2 Corinthians 8:10-11 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. Our score in golf is similar to having a “no hitter” in the sixth inning. We feel it best not to talk about it until the last putt is made on the 18th hole or the 27th out is made. We know that disaster is possible at any time until we make it back to the clubhouse. The same is true in baseball. A pitch ..read more

Malachi 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, As technology continues to advance, sports have become inundated with statistics. Analytics which reflect a given player’s overall benefit to a team are used to negotiate contracts. The PGA Tour website details statistics for players in every imaginable way for every possible scenario. The Tour goes further than detailing solely scoring averages and driving distances. We are given performance details for “strokes gained putting”, scoring average ..read more

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Our response to “how’d you play” usually generates a response in relation to the perception of our own abilities. To some, a 95 is a good day while others cast the round as an off-day if the score is above 75. Discontent and frustration ensue when we judge our performance based upon the scores of others. We may have a $1 bet on the line, but we primarily play golf for the enjoyment of the game itself, the outdoors, and time with our friends. “Teddy” Ro ..read more

Luke 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. There are some places like a golf course or a library where silence is both directed and appreciated. People are there for a purpose and any distraction is a thwarting of that purpose. Any noise is considered to be a selfish thievery of another’s ability to concentrate. However, silence while in the presence and power of God is quite another. The story of Zacharias speaks of a man who was given a ..read more

James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Confession is good for the soul. I love playing golf with my buddies. I love the outdoors. I love visiting with friends and family. I love worshipping with my church family. Suddenly, each of these “loves” have been put into jeopardy or cancelled altogether. I am guilty at the beginning of every golf season thinking about how many seasons of golf I have left while in good health. Quite presumptive on my part, I agree. I will also consider the current month throughout the season and how many more months of good golf weath ..read more

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. The scorecard tells the story of a golf round. It shows the good, the bad and the ugly. The same is true for our testimony of Christ. Our story of salvation tells of the ugly and bad while we lived in a state of sin. Our story details of bad habits, our bitterness, our adulteries, and our drunkenness. It was ugly. Then the story changes when the blood of Christ was and is applied to our sin. The blood is powerf ..read more

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. Nothing gets me more heated on the golf course than missing short putts. I mean, come on, we’ve been playing putt putt at the beach our whole life. Plus, there is no clown’s head or ramp to increase the difficulty on the golf course. Then, I think about the “Hole In One” game on the Price Is Right. Eighty-year-old women make putts from five feet. Karen from Omaha who has never played golf in her life makes them. I ..read more

Like 5:34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? Days and days of rain combined with social distancing has put a damper on golfing and just about every other activity we enjoy. Somehow weekend days have become like regular week days and week days feel like weekend days because of our altered work situations. Through it all we see God’s work in allowing us a time to grow stronger in prayer and His word because much of our normal life has been eliminated. This reduction is not a fast because the change is not voluntary. This t ..read more

Luke 5:28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him. Forgetting a sand wedge lying on or beside a putting green somewhere on the course is a relatively common thing. We get distracted and exit to the next hole in a different direction from which we came. Not many people, however, have left their entire bag. I must admit I have accomplished such a feat. After finishing up the round, I went inside in the pro shop, began talking, and left the course without my golf bag which sat off the cart in the grass. This memory reminds me of the group of old men from the small town sitting around talking a ..read more

Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Social distancing and quasi-quarantining ourselves causes a certain awkward silence. The golf course is a generally acceptable place of recreation during this uncertain time. However, many features of the golf experience are being altered. We are advised not to touch the flag, not to double up riding in a cart, and avoid picking up other pl ..read more