“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.”

Barbara Ward

Once in a while I enjoy the opportunity to make my way around a beautifully landscaped golf course that also tries to respect the environment, and I note how powerful it is when human beings work in cooperation with the natural world instead of trying to dominate via indiscriminate bulldozing, gouging, paving, over-fertilizing and bullying the landscape into submission.

UNC Finley

UNC’s Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill is a great example of doing it right – or at least taking positive steps in the right direction. It is also one of the more enjoyable courses I have played in a long time. I went over Saturday morning at the invitation of my friend Jerry Price, along with Michael Taylor and his friend Lee.

The golf course – a spectacular layout in a gorgeous piedmont setting – is proactive in its commitment to being both eco-friendly and sustainable.

Among other initiatives the facility works to conserve both land and water via recycling for irrigation, planting warm-season grasses designed to reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers and giving the property a sabbath rest from play one day in seven.

Finley was fresh and inviting following Friday’s rains and the experience could not have been better. Everyone enjoyed themselves and (although we miss the Prices so much here in Tarboro) it was good to see Jerry – like the landscape – thriving in his natural habitat.

I, of course, demonstrated my usual inconsistency but managed to include enough decent shots to achieve a creditable score in the mid-80’s.

As always, my heart is full with gratitude to be here in North Carolina where I can enjoy so much that this unrivaled state has to offer, and to know such good people.

Right now, Rebekah and I are heading over to Howard Memorial for worship. Sunday morning with our church family is another perfect example of what I am talking about in today’s post: Native North Carolina in it’s natural habitat. Only this time the native species is good people in community in the presence of God.

It doesn’t get much better than this – DEREK