Was the end of a long day and I sat down down on the couch to decompress. Navigating the endless channels of ‘nothing to watch’ on cable, I stumbled on a movie called Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius

Bobby Jones was a child prodigy who became The Man.

A short-tempered, club-throwing youth, Jones turned into an even-dispositioned and unruffled champion. In the Golden Age of Sport, Jones took his place alongside such giants as Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Red Grange and Bill Tilden. From 1923 to 1929, the Georgia gentleman dominated golf, birdieing his way into this country’s heart by winning nine major championships.

Then in 1930, he won the Grand Slam, which one writer picturesquely called “the impregnable quadrilateral.” He was so popular that he was accorded a ticker-tape parade in New York — before he won the final two legs of the Slam.ⁱ

So, what did I learn from a golfer? Was it golf?

Nope! Not at all, I don’t even like golf. I have golfed a handful of times in my life and every time was quite a spectacle. This movie didn’t really teach me anything about golf, but here are three things that I did learn from it.

We ALL need validation: Bobby Jones was pinned dead center in a generational conflict going on between his father and his grandfather. The patriarchal grandfather, R.T. Jones, had a different perspective on what Bobby should do in life and golf was not it. R.T. also made it clear that playing golf on the Sabbath was blasphemous.

He carried this ‘not being validated’ with him everywhere!

Lets jump back into the story with a snippet from the movie. A conversation between Jones and O.B. Keeler: “You see? The betting is 10 to 7 on Cruickshank, he’s got the momentum coming from behind. And they’re saying you are weak under the belt. This playoff means a fortune to Cruickshank. You’re just playing for fun. This telegram came for you. “Keep the ball in the fairway and make all the putts go down. Signed Robert Tyre Jones Sr.” In case you haven’t realized it yet you are the…best…golfer in the world. When you get that through your head you’re not just going to win one tournament, you’re going to win them all.”

The ice dam on the generational conflict was beginning to thaw.

The words from his grandfather were exactly the words he needed to hear. These words were validating, they were life changing! Bobby Jones went on to win the 1923 US Open!

True Sportsmanship: At the 11th hole at the 1925 U.S. Open his shot fell short into the deep rough. As he was pitching onto the green his club brushes the grass causing a slight movement of the ball. Bobby finishes the shot and informs his opponent Walter Hagen and the official that he was calling a penalty on himself. Jones, unwavering in his decision, that he violated a golf rule cost him the win by one stroke in regulation. Wow, what integrity!

Although praised by many sports writers for his gesture, Jones was reported to have said, “You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank as to praise him for playing by the rules.”

What’s Really Important: After winning the Grand Slam Jones had an opportunity to continue and go pro. He realizes that his unparalleled success is destroying his marriage and those he loves. He then stunned the world by retiring from golf so he can devote his time to his wife and family. Awesome!

I enjoyed the movie and we can always find outstanding people in all areas of life. Jones’s style, personality, and character separated him from the other professionals in his field because he was able to dial into what was important.

So lets take a gut check here.

Do you feel validated? Has your father (or father figure) passed the mantle down to you?

Do you live life with integrity?

Do you REALLY know and understand whats important in life?