MARGARET FLOYD Don't give up; you can get through it



One Sunday a few months ago, I watched an overweight, recovering alcoholic golfer who hadn't won on the PGA tour in eight years take on two young challengers in their prime in a three-way playoff.
Would he choke? Get the jitters? Be the loser he had become? I cheered when he finally won by a stroke, chipping in from a green side bunker to within a breath of the hole and making the tap-in putt. His opponents followed by missing their puts that would keep the playoff going.
It was an emotional day for John Daly, a man who has seen his share of trouble both in his private life and as a professional golfer. But as the announcer pointed out, fans still love the guy. I, for one, can understand why.
As a self-professed social golfer (a hacker) whose game, literally, stays plugged in the mud for days and sometimes weeks, I can appreciate a veteran golfer's search to refine and re-find his swing, motivation, putting, chipping and driving skills.
Struggling with swing
On the practice range, often my shots go long and straight where I aim them. On the course, however, some days I can't get the ball airborne, much less keep it in play. Hitting from behind trees and under bushes, landing in almost every bunker from tee to green, I pull out my trouble wood and ask for divine guidance.
"Whatever happens, don't quit," a quiet voice seems to say. And despite erratic play and a day filled with frustration, I feel immense satisfaction when I sink that last putt on the final hole.
I can imagine the same voice prodding Daly, the golfer, and Daly, the man. "Don't give up on yourself. Don't quit."
God doesn't want us to give up no matter how many opportunities we double or triple-bogey, no matter how many sand traps we land in, putts we pull or shots we shank. Like Daly, he wants us to keep playing this game of life, practicing until our handicaps are negligible and barely affect our score.
Sure enough, if we stay the course, a blessing will land like a well-played shot right on the flag. God is always in the gallery waiting for us to ask for a coach to work on any part of our game.
Like Daly, all of us who have faltered can win again and smile.
XMargaret Floyd is a Christian golfer, a lifelong resident of Youngstown's North Side and a founding member of the Ebony Ladies Golf League.

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