Golfers' Faith Hits a Hole-in-One with FCA

I'll be the first to confess that while I like some sports (especially full contact for the unrestrained force they entail!), golf has always been at the bottom of my list of sports which I would actually *qualify* as a sport. In fact, it may be just above other activities such as ping pong (table tennis), shuffle board (or whatever that strange Olympic rocks-scooting-across-ice thing is called), wife-carrying and bog snorkeling. I must admit though that I did, at one time, caddy at a golf course near my home in Westerville, Ohio, USA while in high school. It was a painful waiting game just getting work, showing up at 6:30am to try to be the first caddy there to get out on the course. I remember one day waiting from 6:30am until 2:30pm just to get out! Then you have the regrettable situation of wealthy golfers not tipping or not tipping well. Ugghh . . it probably tainted my experience of the game of golf from early on.

Anyway, last summer my curiosity for the game was renewed when my father-in-law and two of my brother-in-laws asked me to play a round with them and other family and friends. I admit, I really went just for the relational investment and not golf itself. After the first 9 I managed to surprise everyone (including myself) by going head-to-head with my youngest brother-in-law Chad who was M-A-D I played as well as him . . and I never play the game! I was more pleased about that than my game itself. ;-)

I bring all of this up because next Monday I'll be meeting with a friend of a friend who will be here in Ireland coaching a team of Irish youth on their golf game and spiritual journey. His name is Ben Bost and he works for the FCA coordinating TourLife, a ministry to golfers, both amateur and pro. I'm really looking forward to hearing more of his story, the work he does and dreaming with him how we might collaborate on some future work supporting athletes AND artists in their life's journey. Some of you may know I recently launched a ministry to support 'creatives' (artists/musicians/actors/writers, etc.) called Soul Friend. More on that soon.

Here is a video of Ben working with golfers on tour, encouraging them in their journey with Jesus Christ. Please leave some comments and questions if you'd like me to ask him any on Monday.

Tourlife at the Knoxville Open from AndyMerrickTV on Vimeo.