Thanksgiving has always been a holiday that invites reflection.
Long before the parades, the football games, the Black Friday rush, or the overflowing dinner tables, Thanksgiving began as a moment of gratitude, togetherness, and connection to the land. And in 2025, with life feeling fast and noisy, that message matters more than ever.
This year, on Thanksgiving morning, I took my usual quiet walk along the course. The grass was cool beneath my shoes, the sun still low, and the wind soft enough to hear the wheels of my push cart rolling beside me. There’s something special about a peaceful walk on Thanksgiving, a reminder that the holiday isn’t just about celebration, but about slowing down and appreciating what we have.
As I made my way down the first fairway, I found myself thinking not just about the holiday, but about all the ways gratitude shows up in golf, and in life.
Understanding the Real Meaning of Thanksgiving
Most of us grow up associating Thanksgiving with food, family gatherings, and fall traditions. But the history runs deeper:
● The earliest Thanksgiving celebrations were held in 1621, when Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe shared a harvest meal in Plymouth.
● It wasn’t a national holiday until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of gratitude during the Civil War.
● Today, Thanksgiving 2025 continues to symbolize unity, gratitude, and the importance of pausing to appreciate life’s blessings.
What makes Thanksgiving powerful isn’t the menu, it’s the message of recognizing abundance and appreciating the simple things.
It’s a holiday rooted in reflection, and for many golfers, that reflection naturally happens on the course, a place where the world slows down, distractions fade, and clarity arrives one fairway at a time.
Why Golf and Thanksgiving Go Hand in Hand
There’s something timeless about a Thanksgiving round or even a short Thanksgiving walk on the course.
Golf teaches many of the same values Thanksgiving represents:
● Patience
● Humility
● Connection
● Gratitude
● Mindfulness
● Living in the present
Walking the course on Thanksgiving morning feels different, quieter, softer, more intentional. You notice the cold air on your hands. You notice how the fairways look under the fall light. You notice the simple joy of moving, breathing, and being outside.
It’s a moment to reflect on the year and appreciate:
● Good shots
● Bad shots
● New playing buddies
● Familiar traditions
● The fact that you’re still able to enjoy the game at all
In a season when everyone is rushing, Thanksgiving morning is one of the few times the world holds still.
Gratitude Found in the Small Moments
As I walked the course this Thanksgiving, gratitude showed up in ways I didn’t expect.
It was in the steady roll of my cart wheels.
In the crunch of leaves underfoot.
In the warmth of a cup of coffee clipped to the holder.
In a quiet fairway with no noise except the wind.
Most of all, it showed up in memories:
● The friend who always insists on playing “just nine more.”
● The grandfather who taught me my grip.
• The partner who pretends they don’t mind early tee times.
• The club regulars who feel like extended family by now.
Golf gives us community, even when we don't realize it.
Thanksgiving helps us notice that community.
A Thanksgiving Lesson: Gratitude Makes the Walk Lighter
There’s a saying in golf: “The walk is as important as the swing.”
Thanksgiving reminds us why that’s true.
When we walk with gratitude, everything feels lighter:
● The bag doesn’t feel as heavy.
● The round doesn’t feel as serious.
● The score doesn’t matter as much.
● The day feels more meaningful.
It becomes less about performance and more about presence.
Walking the course becomes not just an activity, but a reminder of all we have to be thankful for: health, time, movement, companionship, and the ability to keep doing the things we love.
Thanksgiving 2025: What This Year Teaches Us
Thanksgiving 2025 arrives at a time when many of us feel stretched, tired, or busy. That’s why its message lands even deeper this year.
It teaches us to:
● Appreciate progress, not perfection
● Value the moments, not the rush
● Connect with people, not just screens
● Take care of our well-being, both physical and mental
● Recognize the blessings we usually overlook
And if you're a golfer, Thanksgiving adds one more lesson:
Gratitude is best practiced outdoors, one step at a time.
Ending the Walk: A Quiet Moment of Thanks
By the time I reached the 18th green, the sun was higher, the day was warming, and the course was waking up. My walk wasn’t long or complicated, it didn’t need to be.
It was a reminder.
A moment of peace.
A pause in a busy world.
A chance to breathe, reflect, and be grateful.
This Thanksgiving 2025, may you find that same quiet moment, whether on the course, at the table, or simply in your heart.
May your day be filled with warmth, gratitude, and good company.
Happy Thanksgiving from our fairway to yours.
