Ryder Cup weekend is here and gone. I enjoy these formats. It consists of the top players in the world against USA’s best. For golfers and golf fans it doesn’t get much better. I enjoy the different formats used. It mixes things up for something different and builds drama into almost every shot. Obviously I rooted for team USA, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t like the opposing team. I don’t think there are any golfers I don’t like, but I do like some more than others.

Golf is not a team sport until these types of formats, which I believe is the huge draw of the Ryder Cup. All of the golfers in this event depend on each other to perform and acquire points for each event. As the event was coming to a close on Sunday the Europeans began to take over. America had a sizable lead on Saturday, but that didn’t seem to matter to Team Europe. Jose Maria Olazabal was asked Saturday night about the lead that the American team had and he responded, “I believe”.

The European team came back from a surmountable deficit to take the cup by a half of a point, just a half of a point. I find that incredible. I thought Ian Poulters play Saturday gave them the hope they needed to rally back and take the cup back to European soil.

Golf is a very individual sport. But the Ryder Cup format changes that and it becomes a team sport. I sat back and began to think of why the Europeans seemed to have dominated this type of play. I wondered why, if we have some of the best players in the world why don’t we win more? This is where we can look at society as a whole and wonder why we are separated as a culture.

I believe we can learn something from the team aspect of golf. The American team to me, just never seems as passionate about winning as a team as the Europeans. I realize that the American team wants to win, but I don’t see the camaraderie between them like I see with the Europeans.  

What is that telling us? Can we not learn from the game of golf that our “Team” efforts are a reflection of our culture? A lot of the Europeans don’t even come from the same country but find “Team” passion for each other. Now, I guess I’m a typical American male, I don’t like to necessarily hug other men or kiss them on the cheek, which most Europeans find it common place. I have to say that I am envious of that type of caring for another man to win.

What happened to the America that once was dominant in just about everything? What happened to the America that my grandfather was not ashamed to be a part of and fight for, even though he was a native Indian? I think we can learn a lot from a game that has the passion of men to win with other men and share in the victory!

This weekend I was a part of a men’s event that I have been dreaming of for a long time. On Friday night we had a comedian that hit us between the eyes and heart about the Truth of America. I saw a lot of men rally around a message that I thought may divide men. But it inspired them to change and think about America and the team aspect of its roots. Europeans came over to start a “Team” that would not be taken over by a tyrant, but a democracy for the people and by the people.

I think it’s time to go back to our roots and take a long hard look at the Truth. The Truth of what the original Americans had in mind for our country. Until we go to that truth, our country will continue to fall into the hands of apathy and weakness! What will you do to make a difference?