Stirling 36 hole PGA Event
I was looking forward to playing Stirling again as it’s a beautiful course that sits just below the castle and only a 20 minute drive from Cumbernauld. A few days previous the forecast was rain and more rain, so it was a pleasant surprise to only get the odd shower mixed with some warm sunshine over both days. No waterproofs required.
I got to catch up with quite a few fellow Pros before play and I was saddened to hear that one of my playing partners could not make it due to a bereavement in the family. My thoughts and prayers are with him. It would just be a two ball now and I have know my other playing partner for many years which gave us quite a bit to chat about. He is a very experienced Professional and one of the most highly regarded in Scotland. You don’t get to referee Ryder cup matches otherwise!
Over the front 9 we discussed the bereavement, dementia, family, Glasgow Rangers and of course LGMS. Our conversations flitted back and forth over these subject over the course of the round and one of the comments that he said made so much sense that we forget about it so often. We talked about different denominations of Christians and I am a big advocate for not having any denominations. My partner simply agreed and said, “Sure, God is God”. It didn’t quite hit me till later on but how often do we forget that God is who he says he is, and is simply God.
During our back 9 we finished off the round in warm sunshine and apart from a couple of holes we played ok. A difference of 4 shots between us but such a nice game to be involved in and didn’t feel like a tournament. I asked if he would like to attend any future events we’d have and he was happy to be kept informed of what we have coming up.
On the way home I was invited to have a bite to eat with a good Pro friend of mine and his assistant, and we had a great chat about faith and the many different perspectives of what a Christian is. I had previously discussed having a ‘thought for the day” in some of our smaller events, and this was a prime example of how this could work as I gave an example and we discussed it to some length. Its great being able to voice different perspectives on God and Christianity and for me this is what LGMS is all about. I felt very uplifted by our conversation and know we are on the right track.
On the second day I was paired with my friends assistant so it was good to keep some of the conversation going and he asked about the Logos Events for this year which he is keen to attend. We also played with another young pro from Aberdeen who I was able to share a bit about LGMS but nothing really came of that but at least he is aware of who we are.
The wind was up a bit from yesterday and we struggled a little mid round but we were playing ok and managing our scores. The two boys hit the ball so well and were unfortunate not to come away with better scores, but I could feel my swing going a bit towards the end. I managed to get to the 15th tee 2 over and hoped to finish level but this has been my downfall many times. Again, I made the wrong choice of tee shot, not just once but twice in a row. It was a hard one for me to take dropping 6 shots in the space of 2 holes, especially when I’d managed myself reasonably well over the 2 days. This just emphasises how important it is to take that extra 10 seconds to clarify the shot rather than going before properly set.
I finished the 2 final holes well and thought it was important for me to do so even if it didn’t mean much to the score. I hope I can learn to be patient to the end in future but I am getting closer. I keep praying to finish well in my daily life and this could not be more apt.
Before I left I chatted with my friends assistant and encouraged him to keep persevering with his golf as he’s got the potential to do really well. Overall this was a very encouraging event and was finished off well by speaking to a couple of other Pros in the car park who have attended our ProAms before. It’s good to keep them updated on where we are and everyone is looking forward to a much busier season, with of course some LGMS events!
Yours in Christ,
Vincent Brown, PGA Professional, Logos Golf Ministries Scotland.