And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16, ESV)
I was on the putting green at Desert Forest Golf Club when my friend and fellow Links Player Gary walked up and asked, “What is the most important thing in putting?” It was a great question, and I was glad he wasn’t asking me.
The question was directed at PGA Tour pro-Aaron Baddeley, who was there practicing his putting. He was also having some “father-son” time with his youngest, but he was off conquering his worlds on another part of the green.
When Gary arrived, Badds and I had been chatting about various golf topics, including Scottie Scheffler’s putting and Colin Montgomerie’s ball striking.
If you’re going to ask that question, you should ask someone like Aaron. Widely considered one of the best putters on Tour for over twenty years, he’s a master on the greens.
Without hesitation, Badds lifted his putter straight up with one hand, a golf ball in the other, and put the face of the putter on the ball.
“Having the club face square to the line at address,” he said, “is the most important thing in putting.”
Looking at Gary, whose eyes wanted more but whose mouth said nothing, Badds continued. He demonstrated with a few putts that a square face at address and a less-than-perfect stroke still made a four-foot putt, but a perfect stroke with an incorrect face at address was missed.
I’m sorry there isn’t space here to share more. I imagine Matthew must have thought the same thing as he wrote about the man often called “the rich young ruler.”
His version of that exchange is only 151 words, and I’ve already written 80 more than that. Still, we have the important parts.
It seems that when we hear from a master putter, we will put that advice into practice. Of course, when the young man heard the answer from Jesus, he would have complied. Yet he walked away sorrowfully. He did not want to make the needed change of heart.
The young man did the right thing in coming to the Master. We should do that, too, but then we should listen and act, not trust in ourselves and our possessions.
What would the Teacher have you do if you asked for instruction? He alone has the perfect answer. Be bold enough to ask.
Prayer: Father, may we each have the courage to come to you and ask what you would have us do. And then may we have the love and courage to do just that. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen