Lessons from a Golf Trip

I recently returned from a 4-day golf trip with 40 men from my church, Trinity Baptist, in Raleigh. It’s a January trip—cold and sometimes rainy—so there were reasons for going other than golf.

Golf is a great sport for many reasons. It’s relaxing (if you’re playing well), tests your patience (if you’re not), and builds your character regardless. It’s a gentleman’s game with lots of opportunities to do the right thing even if it means you won’t score as well.  It’s a game you can play alone to enjoy some quiet time—just you, your thoughts, and nature—and a time to exhale and slow down. It’s also a time to build relationships. That was the primary reason for this 40-man trip—building relationships.

I always learn about myself on these trips and glean wisdom from those I observe and interact with.

I’ve found I won’t click with everyone, and that’s okay. We are all different, and that’s the beauty of it. How boring would this world be if everyone were the same? If I’m careful to keep my mind and emotions open, I always learn from others and have the opportunity to become a better version of myself than I was before.

These are the lessons I learned on this trip that I can apply to how I run my Griswold Home Care business and my life in general.

Lesson 1: Wisdom can be found everywhere if you look and listen.

Nick is humble and kind. He speaks of golf like an old friend you really respect and enjoy being around.  He says that each shot has a goal—an outcome and an influence on the next one—a relationship. “I like to think two shots ahead. How do I want this hole to go?” Nick spoke the whole day like an experienced golfer—a tenured old golf dog—a guy you’d surely listen to while playing the back 9.  But Nick is only 24. He is tall, lean, and baby faced, and I could have missed a lot of wisdom had I not paid attention. I can learn a lot from anyone if I allow myself to.

Lesson 2: How do you “see” life?

Our childhood experiences and family influences shape us—they form the lenses we see the world through. But if your early life experiences weren’t that great, your lenses are tainted and limit your perspective. Because of the smudges, you can’t see all you might otherwise see. It doesn’t have to just be your childhood though. You may have had a great childhood, but life has beat you up some—life can wear you down. 

Jeff is our church pastor, and he taught me something valuable while riding 18 holes with him in this relaxed and fun atmosphere. Jeff says because God’s grace is a free gift—one that can’t be taken away no matter what mistakes he makes—he “sees” life differently. The life we coldly endure or vibrantly experience is completely based on how we “see” things. We all have sadness, trials and tribulations; we also have many opportunities for love, joy, and happiness. We won’t always be our best and will make mistakes with ourselves and others. 

But because of God’s grace and love, Jeff says, we have a loving “Do-Over” every single time. With that assurance, he sees life differently—he realizes he is here for a short time, he is loved by God, and he has His never-ending forgiveness and grace, which scoops Jeff up, dusts him off, says it’s okay son and holds him for a little while. That’s a really great way to go through life day to day; to “see” life through that lens because the life we have is based on how we see it.

By seeing life as my pastor does, I have the freedom to exercise a do over when needed. Wisdom is all around me if I keep my eyes and ears open, and by remembering those two things, we can continue to humbly serve others and enhance their lives efficiently and economically.

So much knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration—all from a little white ball. Go golf!