Golfing for God...is that possible?

It finally happened. The snow melted off the golf course. If you live in the Midwest you know this has been a long winter season and those that love to golf have been polishing clubs or headed south to scratch the golf itch.



The question once again becomes, how can you take a sport like golf that millions have a passion for and turn it into something that can impact eternity in a positive way?


The answer is always invite Him into the day and be on purpose. You know if you've accepted Christ that the Holy Spirit lives within you every day. We are a living testimony with everything we say and do to those around us. Let's take the time and be on purpose about what our impact is and potentially can be. Because of the snow, it was April 30th before I had a chance to hit my first round of golf in the new year with the Senior Pastor of my church, and two other brothers in Christ I really enjoy fellowshipping with.


That first outing I talked with my pastor, Keith, on the way to the course about this article and asked had he ever thought about being on purpose for God while golfing. He nearly jumped at the chance to share as he also really likes the game and had thought about the very subject quite a bit.

Here are some thoughts he shared and my commentary to go along:

1. No matter what, the first part of the day always starts in prayer. Here is a simple one from our day:

Lord, thank you for the gift of this spring day and a chance to experience your creation. We invite you into our time of fellowship and if there's an opportunity or an appointment you have for us to share the great news of Jesus, please reveal that to us today. Thank you for our time of relaxation and sport. We pray that our actions and words might be pleasing to you. Please watch over our family as we are away from them, and thank you for the provision to be able to play this round of golf today. Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


2. Creation is all around you when you are on the course. Take the time to breathe and take in all that you see and experience that day. God's fingerprints are simply amazing to witness, and whether you are a scratch golfer or a weekend warrior, give thanks and gratitude for the wondrous world He has created.(I have never been so thankful for green grass until this year)



3. Pastor Keith made the wise quote that "Golf isn't a game that shapes character, it reveals it." (If you ever managed to take more than one shot to get out of a sand trap you might have found some insight into your own character).




One of the stories our good friend Bill told me that April outing was of a man he had witnessed last year on the 18th hole of the same course we were playing. On that last hole the man hit his ball into the water. It must have been a frustrating round as the he drove up to lake where the ball went in. He went around the back of the cart and instead of pulling the ball retriever, he pulled the entire bag of clubs and threw them in the lake. In disbelief Bill watched the man drive to the parking lot and then back down to the lake 5 minutes later. He took his shoes off, rolled up his pants, and retrieved the bag. He then proceeded to pull his car keys out of the side pocket and once again pitched the entire bag back into the lake.




While the event makes for a good story, what does is say about character? As we grow in our walk we will all make mistakes and have shortcomings, but what can you do to become more Christ like? The answers are throughout the Bible.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1 Timothy 6:11
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

4. Golf can be refreshing to the body and soul. As a pastor, Keith talks about how on the course he likes to unplug from the cell phone and pressures of the world. Now, I know some of you would like to use that reasoning on your spouses for more time on the course, but if you garnered the time away from work and your responsibilities ...make the most of it. Remember your responsibilities, but keep things balanced, unplug and take in the gift of time.



5. I would like to throw in a personal challenge for us all; Lose the potty mouth.
I am simply blown away these days by the language you hear coming out of the mouths of every age and gender. It doesn't help your golf and it makes for a lousy witness to those who may not know Christ. It is not about being "holier than thou" but letting the grace of a life born again in Christ shine through. Dare to be different in your language and remember what the scripture teaches:

Colossians 3:7-10
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.


6. My personal tip, Smile. In your interactions on the course, the clubhouse, the watering hole, gas station, or anywhere along the way you as a Christian represent the greatest story and gift every given. Let your smile and glow be infectious. Hold doors for others as you walk in. Thank the course attendants, clerks and servers using their names. Show the grace that has been given to you (no matter how close the 4some behind you drove the ball to you). You have already won in Christ before you step on the course, play golf on purpose for Him that created you so that others might be drawn to that same victory of salvation.




Here are some other ideas to consider being on purpose with your passion for the sport of Golf that will find all over the net:

1. Organize a local tournament for missions
Link to an Mission Tournament Example

2. Start your own fellowship Group like this one I found:

Golf and God Link


3. Imprint a Scripture on your golf ball to inspire you, possibly prompt others to ask a question, and if lost/found the new owner may be impacted.

5. Take a pastor golfing. The resources and time you have may make all the difference for pastor in need of some R&R and inspire you to write about it.

Some Links to others living out their faith on the Golf Course:


Tim Tebow, Ben Crane and Bubba Watson Bible Study Article Link



God and Golf on the PGA Tour article

The Miracle of Sarah...God's Little Princess

Here is our testimony from last year and the miracle we experienced...



Rebecca and I have lived a very blessed life. We grew up together in the same neighborhood 5 houses away, dated through high school and college and in March celebrated 21 years of Marriage.



We have been blessed with two amazing children Paris who is 13 and Noah who is 9.



It has taken time but over the years Rebecca and I have worked to understand God’s plan and tried to make Him the center of our marriage and home. We seek His direction for our family and lives but have been just blown away by the gift he has given and the miracle of His hand in our lives recently.

After Noah was born 9 years ago, I felt a tug on my heart from God that we were supposed to have another child. I tried to ignore it and run from it a bit as his birth was tramatic with the cord wrapped around his neck and I simply had fear and anxiety from that day. As I turned 40, I felt like that window of being new parents again had come and gone and perhaps it was not God who had been whispering to me. In August of 2010 I woke up one morning with more like a shouting in my ears that we were supposed to have another child and God did not mean for us to adopt…but that there was a “3rd amazing child”…we were supposed to have. When I shared the vision with Rebecca, she informed me she had not gotten that message… but was willing to go on the journey together. For several months we prayed and tried for a baby knowing the risks over 40 were much higher for complications.

In January of 2012 I was returning from two weeks on a mission trip to Mali West Africa and one of the greatest experiences I have ever had sharing the gospel when I got confirmation that we would be having the baby God had spoken of. The jet wheels had just touched down and I turned my phone on and there was a text picture of the pregnancy test from Rebecca… I had the entire back of the plane high fiving me as we waited to exit and return through customs.


That was the pinnacle of joy for some time…

The next morning I headed back to work after being gone for a couple weeks only to find a mystery meeting on my calendar for 8am. I found out I was graciously being offered a promotion to move my family to China and run operations as Vice President for 3 years. While I was flattered, I wanted the time to think and pray through it. At 11am the same day I had a second mystery meeting letting me know my current role was being eliminated in 90 days and that I had some time to try and land a new role within the company.
After praying diligently about China I heard a clear “no“ we were not supposed to go and we would trust Him and ride out the 90 days looking for the right position. In the mean time we would focus on preparing for the new baby we would have.

Then our world changed again. In March we went in for our second ultrasound and the analysis was not good. The pictures showed something called a Cystic Hygroma and our baby’s fluids were not draining well causing pressure on the heart and potentially the brain.There was also a leaky heart valve. The room began to spin as we were informed that there was the very real possibility that our baby would not survive to term and if it did we would be need to prepared for a child with special needs.

We were also informed of our right to terminate the pregnancy. While that was never an option in our minds…there were so many “what ifs” and tearful moments that we knew nothing else but to pray. We called our pastor and friend Keith Missel as well as our prayer network and asked people to cry out for our child’s life and health.

For 7 weeks we went with prayer from around the country and were to return on week 20 to find out how the baby was doing. We had prepared our hearts for whatever God had in store for us and we would accept his plan but continued to ask for his hand of favor on us.

On week 20 we met up with the same technician who had discovered the problem 7 weeks earlier and prayed our way through the ultrasound. For 45 minutes there was only mention of good measurements and we continued to hold our breath. (Literally at times). Rebecca finally asked about the Hygroma and the tech looked puzzled as she looked at the old pictures and then the new, but her response was that she no longer saw any sign of it and would inform the doctors. When she left the room tears streamed and praise began. The doctor came in the middle of our tears and informed us there was still a leaking heart valve and to come back at 30 weeks but they were very encouraged and surprised the problem had disappeared.

At 23 weeks some more amazing things happened. On my last official day with the company I been with for 13 years the call came in that I was being asked to lead a large portion of the change we were implementing. It was my ideal job and something I had prayed about for almost 100 days. Again these were answered prayers beyond anything that I could have hoped for.

At week 30 we went in for our ultrasound and both doctors there came quickly to the conclusion they could no longer see any issue with the heart or any sign of the hygroma and that we should expect a healthy baby girl in 10 weeks. The emotion of joy overwhelmed that day.
It was our two children who chose the baby’s name. They chose Sarah, which means “God’s little Princess”.




On September 6th 2012… Sarah came two weeks early breech and though we had an emergency c section, she is God’s little princess. We are not sure what God has planned for her life but we do know he has already used her for His glory in teaching us to rely on Him, that miracles do happen, and all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us…

Meet Sarah Elizabeth Dirscherl … To God be the Glory!