Reflection / Sean Gallagher

Love of parent and child is forged through the games they share

The Masters, arguably golf’s greatest tournament, came to a conclusion on April 12 at the hallowed Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., with Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland donning the contest’s famed green jacket as its winner for the second year in a row.

As the Masters was being played this year, my mind turned back to the tournament played 40 years ago in 1986 when I was just 15.

At the time, my favorite golfer was Jack Nicklaus. But I was really born too late to be a fan of arguably the greatest golfer of all time, known as “the Golden Bear” because of his bright blond hair. That’s because he won eight of his record 18 major tournament victories before I was born in 1970.

By the time the 1986 Masters came around, Nicklaus hadn’t won a major tournament in five years and, at 46, was definitely in the twilight of his career.

So, it was so exciting for me to see my golfing hero shoot a 7-under-par 65 on the final day of the tournament to come from four shots down to win his record sixth green jacket. Nicklaus is still the oldest winner in the history of the Masters.

Maybe one of the reasons I ended up liking Nicklaus so much was that he was of my dad’s generation, born just two years after him.

My dad was the person who introduced me to golf, the primary person who taught me the game and easily the person I played with the most over the years. And I’ll confess that, while neither of us were great at the game, my dad was always better than me. I honestly don’t recall a time when I posted a lower score than him.

Golf was something that bonded us together and gave us great memories that live on vividly in my heart now nearly four years after my dad’s passing.

I heard a similar bond of love in the voice of Jack Nicklaus II, the oldest of the five children of Nicklaus and his wife Barbara, who have been married for nearly 66 years.

Nicklaus II narrated a video posted online by the Masters on April 12 about his father’s victory at Augusta in 1986. It was fitting for him to do it because he served as his father’s caddy at the tournament that year.

To the world, Nicklaus II said, his father is “the greatest Masters champion ever, but I just call him ‘Dad.’ ”

The video featured great moments from the final round in 1986. But they weren’t just highlights of Nicklaus’ play. They also showed the love of father and son.

When Nicklaus rolled in an eagle putt on the 15th green, you can see Nicklaus II jump up in the air in celebration, something a caddy ordinarily doesn’t do.

Then, after Nicklaus putted out on the 18th hole to finish his historic round, you see father and son embrace on the green with a TV announcer saying, “What a round, what a player.” Nicklaus II continued in the video by adding, “and what a dad, husband and ‘Peepaw’ to his 24 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.”

Jack Nicklaus, who turned 86 earlier this year, is most certainly a champion in golf. But, more importantly, he is a champion in life.

Children who spend time over the years with a parent in a shared hobby, sport or pastime often get to see how they’re champions, too, which is a great gift to pass on to the next generation.

The bonds forged in such sharing deepen when faith binds parents and children together. I’m grateful for the way that my father and his father, Grandpa for me, formed my faith.

If they’re still living, take time to thank your parents for the time they spent with you in sports or in hobbies. If they have passed on from this life, then give thanks to God for the blessings he gave you through them.
 

(Sean Gallagher is a reporter for The Criterion, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.) †