Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16: 30-31, ESV)
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 18:22, ESV)
…the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9, ESV)
Many years ago, I attended the funeral of an older man with whom I had built a friendship through golf. He was a member at the highly regarded River Oaks C.C. – Houston, Texas.
I was much younger then, but that didn’t matter to this enormously successful man. I was his guest at River Oaks on more occasions than I should admit—I skipped work a few times to make that happen.
Unexpectedly, he passed away. I arrived early at the funeral, surprised that I could not find a seat in a massive Presbyterian Church. I ended up standing against the back wall of the sanctuary.
A close friend gave the eulogy. He had three headings. He described this highly esteemed man as committed to his faith, family, and friends. It was apparent that his comments were profoundly moving to this large gathering, myself included.
I left that day thinking: If I could finish my life with an ever-deepening faith, a strong family, and a commitment to loyal friends, I would have lived a good life. I am still working on all three!
Recently, a close friend—an excellent player, I might add— introduced me to Larry Mize. Larry graciously agreed to give us time to explore his faith journey, family, golf exploits, and friends.
Having never met him before that morning, I was thrilled to find a man eager to discuss his faith in Christ, honor his wife and children, modestly answer questions about his time on Tour, and relish the memories of a lifetime of friendships. Larry Mize is the real deal!
What will become apparent over the next few weeks is that Larry Mize worships Jesus, loves his wife and boys, and cares deeply about men with whom he built lasting friendships.
It’s not that common, at least in my experience, that I meet a man who married his high school sweetheart, but Larry did. It was clear to me, on and off the camera, that Larry adores Bonnie. It was also evident that Larry beams with “pride” over his three boys.
If golf gives us anything, it creates an atmosphere conducive to family and friendships. An unbreakable bond is forged between those with a shared love of the game. For Larry, the Tour Bible Study provided a foundation for his faith, family, and lasting friendships.
It rarely matters that there are age gaps, economic disparities, or vocational differences when playing golf. At most clubs, on any given day, “The Game” gathers at a specific time, tee it up, and off they go.
When these groups gather, each individual’s net worth, educational pedigree, or societal standing rarely factor in. What matters is that every player loves the game, honors its etiquette, and plays according to the rules—local rules included.
It is no different on the Tour. Granted, there are rivalries, but overall, these men build friendships that last a lifetime. For Larry, the Tour Bible Study provided a platform to enrich his faith, nurture his family, and connect with friends.
Undoubtedly, we all remember Larry’s “shot heard around the world,” his chip on #11 at Augusta to win the 1987 Masters in a playoff with Greg Norman. A closer examination of his life reveals a value system that appropriately relishes that magical moment but places it somewhere down the list of things he treasures the most: faith, family, and friends.
These virtues—faith in Christ, family solidarity, and loyal friends—are the essential ingredients for creating the “good life.”
Prayer: Lord! Please help us build a life that values the right things.