Portrush, Northern Ireland – this was a new one for me. In a fan -filled area, between the home hole of Excellent links here And the Atlantic Ocean, has a small white plastic cabin, with three short rooms in it, with a glass door with a mark caught on it: Room with a lot of confidence.
Through the glass door I saw a prayer rug and a low shoe rack. Nearby were neutral toilets marked Comprehensive. There were other facilities for open visitors to wheelchairs, and open visitors (and their parents) still in diapers. Nearby was a trailer for children with sensory issues. A sign that bears the stamp of R & aAdministrators of this event since the 19th century, reads (in part) as follows:
R&A works in the heart of the golf, investing in revenue from open change and hugging positively to ensure that golf is a truly global sport for every person, of every ability, in every stage of life.
Golf is more than a game.
I entered the room with a lot of confidence, removed my shoes (ok, yes: sandals with socks; I know, I know), found some reading materials and entered one of the small rooms. You can hear the smooth humor of music at a young age, and the strongest humor of drinking beer and golf by cheering beyond the thin walls of the cabinet.
This is from a thin book on a shelf, an introduction to the Hebrew prayer: “” The reason you pray, “says William James,” is simply because we cannot help in prayer. “”
I know what James means. Once I did in Master I talked my son to go to green with his second shot in the PAR-5 15 hole, with a type of hybrid lofted. With the ball in the air, I begged that ball to fly. Prayed firm. The ball was holding the basin, set up on the hill and somehow did not go down.
Later, in the same few volume: “Human beings have always watched great gatherings of people as a means of paying homage to a person or an idea.”
Well, if that doesn’t describe it Championship (And WM Phoenix Open), I don’t know what it can. The idea here is to see the best players in the world play this extremely difficult cross-country game on the extremely beautiful and bumpy terrain for four days and see who can get the least strokes in four days and 72 holes. On Sunday evening, you will see thousands of people pay homage to the champion player, along with different others who gave each ounce of themselves trying.
There was another book in hand called 365 days from the wisdom of the Buddha. The first sentence from the first page: “It is no secret that the mind is an essential part of Buddhism; in fact, it is considered the key to obtaining inner peace.”
Maybe one day Tiger Woods He will reveal not all, but some for his Buddhist practices surrendered to him from his late mother and how those principles formed his golf. Throughout his time and perhaps in his 1930s Woods there was that pre-show moment, where he would close his eyes for a few seconds and you can almost see the tranquility inside him, before the swing storm. I often think of Woods as a birth meets Western Golf player. Also, a golf player who brought a match mentality to his game tours.
Entry for January 22, from 365 days The book is a quote from the Buddha: “The enlightened is deep, unlimited, difficult to understand, like the ocean.”
I like this, but for the true power of attitude I will get Dali lama Carl Spackler: “When you die, in your deathbed, you will get total awareness.” I mean as life’s penetrations go, it’s a little late (when I die) – unless, of course, it’s not.
There were other interesting books in the room with great faith, from Christian traditions, the traditions of Sikh, the Hindu traditions. Something for everyone, pretty. I think this is the whole point of this effort. There are many ways to play golf, too. Stroke over 72 holes is a shape, a good one. What you and I do a Wednesday evening in the summer is everything so good.
As I was leaving the room with a lot of confidence, the R&A volunteer who oversees Sanctuary gave me a round top with a sunflower in its center and the words I support sunflower about its perimeter. There is a whole Movement in the United Kingdom, about making a community with special needs more visible. I thanked him for the pin. The day was cooling and the clouds were moving inside. No one cared. Wherever you looked, people were enjoying open. All kinds of everyday people.
Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments in Michael.bamberger@golf.com
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