Golfer - Disciple-Maker Part 2

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But, golf??  What about the passion for golf??

​Well, it never waned. In fact, it intensified, but, circumstances dictated that I focus on my military career and care for my family, so, I did. Two military assignments turned into three and four and four turned into 20 years of assignments in the US Army. What a blessing and an honor to retire from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel having finalized the time with a Provisional Battalion command of nearly 1250 people.

In 1989, during an assignment in Athens, Greece I was thinking and praying about my career focus following retirement from the Army. I was so much focused on my faith that I was seeking a ministry career, but, that passion for golf was so strong, I was praying that I could combine the two; golf and ministry. How could that be?

​How the heck am I gonna get to the Masters?

Well, honestly, without reservation, I must tell you that the Lord was very clear in His answer to my question. He said, "You will be an agent for Christian golfers."  What??!!  Those of you that may be as old as me know that at that time the greatest example of a golf agent was Mark McCormack, the President of AIG representing Arnold Palmer and later Jack Nicklaus. The picture of Mark came into my mind so I immediately responded, "That's crazy, no way." (Looking back, that may have been an improper response. We'll see why, soon.)

I was incredibly impacted by this "word", but, didn't believe it. In fact, I said, "That's ridiculous!" So, I began walking in a different direction to establish a golf consulting business with the following focus; consult with businesses/corporations on how to conduct high-quality golf events and bring in Christian PGA Tour Pro's to give their testimony about their lives as Christ-followers. I can't remember where that idea originated, but, I was convinced it was an appropriate direction to go.

My next assignment was in San Francisco at the Presidio Army Base. I began to study about conducting high-level golf events and started calling around to discover how to engage with these PGA Tour Pros. An amazing set of events happened and through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes I found out about the Links Letter, now Links Players Ministry. I was introduced to the Chaplain of the PGA Tour by phone and invited to meet with him at the Masters that year, 1991.

The Masters?? How the heck am I gonna get to the Masters? Low and behold, the Post (Presidio) Morale and Recreation Department had a lottery each year for four four-day passes to the Masters. I put my name in the hat and miraculously won one of the tickets!!  No kidding!!!

I went to the Masters for the first time ever and the journey continued.

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