Have you ever wished for, prayed for, strived for, searched for something for 30 years–and then giving up hoping that it will come to pass?  And then it  comes to pass?  Well, that’s what happened to me TODAY!  I told God, “Listen, if going for this U.S. Open Qualifying is Your idea, and I believe it is, then I am not going to go into it with my delibitated swing.  No way.  Too much torture.  Either give me my new move today, which means a real solution to hitting it over the top, and destroying  my power and consistency, or I am not doing this.”  Something in my soul simply closed the door shut to the repeating of an old reality.  I needed a new swing—and I needed my swing coach, Kelly at Pinehurst Resort, to come up with a miracle. 

I did ask God in prayer whom I should see for a golf lesson.  That was a prayer item I never brought to prayer before.  Out of the blue, I heard Him say, “Kelly at the Resort.”  So I called him up.  He gave me a good lesson last week, but I couldn’t feel what the right move was.  On the drive down from Cary to Pinehurst, I called my friend Barbara to see how she was doing.  “Barbara, I need a miracle in my swing today.”  She got right down to praying and declaring my breakthrough would come today.

I arrived at the golf course expectant and straight forward with my coach.  “Kelly, I am really needing your help for a breakthrough in my swing–and I need it today.  God sent me to you and I believe you have an answer for me.”  He quickly responded, “If you want to fix that move, then you have to get your club pointing in the opposiste direction at the top of the swing.  You have to feel like you are laying the club off–and make it as exaggerated as you can.”

We got right into the move of it.  “This feels twisted,” I said as I placed my hands in the opposite direction on the backswing.  “No,” Kelly replied, “What you were doing was twisted.  This is untwisted.”  Isn’t it interesting how we can do something wrong for so long that when we finally get it right that it feels wrong.  He went on, “You have got to stop relying on feeling.  Just go to this position.”  I hit some balls and then bam!  I got one right and it it solid.  “Wow!” Kelly exclaimed.  “I can’t believe you got it that quick—in terms of being able to make that laid off move and hit it solid.  I’m impressed!”  Let’s take a look at the video.  We went inside where he compared my false move with my true move.  “That’s amazing!” Kelly exclaimed.  “Your club moved 55 degrees in the other direction!  You got to the ball 7  frames sooner in the new move.  Think of how much more speed you have now that you don’t have to fix anything on the way down!  We were both thrilled–I got my breakthrough!

I left the golf course with true hope.  I know I will have a real challenge ahead of me when I apply my new move under pressure on the golf course, but for now, I know I HAVE a new move, know how to create it–and I have a good coach to help me reinforce my miracle breakthrough!

For the last few months I have been teeter-tottering about making a personal comeback in my golf.  The Women’s U.S. Open this year is at Oakmont Country Club, where I grew up playing in the Pittsburgh area.  I have made several starts at entering into my personal championship which includes practice, working out, and officially entering the championship.  However, when I encountered some setbacks, like the frustrations of a chronic defect in my swing, and a kidney stone attack which sent me sailing into the emergency room last week in excruciating pain, I pulled back.  I even started to hide behind my health condition, which is an easy thing to do.  But what blasted me out of my excuses and half-hearted engagement is my friend Jon, and former coach, who called me today on his way to a tournament.

“I was driving down I95 and passed your area on the way.  How are you doing?” Jon asked.  “Jon, my swing sucks and I have no energy as I struggle with a kidney stone.”  Having known me for about 10 years now, Jon knew just how to blast me out of my wrong-focus.  “Veronica, you have to do this not based on results, but on the process.  Your focus is to engage your heart in the process of preparing for a championship again.” Jon was my coach the last time I made an all out attempt to do someothing great with my golf. I failed in my attempt.  He went on, “The only way to move past a failure in a championship quest is to enter another championship. Your focus has to be the process this time. Your goal for your swing is simply to make progress.”  He was right. I thought about my life, how I have been living far below my highest and best–wandering around without a clear focus for far too long.  Jon, whom I affectionately called “the Drill Sergeant” knew just how to slap me upside my head in love and pull me out of the quagmire living–and smash the mental stone in my head, which has been far more painful than my kidney stone, although that may be hard to believe.

“Okay, I’m in, Jon.  What do you want me to do, Coach?”  He was quick to give me my first marching orders, “Five hours of cardio this week. Each time add at least a minute to your workout.  Practice each day on the three key elements to your play:  putting, short game, and long game.  Write down everything you eat.  That’s for starters. I’ll call you Sunday for a report.”

So today marks my re-start.  I repented for hiding behind my kidney stone problem, put on my running shoes, headed out after the rain, and did 60 minutes with my faithful exercise partner, my dog, Teddy-boy.  I felt fresh strength, and thanked God for the power of a coach to awaken the champion in me again.