Our Life in Golf

Chapter 11 Talent Isn't Enough

11

TALENT ISN'T ENOUGH

In 1986, Mike was once again voted the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year. Also that year Mike spoke on film to a group of PGA professionals.

"How ya doin' fellas, good to see a young bunch of guys like you pursuing this game. It's going to be tough, but I think you can hang in there if you stick to learning how to—Teach Golf.

"Teaching golf, I believe, is the most important part of being a good golf professional. If you're a successful teacher, you can be independent. If you're not a good teacher, learn to be one if you want to stay in this business.

"It appears to me...the way things are going anybody can run a golf shop. The hankering you must strive for is to be able to give a good golf lesson—and that's one that keeps them coming back. It's going to be very important in the long run.

"In order to be a good teacher you must have a desire to help someone. Without such a genuine desire, your students will recognize it. Did you hear that? Without that desire to help, you won't be able to putt yourself inside the student's swing so as to better dissect it, so you can teach them better. Without such a desire to help, you won't be eager to answer each and every question they have in such a way that they're finally able to understand the point you're making and apply it to their swing."

Mike could recognize what would inspire each and every one of his students to not just hope to improve their swing, but be dedicated to achieving that goal. Anyway, Mike loved the challenge of getting through to his difficult students.

Growing up with five brothers, all of whom were great at something, Mike learned to be competitive, but in a healthy way, loving sports and the outdoors.

Dad would tell me stories of his brothers barreling down the still-frozen spring Lincoln Park Root River on skates, full blast, racing against the winds and jumping over early open-water melt spots.

Growing up this way sharpened his competitive edge, strengthened by a nurturing family, both immediate and extended.

Achieving difficult goals often involves first questioning the current priorities using up your time, energies, and resources.

Mike taught that at times you must take some chances with calculated risks.

For example, Hole #3 at Washington Park was a dogleg to the right, with a small green tucked around the bend.

It took practice, but Mike learned to hit a high drive that tailed off to the right, flew over the trees, before dropping onto the green.

He understood that Perfect Practice can lead to a Perfect Shot when it counts the most. He also applied that practice-makes-perfect approach at the teaching tee.

Talent isn't Enough...

Talent has to be channeled properly for that potential to be realized—true both in the working world and on the golf course. Of course, obstacles can get in the way.

Hopefully, you won't be dealing with major setbacks, like wars or natural disasters, but on a personal level I know there were times when Mike was deep in tournament competition and confronting some uncontrollable muscle cramping three days into a tournament. How do you continue? You find a way. Yes, Mike found a way and won the tournament.

For Mike Bencriscutto, a golf course and pro shop manager, there are other kinds of setback obstacles that come up.

When his pro shop was vandalized, in the midst of tournament play Mike had to drive home, that is until his car broke down, inspect the situation, and file police reports. Then, back at the tournament, shooting an under-par score with three hours sleep and an early tee time.

Or, in this case, Mike, not being able to practice for an upcoming tournament because his wife was in the hospital having a baby and her labor pains started happening the day after two golfers on his course were hit by lightning.

My father believed that Genuine Prosperity was about learning to live within your means. Money, yes, can be provocative, certainly useful, and humbling, but having money is no guarantee of happiness.

Not many could understand the drive in a man born to be charitable, empathetic, honest, and ready to not only accept the life he was given, but absolutely live up to its potential. Within that context he believed you could find peace, joy, and be able to make a wondrous meaningful contribution to your world.

Always do your Level Best...was learned at home, he would tell me, and reinforced by others in the community, feeling a deep appreciation for everyone he was close to.

A man of his word, and having observed this myself, my father always strove to honor his difficult decisions and many commitments. Even as a mere ten-year-old I was in awe of his beautiful Italian Calabrian hands, hands that never struck me in anger.

I knew my father was a moral man who could always be counted on to do the...Right Thing.