Nothing seems more mystifying than teaching the Bible through golf and vice-versa . Yet there is no end to the number of places you can go to make yourself more proficient at man ’ s most aggravating exercise via the Good Book .

A friend and golf fanatic I share a Bible study class with recently emailed our group a devotional written by a member of an international organization called Links Players .

Now in its 35th year , Links Players says its goal is to “ help men and women change the conversation . . . from surface to substance , me to others , and temporal to eternal .” That happens , the organization says , through scripture study , prayer , and reaching out to others .

“ Links ” is far more than merely a term golfers use ; it ’ s an acronym that represents the organization ’ s mission :

• L : Loving God and others

• I : putting Christ ’ s Integrity into life

• N : being part of a Network of friends in Christ

• K : Kindling compassion for the needy

• S : Sharing Christ ’ s love through golf There are a couple thousand chapters of Links Players world-wide and four in Virginia . The Links fellowship of Central Virginia in Lynchburg is not connected to a specific club , while the three in Williamsburg have attachments to VSGA members Ford ’ s Colony , Golden Horseshoe and Two Rivers Country Club .

Two Rivers , which began in 2004 , counts about nine members in what co-founder Rob Topping calls “ an informal small group ,” including a couple who participate online .

Topping first learned about Links from a friend in Northern California then participated while he was a member at Congressional Country Club before moving to Williamsburg .

For him , God and golf are connected in several ways .

First , it provides an opportunity to enjoy God ’ s creation . Secondly , golf is a game that naturally involves fellowship and opportunities to talk about things deeper than the great game .”

— Rob Topping

“ First , it provides an opportunity to enjoy God ’ s creation ,” he said . “ Secondly , golf is a game that naturally involves fellowship and opportunities to talk about things deeper than the great game .”

Topping practices the Links credo to share the gospel message . His conversation with Mike Cochrane in 2017 was the impetus for Cochrane starting the Ford ’ s Colony chapter .

Pre-pandemic , a dozen or so Ford ’ s Colony members met every other Tuesday , using the Links Players weekly Bible study guide for discussions that often morphed into members sharing deeply personal aspects of their lives .

“ There ’ s a series on ‘ Spiritual Due Diligence ,’” Topping said . “ We do due diligence on investments and other important decisions — why not on something that may have eternal consequences ?”

That ’ s a question often asked whether through Links ’ daily devotionals or the hundreds of the organization ’ s essays , speeches , books , magazines , websites , and videos available online .

For example , the author of a story on the irishgolfer website explored what makes a successful golfer and paired them with Bible verses . A sampling : “ Golf is a game of opposites ( Luke 9:24 ),” “ The Release ( Prov 3:5-6 ),” “ Playing with patience ( Col 3-12 ),” and the most popular verse “ Iron

sharpens iron , and one man sharpens another ( Prov 27:17 ).”

The meaning seems obvious : Wise people question , encourage , coach , and challenge each other . Sounds like qualities of the ideal playing partner .

A recent Links essay focused on the universal relationship between anger and grace . Everyone has had his or her round ruined — not to mention those of their playing partners — by volcanic explosions in response to bad shots or bad luck .

Why ? Most of us acknowledge the profound shortcomings the game illuminates in us . Many people treat them with humor , up to a point . Then comes that missed three-footer for birdie and all hell breaks loose .

“ I get angry because I think I ’ m a better golfer than I am ,” the author admitted . He broke out this quote from Ephesians : “ Be angry and do not sin ; do not let the sun go down on your anger .”

“ Links hopefully has helped me develop a better attitude on the course – not that I ’ m perfect by any means ,” Topping said .

I once had a golf-related religious experience , cornering a friend who had witnessed an avalanche of my ineptitude and asking how I could improve from morbidly dreadful to just plain awful .

Without hesitation he replied , “ Try prayer .”

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