Listening to Your Wife Might Make You a Golfing Legend (or Not!)

I am reading Byron Nelson’s autobiography.  Nelson is a golfing legend who still holds several records.  He was a member of the Church of Christ and known for being a great gentlemen.  I found this little story about him wanting a new driver amusing.  You see in golfing circles, and sometimes in my home, it is thought that the way to a better game is a new club.  Wives are known for correcting their husbands on this line of thinking, but most husbands still want a new club and believe it will be a difference maker.  This story from Byron illustrates that sometimes us husbands are better off not buying a new club, but working on the one we have!

This story took place in 1935 when Byron was playing in the U.S. Open.  He was not yet an accomplished pro, but was struggling financially just trying to make ends meet.

“. . . But my driving was the most inconsistent of all.  In the past year, I’d bought four drivers, and probably spent more than I should have, since money was very scarce right then.  In fact, we were so poor we were staying in the basement of a parsonage while I played in the Open, so you know we weren’t doing too well financially.

Anyways, that evening, I sat with Louise after dinner and thought about my driving, while she did some needlework.  Finally I said, ‘Louise, I need to buy another driver.  I’m driving terrible.’  There wasn’t any reaction from Louise for a couple of minutes.  Then she put her work down and said, “Byron, we’ve been married over a year.  I haven’t bought a new dress or a new pair of shoes or anything for myself in all that time.  But you’ve bought four new drivers, and your not happy with any of them.  One of two things–either you don’t know what kind of driver you want, or you don’t know how to drive.'”

Well that stopped me in my tracks.  Because there was no denying what she’d said was right.  So the next morning, early, I took one of the drivers I had, a Spalding, to the shop there at Oakmont as soon as they opened, and went to work.”

Byron shaved the ends of the driver creating more of a rounded face.  After he crafted the type of driver he wanted, he went out and never had any more trouble with his driving.  He ends this little story with this fascinating line for a man who would win 61 tournaments and 5 majors.

“I guess I might still be looking for the perfect driver if it hadn’t been for what Louise said to me back in 1935.”

Guys, sometimes, probably most of the times, we need to listen to our wives! For some reason we are often resistant to this.  God had to tell Abraham to listen to Sarah (Gen. 21:12).   We need to be willing to take their gentle reprimands, that we don’t want to hear, and allow them to change us.  I don’t think it will turn you into a golfing legend like Byron Nelson, but it will bless your life!

Though I do still believe there has to be a club out there that can help my game!  Amanda can I buy a new one with Spring coming (haha)?  And Loretta, I know David needs a new one too!

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Story from p. 55 – Byron Nelson:  An Autobiography:  How I Played the Game