Golf Coach 101 Even After The Flames, They Walk Through The Door


Sonoma County, CA. ~ Some things in life arrive without warning. Other arrivals we have the luxury of plan- ning for. A child, a trip overseas, a family reunion, retirement;


these


are things we can see in the distance. A fire that comes out of nowhere is not so easy to plan for. When a person faces


death with


five or ten min- utes to spare be- fore they have to flee their homes; material


posses-


sions become a lot less important than our very existence. Things can be replaced, but not a human life.


Having survived the recent


firestorm was a blessing for myself and loved ones in So- noma county. No doubt it was one of the scariest weeks of my life. So much loss though of property


fire. Even after the flames have turned their dreams into ashes, still, they walk through the door. Listening to their stories


through. They are busy buying new golf clubs because they refuse to be defeated by this


with an open mind and heart is one way that we can all help to walk people through their grief.


People who have


lost everything are not willing to lose their golf game. I applaud these peo- ple for recognizing the important ther- apeutic


value of


this game. Golf for many folks is more than a game. It is a metaphor for life, it brings meaning and joy and it also gives people a chance to be one with nature while competing against others. For me it is more than


sport; it is meditation, art and spiritual practice all rolled up into one little ball.


“Happy New Year!”


UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • January 2018 • 17 by James Fish • james524@gmail.com


When I drive through Foun- tain-grove these days I feel as though I am surveying the rem- nants of a war zone. I know I am lucky not to have lost my home and I also know that so many others weren’t so lucky. Shaking off the dust and mov- ing forward is never easy. Thank goodness we still have


golf courses in the area that survived. Otherwise many of us might have to take up bowl- ing, fishing or poetry. Imagine that.


James Fish works as a golf teaching pro at the Foxtail Golf Club and can be reached via e- mail at james524@gmail.com


and


life around us re- ally puts things into a hum- bling


perspec-


tive. I know that so many peoples’ lives will never be the same. When you’ve lost


everything, words are hard to come by. And playing a round of golf in light of that tragedy seems a distant lark. Working in golf retail at the Golf Mart during this chaotic period has been somewhat sur- real. I have recently found my- self becoming a grief therapist as much as a retail therapist. The conclusion I’ve arrived at is this; people with means are not waiting around for the insurance money to come


DREAM “I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t know.” ~ Mark Twain Windsor in 2018!”


facebook @russianriverbrewing Instagram @russianriverbrewingoffi cial


“Open New Year’s


www.russianriverbrewing.com 725 4th St. ~ Santa


Rosa • 707-545-2337


Eve and New Year’s Day, Closed January 2nd and 3rd”


UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • January 2018 • 17 “Coming to


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