On Sunrise Golf

Why I play golf at sunrise, in no particular order:

1. It’s cooler.

2. Less traffic driving downtown.

3. Don’t have to wait on golfers ahead of me.

4. Can hit 2-3 balls if I want to.

5. Beautiful sunrises.

6. Find balls left behind from the day before.

7. Can be alone with my thoughts.

8. Takes 1-1/2 hours instead of four.

9. Weekends: I have the rest of the day to do other stuff.

10. Weekdays: can get to work shortly after 8 am.

11. Sundays: finish in time for Sunday School and church.

Up extra early this morning to golf. Beautiful sunrise. Teed off at 6:10 am. Tried to relax and not overswing, instead cutting down on my swing. Paid off for the most part.

1. Two decent tee shots with my hybrid. Cranked a 6 iron to the greenside bunker. Three chips, but only one landed on the green. Good long lag putt to within inches. “Bogey”.

2. Hit a good long 6 iron that drew back to the green, but rolled off the back. Three chips, two decent. Sank my second attempt. “Par”.

3. Hit a good straight 9 iron, that rolled to the back fringe. Three decent lag putts. Par.

4. Hit three 7 irons off the tee. Two weren’t terrible. Three putted from far off the green. “Bogey”.

5. Hit a good 6 iron to the left fringe, pin high (also pulled one left, and another to the right. My misses weren’t as bad. Found two balls so I putted five, all close. “Par”.

6. Hit a good hybrid that drew into the brush. Hit a great mulligan that drew left of the 150 yard marker. Hit three 6 irons, none good. Then I hit a fourth too well, that soared just past the hole. Decent chip onto the green. Two putt for “bogey”.

7. Flubbed three hybrids off the tee. Was back to trying too hard. Hit two more from the fairway only slightly better. Chipped four balls: one too long, two too far right, and one onto the green. Lag putt rolled close for a tap in for a “double”.

8. Hit two decent hybrids off the tee, both too high and not as long. Hit a good wedge shot onto the green (then a second way right). Good lag putt close. A good “par”.

9. Decent tee shot that pulled left. Good chip to the back fringe. Hit three decent lag putts, considering the bumpy sandy “green”. Then I rammed in the bogey putt from 15 feet – then sank a second 15 footer putt for good measure.

Finished at 725. Had to pull over on the way to work to dig out a work email. Then my usual RaceTrac stop. Arrived at work at 830.

We had the college world series on the TVs at work – Florida vs Kentucky and Tenn vs FSU. Need to cut the grass and wash the car. I started making a to do list for when I’m off work in July.

Tuesday: worked until 615, then drove to my other friend Reid’s for our Sunday School class’s men’s summer Bible Study in his shady backyard. Tommy, a retired financial planner, spoke on possessions, reading from the Bible and Bonhoeffer’s “The Cost of Discipleship”. I almost shared a pertinent example from a recent Hallmark Channel movie, but thought better of it. Ten in attendance, including four Davids. Also Bryan, Ryan, Lee, and Rob.

Came close to sharing a pertinent example gleaned from a recent Hallmark Channel movie at the men's Bible study, then thought better of it. The cheesemaker had a reverse bucket list, constantly working to simplify his life by cutting out excess things on his list. Get it?

Ugh on the heat. Lows next week of 73-74. Sweltering. Wasn’t too hot down at Candler Park this AM.

There are some potentially scandalous questions in that book Anna gave me. Will have to tread lightly or not answer. Perhaps when I am finished I will gift the book back to Anna.

ROGER MARIS [SABR Bio] played in the most postseason games in the 1960s: 41 WS games from 1960-64 and 1967-68. No other player won more World Series rings or MVPs. He is the only player who was on 3 WS winners, 1961, 1962 & 1967. Few remember that Maris was the AL MVP in 1960. He was the reigning MVP when he broke Ruth’s HR record and earned a second MVP

Pastor Greg Laurie once quipped, “You are the only Bible some people are ever going to read. They’re going to form an opinion about God based on what they think of you.” Denison: when we think about our witness and the impact our statements, posts, and responses can have on the way people see Christianity.