J.E. Solinski
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • My Favs!

The Solheim Cup . . .

9/2/2017

5 Comments

 
Picture
Every two years the professional American women golfers compete against the professional European women golfers in what is known as the Solheim Cup. It is the women’s version of the Ryder Cup. I have been to the last three that were held in the US and I have to admit that, for me, this year’s competition was the best yet . . . and all because of four players.

The Sacrificial Veteran: Europe started as the underdogs and within two days plummeted even lower with the loss of one top player for a day and another for the entire competition, both due to injury. That left one seasoned veteran, Anna Nordqvist, to lead the team both in experience and, hopefully, wins. Unfortunately, she wasn’t in top health either as she was still fighting the lagging remains of mononucleosis. However, to watch her play you would never know it. She was a stalwart and, despite being physically exhausted, she continued to put herself out there to play rather than rest. As a result, she energized her team and ended the competition with three wins, one tie, and the admiration and respect of every American fan.

The Unflappable Rookie: Though she was the top money earner on the Ladies European Tour (LET), it is doubtful that anyone in the US had ever heard of Georgia Hall before the weekend and just chalked her up as being another of Europe’s untested and vulnerable rookies. But rest assured, by the end of the competition EVERYONE knew who she was. Quiet and unassuming, Georgia won the hearts of the American audience by both her laser-like shot-making and her gracious manner. Though a couple of errant shots early in her first round hinted at some nervousness, by the third hole she was back in control and playing flawless golf.

The Tenacious Leader: I would bet the one player the Europeans did not want to have to play against was Christie Kerr. The oldest player on the American team, Kerr went after each shot like a bulldog to a bone. She was the epitome of a fighter and because of that she was sinking putts and holing out from bunkers. She never gave up or let up, and her fierce determination fueled an American team.

The Comeback Kid: Lexi Thompson is 2nd in the world, but you couldn’t tell that by the way she started her singles match against Anna Nordqvist. She looked nervous and out of sorts as she missed short putts and shanked easy approaches. She was four down after nine holes and in match play that is a lot. Many players would have just ridden out the disaster and then made some inane comments to reporters about having a bad day. But Lexi didn’t. After an encouraging hug and word from her coach about not being afraid to fail, from somewhere deep within she found both her resolve and her game, and she came back to go 8 under par in 7 holes, a phenomenal feat, to halve the match with Anna.

True the Solheim Cup is just a sporting event, but what each of these players faced in the microcosm of a golf match can parallel circumstances in our life as people and as Christians.

Sometimes life and circumstances force us to make a decision: protect ourself and our interests or sacrifice for the greater good.

Sometimes we find ourselves a rookie on a big stage (for us), and while others may underestimate us or question our ability because of age or experience, we must remain confident in our abilities and our God who placed us in that situation.

Sometimes we must summon up the strength and resolve to keep our focus, be tenacious, fight for each point, and never give up.

And sometimes when we have made a disaster of the first half of a situation, or a day, or maybe even a life, we have a very important decision to make—give up and count it all a loss––or take comfort in our Father's loving arms and encouraging promises and dig deep and turn it around.



5 Comments
Linda C
9/2/2017 11:21:04 am

Great words to live by!

Reply
Jody
9/2/2017 05:40:48 pm

I appreciate that.

Reply
Dan Poplin
9/2/2017 04:04:06 pm

Enjoyable read , as always!

Reply
Jody
9/2/2017 05:40:18 pm

Thanks, Dan.

Reply
LAURIE LEISER
9/2/2017 08:37:39 pm

Falling into His arms.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

    Picture
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All
    Anger
    Appreciation
    Art
    Attitude
    Beauty
    Belief
    Books
    Bravery
    Calm
    Change
    Christian Bloggers
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Cleansing
    Conflict
    Consistency
    Coronavirus
    Costs
    Demands
    Disappointment
    Discontent
    End Times
    Evil
    Faith
    Fatigue
    Fear
    Fires
    Focus
    Foolishness
    Forgiveness
    Frustration
    God's Protection
    God's Sovereignty
    God's Timing
    Good Intentions
    Grace
    Grief
    Healing
    Hell
    Holy Spirit
    Hopes
    Hymns
    Hypocrisy
    Ingenuity
    Isolation
    Jesus
    Legacies
    Listening
    Love
    Memories
    Money
    Mornings
    Mothers
    Music
    New Years
    Opportunities
    Order
    Pain
    Patience
    Peace
    Perfection
    Perseverance
    Perspective
    Prayer
    Pressure
    Promises
    Purpose
    Readiness
    Reading
    Reduction
    Refreshed
    Relationship
    Relief
    Remembering
    Renewed
    Reset
    Rest
    Sacrifice
    Science
    Seeing
    Self-Centeredness
    Service
    Sin
    Sleep
    Spiritual Diet
    Spiritual Life
    Storms
    Strength
    Suffering
    Summer
    Talents
    Temptation
    Thanksgiving
    The Bible
    The Tongue
    Troubles
    Trust
    Truth
    Unity
    Water
    Weaknesses
    Wise Counsel
    Worry
    Writing
    Youth

J.E. Solinski ©2015