Preparation, Tiger, = Winning

“The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital” Joe Peterno

I love to practice, how about you? One of the hardest things for a lot of us to do is practice. For most golfers, that is not a fun word. Some of my golf friends hate to practice and some of them want to be better golfers. Occasionally you run across a person who never practices and still plays well. But it’s rare and if they want to compete, they will need to practice. If you have read any of the hype this weekend for the U.S. Open, Tiger is at the top of the sports writers pens. Tiger has prepared for this all of his life. He has prepared himself to win and his father has been there to prepare him for these occasions. Winners don’t win because they are not prepared. Preparation is “vital”! Like life, golfers and all athletes, business people, chefs, you name it, performance comes from preparation. I am trying to figure out a way to get my 12 year old to enjoy practice. He has some skills that I think can get him to a level of excellence in golf, he just doesn’t grasp what that it is yet. I have worked with him over the past few years and he is out driving most of the men we play with and it’s very exciting for me as a father. My job as a father is to not only prepare him for sports, school and other activities he takes part in, it is my job to prepare him for life through helping him with his character. If you come from a fatherless childhood as I did, you may know what it feels like. You understand some of the emotional setbacks and lack of communication skills in family matters or relationship deficiencies. If you have been stumbling in your life journey and you are looking for answers, just remember, there is someone who wants to walk with you through the tough times as well as the good ones. This father’s day, remember that our heavenly father is always there for the fatherless and will help us prepare for life!