog, the temperature was in the low 70's and the greens were in good shape. Like life, golf is a game and a time to be enjoyed. The scenery is beautiful, the company is fantastic and the opportunity to achieve is abundant. Of course things happen that can be unexpected, frustrating, surprising, even stupid. But other things can be almost sublimely joyful. We started on seventeen. Kirk hit to 12 feet, above the hole. I sank the putt. We were off to a good start. Focusing on good is the key in golf and in life. On the "long putt" hole, I sank a 45 foot putt, from just inside the fringe. It would be difficult to have a putt any longer than that. Yet at the award ceremony, the $50 gift certificate was awarded to someone else. Turned out he thought it was a "closest to the pin" hole. No worry. It's all for fun. And for learning one more lesson - even when people are wrong, just smile and enjoy the moment and learn from it.