Golf
This story is one that you can relate to. Your children, girls and boys, can benefit from it. The story is a continuation on the theme of a previous article about how the game of Golf , if played by the rules, mirrors life. I believe that long ago in Scotland where Golf was initially played, that the rules were derived a few at the time. I think they had some of the Ten Commandments in mind when they started making rules for Golf. Rules in Golf are there to help us, just like the rules of Life.
Those Scots weren’t perfect nor did they pretend to be. They lived their lives and provided for their families and worked and loved a good time with their friends. Golf has been around for hundreds of years. When rules are made with the best of the human condition in mind, they endure.
Dewey Edwards of Jacksonville is quite possibly the accidental prototype those forefathers that the great game of Golf had in mind. A gentleman with a competitive spirit, honorable, his friends love his company. Far from perfect, Dewey loves the game of golf and respects it. As an athlete that has played other sports well and with equal vigor, but he loves the game of Golf with a depth not felt for the other sports. I am venturing that it is because of the nature of the rules. His best golfing buddies can relate.
I will tell you a story. Dewey is a lawyer here in town. A while back, after playing the game almost his whole life he decided to get better. So he practiced. He got up early every day and went and hit balls to get better. He was determined to perform well enough to prove his mettle, to no one but himself. He is, like I said, very competitive. He once described himself to me during this time as the “worst of the best”.
The time came for a big (to us) tournament and Dewey played his way into the final twosome. It matters not what the Championship was. On one of the holes in that last round Dewey hit his ball into the left rough. He approached his ball with no observers, placed the club behind the ball and struck it with all the talent he possessed. The ball drew (curved) around the trees with a low arc and rolled safely onto the putting surface. Magnificent shot. One of the best of his life. He then promptly made the putt for what was hailed as an extraordinary birdie while his opponent and the few observers congratulated him on a superb recovery. Edwards waited for his opponent to complete the hole. He then quietly and humbly corrected his opponent and onlookers and informed them that his ball had moved in the process of hitting it, after grounding his club, incurring a one shot penalty. He called the penalty on himself. He did that because in Golf the rules are self enforced. What a fabulous life lesson. I can see those ol’ Scots tippin a pint to the” Golf gods” in Dewey’s honor.
Edwards did not win that Championship that day. That one shot penalty did not cost him the trophy either. But he won my heart and that of many others by not only upholding the integrity of this game but of Gentlemen and Ladies of all ages who believe in honor. This round took place many years ago and still resonates. It brings tears to my eyes for some reason. It directly applies to how a man or woman should behave. I think it’s what those Scots had in mind. Don’t you think your kid should be exposed to Golf? Talk to you soon.
