Core Value: Integrity

updated 1/24/24
My junior golf students know integrity is my favorite core value because it sums up the kind of person that you are.  I challenge you to survey the people that know you best or the people that you spend a lot of time with by asking the following questions and asking them to be completely honest with you:

Am I gracious when other people help me?
Do I value honesty and openness?
Do I take responsibility for my actions good or bad?
Do I make excuses? 
Do I show respect for myself and others around me no matter where I am?
Am I reliable and trustworthy?
Do I do what I say I am going to do?
Do I offer to help those in need?
Am I patient with others? 
Am I flexible when unexpected obstacles arise? 

When you hear the responses, remember to be quiet and process what you are hearing.  I recommend taking some notes so you can review the information later.  If you are not happy with what you hear then make changes.  If you are happy with what you are hearing then keep pressing on to become an even better version of yourself.   You are well on your way towards becoming a "go-to-person."  

While a "go-to-person" can be someone with expertise in a subject area, like golf, math, or construction; a "go-to-person" can also be someone who is an expert in life.  For instance, I enjoy talking with senior citizens because they have lived through different experiences and are always willing to offer advice.  I am fortunate to have met Mayda because she has an uncanny ability to handle all aspects of my business so I can simply teach golf.  I have an excellent trainer that I can call when I need to jump start my exercise routines.  

What's my point? Live a life of integrity and become a "go-to-person" for someone.

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Viktor Hovland won $18 million —
then got asked how much he thinks about money.

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Integrity is by far my favorite of all of the core values.  In my opinion, the others are part of living a life of integrity.  I personally believe that all people deserve some level of respect especially when they are speaking.  It is incredibly rude to have side conversations when someone is sharing information with you which in my opinion indicates a lack of integrity. 

I also believe it is important to honor your commitments and take responsibility for your decisions.  A person of integrity understands the importance of sending notifications if you are running late or will be absent.  A person of integrity pays for their golf lesson when they cancel at the last minute leaving no opportunity for me to reschedule the time.  I had to slip that one in because I cannot tell you how often this happens.  

I can go on but I hopefully I am getting my point across.
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Beaver Golf has over a dozen competitive junior golfers playing in tournaments over the course of a year.  While I would love to attend, my teaching schedule combined with the fact that tournaments are all over Florida, make it difficult for me to do so.   However, one time the location was near my house and the tee times were in the afternoon after my last lesson so I headed over to Okeeheelee to watch four of my players.

I was present when Mateo hit his second shot on hole 17.   As I watched him from afar,  I could sense something was wrong, we had practiced hitting balls over the trees which would have been the easy play but he had a different strategy that did not work out.  Unfortunately, one bad decision compounded in several more, but I am proud that he did conduct himself with integrity.  While winning is great, your character is always more important. 

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I read an opinion column in The Herald Times that caught my attention because it captured the very concepts that I teach to my junior students.  The columnist starts off by explaining an unfortunate incident on a golf course at the age of 12.  He was asked to participate in an activity that he felt was inappropriate but he declined knowing it could upset some influential people.  Instead he was praised by Mrs. Crenshaw, you can read his final thoughts below: 

We grew up on that country club golf course. I think we grew up in a good way. I believe that the lesson we best learned as we played with poor, but honest, fellow caddies and ethical country club members like Mrs. Crenshaw, was to never violate the rules. For a score to be treasured at the end of 18 holes you need to know that for all of those holes you never transgressed, you never cheated yourself. And your score in life, like the score on the golf course is laudable only because you worked at following the rules — all of the rules. Maybe life is best lived when simply played like an honest and ethical game of golf. Just maybe

Character counts.  The decisions we make today will determine the kind of person we become tomorrow.   It took courage for a 12 year-old caddie to say no and years later he sounds like he would do it again.   That's what integrity is all about!

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During the Covid shutdown,  I was asked if I would be willing to teach a student at their home.   I am equipped to teach amidst all of the health concerns and the student was clearly comfortable with the idea.  Based on the pictures, they had a nice set up with a net and I definitely would appreciate the income.  

I went back and forth for a week and ultimately I decided not to accept the offer. While the income would have been great, my services are not considered essential during these times and I am not comfortable violating the current guidelines.  

The dictionary defines integrity as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.  It is my hope that I will strive to make decisions that are just that.  Is integrity important to you? 

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