Logos Golf Ministries at the Deer Park Masters Qualifying
As I arrived for Deer Park Masters Qualifying, I was hoping for a more positive game than I had the last time I played.
I hadn’t been swinging well the past couple of rounds and despite an alignment correction it still didn’t feel 100%.
I could feel the doubt in my mind while hitting some balls but thought by the time I got out there it would sort itself out. Deer Park normally had a habit of getting me to play ok with how the course looked and set up.
I was playing with two younger players I’d never met before and on the second hole, I got to share my role with LGMS as we walked up the fairway. I was able to explain our past events, a brief history of my faith, and why I believed Christianity was true.
One of the players commented that he didn’t have a faith as such but there was a family connection with Christianity. I was expecting this to go a bit further but strangely from that point on, there was nothing more mentioned from either player.
Hopefully, something went in that will eventually make them think.
After a few poor shots cost me on the front 9 I was right on the qualifying score and managed to string a few holes together that gave me some hope of possibly qualifying. I missed a few birdie opportunities on 8, 9, and 11 and even if I’d got 2 of them it would’ve given me a chance.
I was not swinging well and found the round very challenging.
The one mistake I made was that I didn’t pray the whole time
I was on the course. I tried to sort it out myself and just couldn’t see the positives in what I was doing. After 3 putting the next two holes that was it.
I wasn’t going to qualify now and I could feel the disappointment and frustration. I only made par on 2 of the last 6 holes and scored over 80.
There have not been many times in my life when I have felt like giving up but that was one of them.
It wasn’t till I was hitting balls afterward that I realised where I went wrong and what God was trying to show me.
Even when things aren’t going the way we expect our first thought should be to pray.
When we feel persecuted and a bit sorry for ourselves then we should think of the cross and what’s been done for us.
I failed on both counts that day but what I was given afterwards was something I didn’t deserve. Through this experience, God renewed my strength and my perseverance to overcome and set my standards higher. I will go forward and continue with my golf as I know this is where I’m supposed to be. My work is in this arena and God is not finished with me.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” –
1st Thess 5:17
We keep going joyfully!
Vincent Brown, PGA Professional and LGMS Ambassador
To Get in touch with Vincent send him an email click here