Logos Friendly Event at Westerwood
I wasn’t sure if our Logos Friendly Event at Westerwood would go ahead due to the amount of rainfall we had in the lead-up to the event. I’d been told the course was closed on Sunday morning but when I had a walk round that evening I thought we would just manage it, especially with a dry night.
I did get some call-offs the morning of the event due to other issues but it was disappointing we only had 3 players instead of the planned 6.
Both of my colleagues who showed up have attended our events before and they tend not to play in many PGA events, but like these more informal games which still have an element of being competitive.
We practically had the place to ourselves and it was good to play at a relaxed pace without having to worry about anyone behind us.
We chatted a lot about golf which might seem like the thing 3 pros would talk about, but we got quite an in-depth about the main issues each of us has had over the years, and still do. It was interesting that each of us had a differing problem that has always reared its head at some point. Short Game, Driving and Course Management.
It was good that we got to give each other advice on all our weaknesses and I think for most of the front 9 it seemed more like a Golf Clinic than a competitive game.
Although the course was a bit wet it was more than playable and the Sun even came out for the back 9.
Player A is a very good player and the reason he doesn’t play much is because of his Putting, which isn’t really that bad. He hits the ball so well and gets frustrated because he goes round in 1 or 2 over when he really should be 2 or 3 under. His stroke is fine on the green but he was talking himself out of 6 Foot putts and I reassured him it’s not technical but more his frame of mind, which I know a bit about. If you think you’re going to miss then you’ll probably miss it. He got that.
Player B doesn’t play very much at all but he has won national championships and just lets self-doubt creep in with his long game. He doesn’t play enough but can still play decent golf when he puts his mind to it. Again, it’s amazing how we overthink certain aspects of the game and sometimes our first instinct should be the course of action. In other words, just hit the ball and get it out there, especially with the driver.
We were all pretty even with our scores towards the end but Player A hit this incredible drive at the last hole which must have gone about 320, even with the damp ground. I tried to match it but ended up spraying the ball right trying to hit it too hard and was out of the game. Player B hit a poor 2nd shot which kind of let the door open for Player A.
A good win for him and I did mention to him afterwards that he should reconsider playing in events as he’s too good not to.
As we sat and had lunch afterwards we arranged to meet up again to go over our golf from a more analytical view. I think we can all help each other in different areas and there’s definitely life left in us yet despite each of us not being far from the big five O.
Both of these guys know my faith, have been to events and have listened to me talk about it. I intentionally don’t force it on them every time because I want them to enquire.
When this doesn’t happen I just try to be the best example of a Christian, and towards the end of our meal I simply told them about a movie I’d watched recently, “I can only imagine”. It’s the true story of how a young man, with God’s help, forgave his father for the abuse that he received as a child.
He wrote a song about it that’s one of the best-selling of all time and this was because he watched how God changed his father. I encouraged them to watch it, as I would to everyone. It’s a great example of how God can change what seems unchangeable.
We’ll see how it goes when we meet up again.
Yours In Christ,
Vincent Brown, PGA Professional and Logos Ambassador on the Tartan Tour