Well-Spent Wellness Days
Well-Spent Wellness Days
Two wellness days for UNC students meant that I got to hangout at the Cradle of American Golf.
Dollywood. The Outer Banks. The Florida Keys. Camp Raven Knob. Germany. Sky Top Apple Orchard.
What do those places have in common? They’re a small selection of the locations I’ve had the pleasure of visiting on a group trip. My time in the Henderson County Public Schools, the Boy Scouts, and at my churches have granted me many opportunities to travel throughout the United States and the world.
For 12 Scottish junior golfers, their most recent opportunity to go on a group trip landed them in Pinehurst, NC. The high school-aged juniors spent over a week in the Cradle of American Golf playing on historic courses inspired by the links of their homeland.
Many of them described it as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” that they would relish forever. I can confirm that none of them wanted to return to their schooling back on Scotland’s Golf Coast: the county of East Lothian.
How can I confirm this? I got to experience part of the trip myself.
Some Background:
Last summer, I wrote a blog post about my time with Dave and Sue Warren in North Berwick, Scotland. In the post, I mentioned that Dave is the longtime executive of the East Lothian Junior Golf League (ELJGL), one of Scotland’s most vibrant junior golf associations.
I also mentioned that in 2018, Dave started taking 10-20 of the League’s top junior golfers to Pinehurst during a weeklong Scottish school holiday. They compete in two Pinehurst Winternational tournaments on each weekend they’re in the US and spend the week in-between exploring all the area has to offer, both golf-wise and culturally.
The juniors even got to have an extended conversation with Jaime Diaz, one of the most renowned golf journalists of the 20th and 21st centuries. As someone who was in the room for the talk, I can confirm it was one of the most prized conversations I’ve ever been a part of.
All that the juniors have to pay for is their airfare, everything else is generously donated by the League’s supporters in the US and Scotland.
Casual Conversation:
Letting 12 high-school aged kids loose in Pinehurst is probably not the best recipe for limiting your insurance liability, so the donations also fund the trips of the three adult chaperones besides Dave and Sue.
For two days, they also had somewhat of a fourth chaperone, me.
This was the first time in my life that I was considered an “adult” (an exceptionally scary word) on a group trip. I’m not really sure what I was expecting, but it certainly was not being told to put two of the juniors, Rory and Ryan, along with my old friend Gareth Jack, in my Highlander for our drive to the Pine Needles Golf Club and Lodge.
I had talked to a few of the juniors earlier in the morning while we were in the Tufts Archives learning more about the history of Pinehurst and of golf course architect (and Scotsman) Donald Ross.
However, it was in the car ride to play at Pine Needles Golf Club where we particularly began to connect. I first asked Rory and Ryan if they liked American country music. When they replied they enjoyed “Nickleback,” I immediately began playing Spotify’s “This is Toby Keith” playlist to demonstrate how sorely misguided they had been (RIP, Toby).
On the car ride to the course, we touched on a number of subjects, including an extended discussion on the state of both Scottish and American politics.
The juniors (and Gareth) were particularly intrigued by the differences in our systems and our political outlooks. They, like me, couldn’t understand why we’ve decided to have two people over the age of 75 as our main candidates for president.
Similar conversations and connections continued throughout the entire two days I got to observe their trip.
A New Perspective:
I enjoyed my interactions with the juniors, and now have even more friends the next time I make it over to Scotland. Yet, since it was my first time experiencing a trip from a leader’s perspective, I was especially impacted by how powerful the trip seemed to be for the group’s leaders.
Besides Dave, Sue, and my friend Gareth, the ELJGL brought Shona Patton and Steve Austin along. Although, I will be quite honest, Steve was much less stone cold than I was promised.
I sat with the leaders at meals, heard their deliberations about plans for each day, and learned about why they’re each so passionate about junior golf.
Their devotion was clear just seconds after I met the group at the Village Deli early on Monday morning. In keeping with the pattern of me and golf courses, it was raining, and our round of golf at Pine Needles would be delayed.
The adults discussed a new direction over massive (to Scottish people) plates of french toast and pancakes. Instead of being disappointed by their carefully-curated schedule being thrown into chaos, they regrouped and re-evaluated.
They kept a positive attitude and doled out umbrellas for the quick walk to the Tufts Archives for our education on Pinehurst and Donald Ross. What made the archive visit even better was that the weather forecast changed, and the leaders once again shifted our plans to fit a round of golf in after all.
On the course, Gareth and Steve discussed how fortunate they were to be on the trip, as they got to feel the joy of the junior golfers and experience the Cradle of American Golf themselves. They loved the constant sounds of awe emanating from the juniors with each new course and new “American” experience.
A Realization:
Our conversations made me understand just how much more the “adults” on a group trip know than the young people think they know. There was also some gossip about a potential romance budding within the group, only making the adults that much more intrigued to see each day’s tee time pairings that the juniors got to create.
In all seriousness, my time with the chaperones made me understand just how much these adults care about being a positive influence in young people’s lives.
While they were in a golfing paradise, each of the adults still had to “herd cats” the entire week and deal with the various struggles that arose. There was little sleep and they were leaders first and foremost, it wasn’t a simple vacation. Yet, they did it because of the passion they have to give these kids a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I was so happy they genuinely enjoyed themselves, too. I was responsible for two Scottish kids for a 15 minute drive and I was stressed out of my mind. I can’t imagine what goes through adults’ heads for an entire week on a trip.
Watching all of Dave, Sue, Gareth, Shona, and Steve’s work made me value every adult that’s guided the group trips I’ve been on 100 times more. No matter where we go, we have people who love us, support us, and want us to be our best selves.
I’m not sure why I hadn’t really actualized this until I visited the ELJGL in Pinehurst, but I think it’s because I was caught up in the relationships I’ve been able to build with my peers on the trips I’ve been on (that I’m blessed to have).
It’s just kind of a shock it took me this long to reflect on my leaders because without the mentors in my life, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
So, be sure to thank some of the adults who have worked hard to build you up, whether you’re reading this as a sophomore in college or as a 75-year old retiree. I know it’ll mean a lot to those guiding the way.
It’s been awhile. I plan on popping in every now and again as the content presents itself. School and other obligations prevent constant maintenance of the blog.
If you’re wondering, I’m doing quite well! I’m enjoying my extracurriculars and trying to get my summer plans in order. If you’ve got any questions, comments, or concerns, you can reach me at jakewpatterson@gmail.com.
You can find me on X @JakeWPatt or on Instagram @JakeWPatt. If you’re feeling ambitious, connect with me on LinkedIn.
As always, thank you for reading. It means a lot.
Enjoyed reading this latest Looper’s Line! Thankful you are doing well. Wishing you continued success!!
Joyce Loftin.