Golf can bring out the best and the worst in a person. Many people have "found religion" while playing golf. After a great shot or a miracle putt, they are convinced of the divine element in the universe. Others have "lost their faith" while playing the game. A lipped-out putt, a slice into the lake, or getting out of the sand trap with three strokes can call to question anything right and holy with the universe. It has been said that on Sunday mornings, God’s name is used more on the golf course than in church.

I see a lot of similarities between the game of golf and being a person of faith. Maybe I see the similarities because I am a minister. Maybe I see the similarities because I have been playing golf since I was 10 years old. Maybe I see the similarities because they are just too easy to ignore.

First, both Christianity and the game of golf demand an intense devotion. Being a Christian is difficult. If it were easy then everyone would be doing it. Reading and applying God’s word to our everyday lives is tough. So is the game of golf. Anyone can swing a golf club, but hitting the ball where you want it to go takes a lot of time and practice.

The idea of practice is another similarity between the two. Prayer, fasting, worship, and Bible reading are described as spiritual practices. If someone is sincere about growing further on their faith journey, they will include these different disciplines into their life. Putting, chipping, and driving the golf ball require practice and repetition if someone is to find success on the golf course.

When things go wrong in life for someone of faith, they usually seek the counsel and comfort of someone who can help them. Usually they find a minister or wise friend who can counsel them and help them on the way. The minister might not have all the answers, but at least he or she is available to help the one who is hurt. Someone on the outside looking in can provide a perspective unseen to the one in the middle of the mess. On the golf course, a bad swing means a visit with the golf pro. He or she can look at the swing and offer suggestions on how to fix it.

Golf imitates faith in the way both seek to achieve perfection. As followers of Christ, we constantly try to live in the model Jesus set for us—a life of perfect living. We try not to sin. We try to spend time in relationship with God. We try to treat others the way we want to be treated. We try to spend time in worship and prayer and fasting. We try, we try, we try. But, we always come up short. As much as we want to be perfect, our sinful nature keeps us from perfection. In golf, we try to hit every shot just right. We try to sink every putt. We try to birdie every hole and eagle the par 5’s we can reach in two strokes. But, inevitably, we miss a putt, we push a drive, we fall short of perfection on the golf course.

Finally, both faith and golf give us hope for tomorrow. Life hands us bad news, bad moments, bad situations. Regardless of how much we go to church, or how much we read the Bible, or how "good" we are, some days are just going to be bad. That is life. In the midst of those bad days, we usually have one good thing happen—it might be so small that we almost miss it, or don’t recognize it until later. But, those little "God moments" give us hope. On the golf course we can practice as much as possible, but a drive that hits a sprinkler head can end up in the woods. Our back might be stiff and we can’t swing like we want. Even though we always shoot under 80, we might be on course to barely break 95. Those days and those moments happen. That is life on the golf course. But, there always seems to be one shot that we hit so sweet, or one putt that falls to the bottom of the cup that keeps us coming back for the next round of golf. One putt proves we can be better. One shot gives us hope.

In the grand scheme of things, it is the hope that keeps us going. We have hope that God will provide for us and take care of us and love us. We have hope that tomorrow will be better than today. On the golf course we have hope that our next round will be a little better than today’s. Golf is more than a good walk spoiled. Golf is a good walk for a hopeful life.