The Meanings of Tears

It's been a while since my last post. And a lot has happened.

The US economy is rapidly slipping and our elected officials still can't come together for the good of the nation. They still seem to think that we care more about party than country. That is simply not true, particularly in times of crisis. Congress doesn't live by the concept "You can do great things if you don't care who gets the credit." No pun on "credit" by the way. Let's hope we get it right soon.

OK, enough on that topic. With the above said, what makes me bullish on our country and our future? It's the kids. It's their dreams. It's their right to a future to express those dreams or find new ones. It's a belief that heroes are identified in the challenging times, not the prosperous ones.

Which leads me to my topic of the meaning of tears.

This weekend, our International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) competed at Tradition National Golf Club, just outside Hilton Head. In the Girls 19 and Under Division, the victory went to Courtney Boe (69-76--145 Total). Courtney's family moved south from Minnesota. Her dad had business reasons to make the move, but they also wanted their daughter to have the opportunity to develop her game. Her first victory didn't come easily having to withstand a playoff with Hank Haney IJGA student Kelly Miller (72-73--145 Total) of the UK.

Heading down the first, and final, playoff hole I had the opportunity to speak with Courtney's dad whom I'd had the chance to get to know a bit over the course of the competition. As Courtney prepared to play her second shot into the green, I asked her father, "Has Courtney been in a playoff before?" His response was, "Yes, but nothing this important."

Both girls reached the front-left of the green with their approaches. Courtney's ball was just outside Kelly's, some 40 feet from the hole. Courtney's first putt missed wide right by four feet. Kelly hit a great first putt. from a very similar line, just missing the hole and stopping about two feet behind the cup. Classic match play.

"First in gets the win" is more than just a saying in the game. It happens more than you might think. Courtney looked over her putt knowing in all likelihood if she missed, she'd hand the trophy to Kelly. But she also knew that if she made, she'd apply a lot of pressure on her opponent.

On the slick Tradition National greens, Courtney confidently rolled her ball in for par. Kelly, needing her putt to force another hole, had a bit too much pace and saw her ball hit the inside left corner of the cup and spin out.

This is where the tears come in.

Courtney walked off the green, after being congratulated by Kelly, over to her dad and started to cry. Tears of triumph. Tears of accomplishment. Tears that said all the hard work at this most difficult of game's was worth it.

Kelly had tears of her own. Tears of disappointment. Tears from feeling she let that putt, and tournament, get away. To me, they showed that she really does care about this game- that it is deeply important to her. Kelly will surely use this as a learning experience as she continues to develop her considerable talent. I'm confident as the IJGT tour continues to unfold this academic year, Kelly will be holding a first-place trophy soon.

And what were once tears of disappointment will then be tears that come from succeeding at something you have a passion for and showing to yourself that you could realize your goal. I hope I'm around to watch.

One final note, in the boys 13-15 Division, Pacelli Perez (72-75--147 Total) from Mexico defeated countryman Gonzalo Rubio (73-74--147 Total) on the first hole of their playoff. In accepting his first-place trophy, Pacelli thanked all the appropriate people and sponsors with great poise. What was interesting was at the end of his brief remarks he went on to say, "I'm very happy that Mexico finished first and second!"

We need more Pacelli's in the US. He placed country over himself and was proud to do so. I really wonder if, given similar circumstances of US players in a foreign country finishing first and second, we would do the same.

That's my view on the game.

Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA