It was probably playing with my son whom I have seen grow up and mature into the player that he is that made my participation this year by far the most memorable.
I never dreamed that we would actually find ourselves playing together in a tournament and on equal footing. It was never in my agenda when I played sports with my children that they would one day become exceptional athletes and excel in any of the sports that we enjoyed doing together as a family.
If it happened, then it would be a bonus. I always saw sports as a means of reaching out and communicating with my child as my dad had done with my brothers and me when we were young. So seeing Matt play golf to the level that he is now at has been a major plus for me.
I have always believed that the way one plays the game of golf is a reflection of how one participates in the game of life. It would be almost impossible to turn up a good score if one has not managed to channel one’s fiery temper into intense concentration.
Though it may take a certain amount of time and maturity to achieve this — to roll with the punches, the disappointments, bogeys and missed putts — patience, perseverance and a real enjoyment in whatever it may be that you find yourself doing, are some of the necessary ingredients needed to help you through. Matt’s game reflects that he is on the right path. From my experience, reaching it may actually take a lifetime.
Matt will be leaving for abroad this year for college. He applied to schools that do not necessarily have well-known golf programs. He has prioritized academics above sports. However, there is nothing more assuring and satisfying for a parent than to feel that his child has prepared himself as best as he could for whatever in life may come his way.
I consider his decision to focus on the game of golf in the last couple of years as an instrumental part of his preparation. I will surely miss him.