PGA Stableford at Western Gailes – 5/5/21
A very late start to the 2021 season due to the New Year lockdown and it was good to get back to competitive golf after a lengthy layoff. Always a good venue on the west coast, Western Gailes provided a tough test due to strong winds but it was dry and sunny for most of the day so that was a real bonus.
I played with Alistair Kyle from Turnberry and Martin Pottinger from Affordable Golf and shared my role on the 1st tee while we waited. The chat led to lockdown life and the challenges it presented during that time and I gave my brief back story of the past decade but nothing much came of that which I had to respect. After 9 holes downwind and 9 holes into the wind, the finish was hard going. My target before going out was 5 over not only due to conditions but also the fact it was my 2nd time on a course this year. I wasn’t far away from that number and a double bogey on the 17th cost me the chance to achieve the figure I set myself. Out of the whole field, I think par was the best score that day which tells the story.
There were quite a few guys playing that had previously attended a Logos ProAm so I was fortunate to catch up with Paul McKechnie, Chris Currie, and Gareth Hardy. I had coffee and a roll with Gareth and thanked him for hosting one of our smaller Logos Friendly events this coming June. He’s always been very supportive of our events and happy to chat whenever we meet. I spoke with Paul and Chris in the car park and mentioned that although there would not be a ProAm as such this year there would be smaller events for them to attend if they wanted. Paul mentioned the 2017 ProAm and asked how Keith and Allan were (You must have made an impression guys).
We then began to discuss the state of the world at the moment and how it can be so hard to stay positive with so much doom and gloom about. Paul understands our message and made a great point that we can’t change the whole world, but looking after the part of the world where we are can effect change. I totally agree with this philosophy and added that we need to do what we can in our own area to help those who need it, not forcing ourselves into a situation but meeting the need and simply being there.
We finished with the story of the ‘billion-year-old fossil’ that apparently unlocks the secrets of our evolution. My answer was simple; How on earth do they know it’s that old and shouldn’t we be focusing on the problems here and now instead of promoting questionable theories as if they are fact? We both laughed and agreed.
If we could only be the example to others of what a Christian should be then our own corner of the world would see there is hope despite the endless negativity we are all subjected to on a daily basis. It’s only through him that we can do it.
Vincent Brown