It might seem as though every funeral or memorial service must follow a certain set of rules and rituals. Certainly there are expectations and traditions depending on the venue of the event, but there is plenty of latitude for personalizing your gathering to share the essence of the loved one.
Whatever your choice for the formal service, a gathering of mourners afterward is customary, an opportunity to share grief, stories, and often some laughs—the beginning of healing. For a memorial as personal as your honoree, you can showcase their profession, hobby, or passion—like golf.
Begin with a choice of setting. Perhaps the 19th Hole of their favorite golf course or country club? Another option is a home, hall or restaurant where you can display their memorabilia. Gather their golf gear—the bag and clubs, the sun visor, the ballcap left over from college, the slightly ratty towel, the golf glove they swore improved their swing, the famous tee shirt they considered lucky despite its age and condition. A gallery of life photos for them must include shots from their golf-themed vacations, their favorite foursome, their iconic golf cart with the club flag. Of course include their trophies, even the gag ones that many golfers seem to acquire.
Collect other artifacts like the framed scorecard from their famous hole-in-one, perhaps other favorite scorecards, souvenir golf balls and tees from their bucket list round at a famous course, and issues of golf magazines from the pile in the living room. Videos of them swinging at the first tee or putting for the club championship are sure to bring up memories for those who come to share their grief.
If you want to provide a memorial gift for mourners, think about personalized golf tees or golf balls, inscribed with their name and favorite golf puns: “Best Golfer by a Long Shot” or “”Dad was the finest PAR-ent ever.” Have scorecards printed in their memory; golfers can use them on the course and others, as a book mark.
Find or create a blank notebook with a golf-themed cover and invite attendees to share memories of golf and other stories. After the memorial, you might leave it at a popular gathering place for a short time so those who had not been able to attend can add their anecdotes.
Some families create an annual golf tourney at the country club to raise funds for their loved one’s preferred charity, perhaps the American Cancer Society for someone whose life was affected by cancer or the ASPCA for pet lovers. In lieu of flowers for the funeral, suggest a donation to a golf scholarship at their school.
These suggestions should launch your creativity to plan a service for your loved one as unique as they were, whether they were a borderline golf pro or a self-acknowledged enthusiastic duffer. Fore!
Photo by Centre for Ageing Better: https://www.pexels.com/photo/elderly-men-playing-golf-7858233/
