While hitting balls at a driving range in Cincinnati, I turned around and spotted a girl behind me that stood out. Her hat gave it away. The “WF” logo meant that she played for Wake Forest, one of the top golf programs in the country. I hit another ball and turned and asked her, “Are you in town for a golf tournament?”
“Yes,” she replied, as her mom looked up from her phone behind her.
“The Western Junior?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said again.
“Very cool! I’m actually here to officiate that tournament, and it is being played at my home course from when I lived here,” I told her.
She noticed the “A” ball marker on my hat. “Did you play for Arizona?”
“I did!”
From there, the conversation took off. She was especially curious about any home course insights I could share, and throughout the week, I had multiple chances to talk with her. Her name is Vidhi.
Vidhi’s heading into her freshman year at Wake Forest. By the end of the week we were on a first-name basis. She kept seeing me around the course as I refereed matches. And guess what? She won the entire tournament.
Back in 1979, I played in the Western Junior myself and made it all the way to the finals. I came in runner-up, which helped land me in the top ten nationally. Watching Vidhi reminded me of how much potential lies ahead for these young players. Who knows where she’ll be in 10, 20 or 45 years? All I know is, we’ve already become friends and I am grateful.
God continues to give me opportunities to connect with the next generation of golfers and present a ravishing view of Jesus through this platform.
