Community Magazine January 2014

Sportsman The B.A.C., LLP of the Month Nathan Baily H ow does one excel in a sport? Is it natural talent? Uncanny instinct? Extreme dedication? Perhaps it’s work ethic? When it comes to the skills of Nathan Baily, the answer is clear: all of the above. As an avid golfer, Nathan has reached the pinnacle of excellence through hard work and determination. Although it is just a hobby, Nathan takes his golf game seriously and understands the focus needed to play this sport. His skills have graced both tournaments and private matches, and he has mastered some of the most challenging golf courses across the Tri-State area. To those with little knowledge of the sport, golf is perceived as somewhat of an easy game to play – even being labeled as “boring.” However to those with understanding of this great sport, golf is a game fraught with intensity, focus and skill. Players need to arrive both mentally and physically prepared. One single, solitary mistake can cost you the match and render your play moot. Every tee shot, pitch and putt must first be reviewed and pondered before the player can swing. Wind movements must be gauged, ground density must be accessed and moisture levels need to be ascertained. Only once a player fully grasps his surroundings, can he begin to aim and take a shot. Slow? Yes. Boring? Not a chance! When an observer watches Nathan slowly ascend to the tee box, they are watching a man in complete focus. Nathan – or “Baily” – as he is affectionately known by his peers, skillfully views the landscape in front of him. He understands the atmosphere that can determine the destination of the ball. He slowly and deliberately retrieves his driver from his golf bag, as a knight would draw his sword from its sheathe. His hands grip the club with the gentle force necessary for complete control. His knees are locked in perfect position to absorb the sudden jolt of the recoil. Steady and deliberately, he takes the shot... The ball sores through the air, rapidly climbing, casting its small shadow on the ground below. Hundreds of yards are passed as the ball slowly rolls to a rest. Where’d it land? In the dead center of the fairway, just a short distance away from the green. For the likes of Nathan, it’s an easy pitch away for the “eagle.” Ask those who have had the privilege of accompanying Nathan to a match, and you’ll hear this general sentiment: “He’s really an outstanding player. He plays with vivid, raw emotion, much like you’d find on the likes of Phil Mickelson during the Masters.” Another fellow player put it this way: “Baily has the ability to view a particular hole and say, ‘Use a 5 iron; trust me, the 6 will make you undershoot,’ or, ‘Don’t waste your time with the pitching wedge, putt it directly from here.’ To him it’s just second nature.” This “second nature” is what has allowed him to claim victory in multiple matches this past summer. One close friend and sparring partner described Mr. Baily’s game as so: “Watching Nathan play is watching sports greatness unfold in front of your very eyes. People don’t realize that being a great player has nothing to do with physical size or strength, but everything to do with your capacity to stay focused for a full 18 holes. Nathan has that capacity.” However, one must understand that Nathan’s skill-set is not limited to golf. This father of two is skilled in human interaction no less than he is in golfing. Friends, peers, co-workers and acquaintances have the utmost respect for him due to his insatiable generosity and deep care for those around him. To Nathan, the sport of golf is just that – sport, and nothing more. It is his conduct and talents off the course that matter most. And those, as the people who know him testify, are par excellence (pun intended). As one close friend put it, “Nathan is a case study in how one should act and speak. He’s a person of intense loyalty and friendship. His charity and hesed are legendary... And probably even understated!” This past month Nathan received the highly coveted Douglas Award for excellence in golf, in recognition of his performance this past season. It is for this reason, amongst others, that we anoint Nathan Baily the Sportsman of the Month. This month's B.A.C., LLP Sportsman of the Month is... 48 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE