“Colter wake up, today is your first day of junior golf,” called my Dad. It was early June, and school had just gotten out for the summer. I thought I wasn’t going to have to wake up early anymore. This wasn’t the first time I had played golf, however, it was the first time I was taking a class. Junior golf was what made me want to play golf through high school, and college, but I can’t really say it’s what golf got me interested in golf to begin with. My dad played a role in me loving golf, because he would take me out on the course to introduced me to the sport. Also, when I was a little boy around the age of two, my Grandpa Eddie would take me out on his golf course when I visited him in Iowa, and would let me putt for him. Sadly my Grandpa died when I was four, so I don’t remember a lot about him, however there is one thing I will never forget about him. Some of his last words were “I just wish I could play nine more holes,” and that’s what I want to do for him, play the last nine holes he wished of, but not just any nine holes. I want to play “9 more holes” for him as a golf pro in a professional golf tournament! I would hope he would be there watching, because I do believe a part of his spirit and love for the game of golf is inside me.

Sometimes I think of what Eddie might think of me, and my accomplishments, if he were still here. Then I remember he is with me spiritually every time I go out on the course. Some people might ask me why I think he is with me on the course, and I can confidently tell them it’s because he spent so much of the time he was living  on the golf course, so I don’t see why that would change in the afterlife. My mother tells me that Eddie was a good person, and that he never put himself in front of other people, and that's how I want to be, because I can’t think of a better life. Eddie’s job as an attorney, was to help businesses get back back on their feet after disasters destroyed their businesses.  I feel that if Eddie was still here he would be my role model. Simply because of the fact that he never stopped having fun, and living life until he had no other choice. I want to have fun, and have a purpose in life. I’m not sure what Eddie thought his purpose was, but I know he had fun. Even at 85 years old, he would be the life of the party at family gatherings. Now Eddie has given me a purpose, and I’m in control of having fun which I do everyday. I feel in my heart that there’s not a single person in the world that would not have benefited from meeting Eddie, and developing some of his traits. Someday I hope my grandkids say the same thing about me.

Let me transition into the golf aspect  of Grandpa Eddie and the affect it had on me. I keep a ball marker that says Eddie on it so that he is with me every round. That’s not the only thing though. Grandpa Eddie’s spirit presented itself in the form of a white butterfly to my Mom shortly after he died. This is Eddie’s spirit animal that we remember him by, and everytime I’m out on the course and I see a white butterfly, not only do I get a confidence boost, but I also say “hello” to it, and ask for some luck on the rest of the round. The cool part though, is that it usually works, which just gives me even more of a reason to believe that he is there with me. One of the most important things to do when golfing is to keep a level head, another thing Eddie was good at. He was just happy to be out on the course having a good time which is really what it’s all about. In my mind, golf is not a sport you play because you’re good at it, you play it because you have a reason to love it. Eddie gave me a reason to love golf, and he deserves to be repaid for that. Since he is no longer here, I guess there is only one way to do that, and I’m not going to stop working until I repay him, just like he never stopped living life to the fullest until his last moments.

Now some people might think “It’s great that he has such a passion for repaying his grandfather, but that doesn't mean he has what it takes to make to the professional tournaments”. I can’t blame anyone for thinking that, it’s not an easy task and it will take hard work, and dedication. But what people don’t know is the wonderful influence a man I only knew for a short time, but lives on in my memories had on me, and that is Eddie. The reason I say this is because anyone that knew Eddie would have thought that he was so cool and loving, and  that if you had to repay him, you would never stop until that task was accomplished. If I’m out on the range practicing my irons, or working on ten foot putts, and I get tired, and want to stop I tell myself “you're breaking a promise.” It’s not a promise I made to Eddie, it’s a promise I made to myself for Eddie.

No matter whatever happens there will be a special connection between me and my Grandpa. Even without him here, we are always going to have a bond that goes further than golf.